Date: 03/18/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1354

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). Th
Moved prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment C). Th
Moved prepared amendment L.003 (Attachment D). Th
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



10:58 AM

The committee recessed.


11:01 AM -- House Bill 10-1354

The committee returned to order. Representatives Benefield and Looper, prime sponsors, presented House Bill 10-1354, concerning policy studies conducted by the General Assembly during the legislative interim. Representative Benefield provided background on the issues affected by the bill, and explained the bill's effect. Representative Looper discussed the model for the interim legislative committee process created by the bill, and discussed the need to create the new process. Representative Looper also explained how the new interim committee process would operate. Representative Benefield discussed staffing for a recent interim committee by a nonprofit agency, and the number of allowable committee bills under the new interim process created by the bill. Discussion ensued regarding rulemaking pertaining to interim committees, and allowing for interim committee membership flexibility.


11:14 AM

Discussion continued regarding flexibility for interim committee membership under the new interim process created by House Bill 10-1354. Discussion centered around a provision in the bill that restricts interim task force membership to the members of committees of reference. Representative Benefield discussed the need for legislators who are versed in particular policy areas to serve on interim task forces that address these particular areas. Representative Looper discussed the potential for amending the bill to allow for greater interim committee membership flexibility. Ms. Julie Pelegrin, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided clarification regarding portions of the bill that assign interim task force membership.


11:24 AM

Discussion continued regarding interim task force membership allowed under House Bill 10-1354, and the potential for amending the bill to allow for greater membership flexibility. Discussion followed regarding policy subject area specialization in the General Assembly.


11:36 AM

Discussion continued regarding the potential to allow for greater membership flexibility in the interim committee studies created under House Bill 10-1354. Ms. Pelegrin responded to questions regarding the ability of legislators who are not members of a committee of reference for a particular subject area to be appointed by legislative leadership to an interim study pertaining to that subject area.


11:49 AM

Mr. Mike Mauer, Legislative Council Staff, provided clarification regarding flexibility in appointing members to a given interim study under House Bill 10-1354. Discussion ensued regarding interest in multiple policy subject areas as it pertains to interim study membership restriction under the bill.


11:53 AM

The following person testified regarding House Bill 10-1354:

11:53 AM --
Mr. Kevin Lindahl, representing the Fire and Police Pension Association, testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Lindahl discussed the effectiveness of the interim Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission in providing oversight for the association. Mr. Lindahl discussed prepared amendment L.002.


11:57 AM

Representative Benefield explained the effect of prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

10HseState0318AttachB.pdf
BILL:HB10-1354
TIME: 11:57:32 AM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Moved prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Casso
Court
DelGrosso
Hullinghorst
McCann
Miklosi
Murray
Nikkel
Waller
Labuda
Todd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

BILL:HB10-1354
TIME: 11:58:37 AM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Moved prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.

10HseState0318AttachC.pdf
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Casso
Court
DelGrosso
Hullinghorst
McCann
Miklosi
Murray
Nikkel
Waller
Labuda
Todd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


11:58 AM

Representative Benefield explained the effect of prepared amendment L.003 (Attachment D). Discussion ensued regarding issues pertaining to mental health that reach beyond the expertise of the House and Senate Judiciary committees, and how House Bill 10-1354 limits flexibility on appointments to the Interim Committee on Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System. Discussion followed regarding appointments to the task force addressing these issues as affected by amendment L.003.
BILL:HB10-1354
TIME: 11:58:51 AM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Moved prepared amendment L.003 (Attachment D). The motion passed on a 9-2 roll call vote.

10HseState0318AttachD.pdf
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Casso
Yes
Court
Yes
DelGrosso
Yes
Hullinghorst
Yes
McCann
Yes
Miklosi
Yes
Murray
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Waller
No
Labuda
No
Todd
Yes
Not Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



12:08 PM

Discussion ensued regarding the potential for laying the bill over to work on further amendments.


12:09 PM

House Bill 10-1354 was laid over to March 23. The committee adjourned.