Joint Committee Committee on Joint State Veterans & Military Affairs Committee (01/19/2011)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT STATE VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Date:	01/19/2011	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:31 PM to 03:38 PM	Bacon	X
		Baumgardner	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Boyd	*
		Cadman	E
This Meeting was called to order by		Coram	X
	Senator Heath	Court	X
		Grantham	X
This Report was prepared by		Heath	X
	Bo Pogue	Kerr J.	X
		Levy	X
		Liston	X
		Miklosi	*
		Todd	*
		Waller
		(None), (None)
		(None), (None)
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Briefing by Joint Budget Committee Department of Military and Veterans Affairs		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

01:32 PM -- Briefing by Joint Budget Committee

The committee was called to order. The chair dispensed with roll. The membership of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) first briefed the joint committee on the FY 2011-12 budget request for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Representative Becker walked the committee through the request based on information found in the JBC's Summary of FY 2011-12 Budget Briefings (a copy of the document is on file with Legislative Council Staff). Representative Becker also provided background on the functions of the department, and recent hearings conducted between the JBC and the department. The background included information on the efficacy of certain programs administered by the department. Mr. David Meng, JBC Staff, responded to questions regarding the ability of the department to use federal funds to cover the personal services associated with departmental programs that are currently not functioning due to a lack of funds.

01:42 PM

Discussion ensued regarding the ability of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to use property and assets seized during drug enforcement activities. Discussion followed regarding the repayment of moneys to the Veterans Trust Fund that were used to cover state costs associated with construction of new National Guard readiness centers. Representatives Becker and Gerou responded to questions regarding past-year cuts to the department's maintenance and operating budget, and how those line items are affected in the FY 2011-12 budget request. Discussion ensued regarding the ability to divert funds dedicated to constructing readiness centers to controlled maintenance on existing facilities.

01:53 PM

Representative Becker presented the FY 2011-12 budget request for the Department of State, and provided background on the department's functions. Representative Becker also provided input on the efficacy of certain programs administered by the department, and discussed the source of some of the cash funds that sustain the department's programs, including fees and fines. The committee discussed the amount of outstanding fines that have been collected by the department.

02:03 PM

Discussion ensued regarding the connection between business filing fees assessed by the Department of State and the funding of the state's elections, and the state's business filing rates compared to other states. Discussion returned to the subject of uncollected fines, and reasons that the fines remain uncollected. Discussion then returned to the connection between business filing fees and funding elections. Discussion followed regarding the campaign finance system in general.

02:13 PM

Representative Becker provided an overview of the state's elections expenditures history. Discussion ensued regarding reform of certain election processes.

02:15 PM

The committee recessed.

02:28 PM -- Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

The committee returned to order. General H. Michael Edwards, Adjutant General, and Mr. Mickey Hunt, Deputy Director, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, briefed the joint committee on the department and its programs. Committee members received a packet of slides outlining the briefing, prepared by the department (Attachment A). General Edwards first provided an overview of the Colorado Army National Guard and its functions and priorities, including overseas deployments and the construction of readiness centers to accommodate a new battalion. General Edwards discussed the funding sources for constructing the readiness centers. Mr. Hunt responded to questions regarding using proceeds from the sale of certain department properties to help fund the construction of the new readiness centers, and the use of Veterans Trust Fund moneys to assist with constructing the facilities.

02:38 PM

Discussion continued regarding the sources of funding for constructing new readiness centers, and the potential for selling off department properties to fund new construction. General Edwards responded to questions regarding the time frame for providing the required state match to federal funding associated with the new construction. General Edwards provided an overview of the Colorado Air National Guard including overseas activities and deployments, and discussed its priorities. General Edwards responded to questions regarding the impact of the U.S. Military's transition to new aircraft technology on the Colorado Air National Guard. General Edwards next briefed the joint committee on the Colorado National Guard Joint Force Headquarters and its activities.

02:49 PM

General Edwards discussed international partnerships between the Colorado National Guard and troops from other countries such as Slovenia and Jordan. Discussion ensued regarding this program. General Edwards then provided an overview of the National Guard's family programs.

02:59 PM

Mr. Hunt briefed the committee on the department's strategic plan. Mr. Bill Conroy, Director of the Division of Veterans Affairs, briefed the committee on the division's activities. Mr. Conroy responded to questions regarding the means testing of certain veterans benefits. General Edwards and Mr. Hunt next briefed the committee on the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' 2011 legislative priorities. Mr. Hunt responded to questions regarding the current situation with controlled and deferred maintenance associated with the department's real estate holdings, and the impact of the state's current budget situation on facility upkeep.

03:12 PM

General Edwards briefed the committee on the department's future missions. Colonel Ed Phelka, Division of Civil Air Patrol, briefed the committee on the Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and its activities over the past year. Colonel Phelka also briefed the committee on the Civil Air Patrol's cadet program. Colonel Phelka responded to questions regarding the ability of the Civil Air Patrol to recoup costs associated with search and rescue missions. Colonel Phelka responded to further questions regarding the number of pilots in the Civil Air Patrol.

03:23 PM

Mr. Ralph Bozella, Chair, Board of Veterans Affairs, briefed the joint committee on the board's activities and mission. Mr. Bozella also discussed the status of the Veterans Trust Fund and the state veterans nursing homes, and briefed the committee on other board initiatives planned for 2011. Mr. Bozella responded to questions regarding the potential impact of the retirement of the "baby boom" generation on the ability of the state veterans nursing homes to provide services to veterans. Discussion ensued regarding the ability of the board and the department to accommodate soldiers with traumatic brain injuries returning from overseas deployment. Discussion followed regarding the use of moneys from the Veterans Trust Fund for readiness center construction.

03:38 PM

There was no public testimony. The committee adjourned.