Joint Committee Committee on Joint Business Affairs & Labor (01/24/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT BUSINESS AFFAIRS & LABOR

Date:	01/24/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:59 AM to 11:03 AM	Aguilar	X
		Balmer	*
Place:	HCR 0112	Court	E
		Harvey	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Holbert	X
	Senator Tochtrop	Jahn	*
		Miklosi	E
This Report was prepared by		Mitchell	*
	Dave DeNovellis	Priola	X
		Soper	X
		Swalm	X
		Swerdfeger	*
		Szabo	X
		Tyler	X
		White	X
		Williams A.	X
		Williams S.	X
		Wilson	X
		Liston	E
		Tochtrop	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Meeting with the JBC pursuant to HB 10-1119		Committee Discussion Only

09:59 AM

Senator Tochtrop, chair, called the meeting to order.

10:01 AM -- Meeting with the JBC pursuant to HB 10-1119

Senator Tochtrop stated that the purpose of the joint committee meeting was to present recommendations on the departments the committees oversee to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) pursuant to HB 10-1119 (The SMART Government Act) and Joint Rule 25. She stated that the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee had no recommendations to the JBC and the House Economic and Business Development had one recommendation. Committee staff handed out each committee's recommendation letter (Attachments A and B). Senator Hodge, vice-chair of the JBC, introduced the members of her committee and gave a brief overview of the committee's presentation.

10:02 AM

Senator Hodge began by discussing the Department of Labor and Employment's budgetary requests to the JBC. Members of the JBC responded to questions from the committee about unemployment insurance payments and technology needs for the department. Discussion ensued.

Senator Steadman introduced the JBC staff and suggested that the Capital Development Committee be a part of the SMART Act briefings in the future because requests for technology upgrades go through that committee.

10:12 AM

Discussion continued about technology needs for the departments. Senator Williams asked that the JBC make the Department of Labor and Employment a higher priority. Representative Gerou responded and stated that the JBC appreciates the committees of reference getting involved, and encouraged members to attend the department budget hearings.

10:25 AM

Senator Steadman responded to questions from Senator Mitchell regarding unemployment insurance and the benefits and drawbacks of federal, multi-state, and state-independent programs.

Rep. Tyler stated that he is forming a legislative technology caucus and invited everyone to participate.

10:30 AM

Senator Hodge discussed the Department of Personnel and Administration's budgetary requests to the JBC. Members of the JBC responded to questions from the committee regarding the department and the recommendations. Discussion ensued regarding health insurance benefits for state employees, retention and recruitment of state employees, and salary increases and bonuses, and the lack thereof, for state employees.

10:44 AM

Discussion continued regarding the JBC's Department of Personnel and Administration presentation.

10:52 AM

Senator Hodge discussed the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) budgetary requests to the JBC. Representative Holbert discussed the House Economic and Business Development Committee's recommendation that DORA provide a report that lists the total number of entities, professions, or groups regulated by the department, and the number of professionals within those entities, professions, or groups for each of the last five years. Representative Gerou responded that the committees of reference do not need approval from the JBC to ask for reports from departments. Members of the JBC responded to questions from the committee regarding fees charged and DORA sunrise and sunset processes. Senator Tochtrop spoke about how fees change related to the amount of complaints in a regulated profession. Senator Steadman noted that there are some professions that have so few members that fees can be restrictive.

11:01 AM

Senator Hodge presented the Office of Information Technology's (OIT) budgetary requests to the JBC. The committee had no additional questions for the JBC regarding OIT

11:03 AM

The committee adjourned.

10:26 PM -- House Bill 12-1280

10:26 AM -- House Bill 12-1280

Representative Coram, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1280, which authorizes the Colorado Lottery Commission to license no more than two lottery retailers to install and operate video lottery terminals at up to three sites within the state. The bill defines a video lottery terminal (VLT) to mean an electronic computerized game machine that: is networked and can be monitored, controlled, and audited by a central technology system; upon insertion of cash value, is available to play a video game of chance authorized by the Lottery Division; and uses microprocessors to award to a player, on the basis of chance, free games or credits evidenced by a printed pay voucher redeemable for currency. The bill states that a video lottery terminal is not a machine or device that directly disburses coins, cash, tokens, or any item of value other than a printed pay voucher; or a machine or device defined as a slot machine in the state constitution. Representative Coram answered questions from the committee.

The following individuals testified:

10:42 AM -- Larry Hill, Triple Crown Casinos, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the similarities of video lotteries to slot machines and the impact VLTs will have on gaming towns. he distributed Attachment F. Mr. Hill answered questions from the committee.

10:50 AM -- Ed and Shirley Smith, Wild Card Casino, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impact VLTs will have on their casinos. They distributed Attachment G.

10:55 AM -- Mark Grueskin, Colorado Gaming Association and Cory Hoffmann, City of Black Hawk, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the limitations of gaming in the constitution in the cities of Black Hawk and Central City.

11:04 AM -- Bill Mosher, Trammell Crow, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the bill's impact to the state's gaming revenues.

11:07 AM -- Sally Hopper, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to the State Historical Fund and historic preservation.

11:12 AM -- Grayson Robinson, Arapahoe County Sheriff, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impact of a VLT sites in Arapahoe County.

11:16 AM -- Nancy Sharpe, Arapahoe County Commissioners, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to Arapahoe County's infrastructure and law enforcement.

11:21 AM -- Mark Williams, Mayor City of Arvada, spoke in opposition to the bill.

11:23 AM -- Nick Hoover, Colorado Restaurant Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to restaurants.

11:24 AM -- Cathy Garcia, Action 22, spoke in opposition to the bill and distributed Attachment H.

11:29 AM -- Jean Dubofsky, Mile High Racing, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the bill's constitutionality.

11:33 AM -- John Anderson, Mile High Racing, spoke in support of the bill, and discussed the constitutionality of the bill and explained Colorado Supreme Court opinions on the issue. He distributed Attachment J.

11:36 AM -- Diane Schwenke, Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of the bill and the impacts of the bill on businesses and community colleges.

11:42 AM -- Dr. Lance Bolten, Colorado Community Colleges, spoke inn support of the bill and explained how community colleges would benefit from the bill.

11:45 AM -- Shannon Rushton, Colorado Horse Racing Association, spoke in support of the bill and discussed how the bill will help the horse racing industry.

11:52 AM -- Ray Teutsch, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed horse racing in Colorado.

11:56 AM -- Mark Suprka, Colorado Community College, answered questions from the committee about the impacts to community colleges.

11:58 AM -- Brent Beeman, Running B Stables, spoke in support of the bill, and discussed his profession as a horse trainer and racer and how the bill will help him.

12:03 PM -- Mark Hillman, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed racing tracks and horse racing in the state.

12:04 PM

The bill was laid over. The committee adjourned.

10:26 PM -- House Bill 12-1280

10:26 AM -- House Bill 12-1280

Representative Coram, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1280, which authorizes the Colorado Lottery Commission to license no more than two lottery retailers to install and operate video lottery terminals at up to three sites within the state. The bill defines a video lottery terminal (VLT) to mean an electronic computerized game machine that: is networked and can be monitored, controlled, and audited by a central technology system; upon insertion of cash value, is available to play a video game of chance authorized by the Lottery Division; and uses microprocessors to award to a player, on the basis of chance, free games or credits evidenced by a printed pay voucher redeemable for currency. The bill states that a video lottery terminal is not a machine or device that directly disburses coins, cash, tokens, or any item of value other than a printed pay voucher; or a machine or device defined as a slot machine in the state constitution. Representative Coram answered questions from the committee.

The following individuals testified:

10:42 AM -- Larry Hill, Triple Crown Casinos, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the similarities of video lotteries to slot machines and the impact VLTs will have on gaming towns. he distributed Attachment F. Mr. Hill answered questions from the committee.

10:50 AM -- Ed and Shirley Smith, Wild Card Casino, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impact VLTs will have on their casinos. They distributed Attachment G.

10:55 AM -- Mark Grueskin, Colorado Gaming Association and Cory Hoffmann, City of Black Hawk, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the limitations of gaming in the constitution in the cities of Black Hawk and Central City.

11:04 AM -- Bill Mosher, Trammell Crow, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the bill's impact to the state's gaming revenues.

11:07 AM -- Sally Hopper, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to the State Historical Fund and historic preservation.

11:12 AM -- Grayson Robinson, Arapahoe County Sheriff, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impact of a VLT sites in Arapahoe County.

11:16 AM -- Nancy Sharpe, Arapahoe County Commissioners, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to Arapahoe County's infrastructure and law enforcement.

11:21 AM -- Mark Williams, Mayor City of Arvada, spoke in opposition to the bill.

11:23 AM -- Nick Hoover, Colorado Restaurant Association, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the impacts of the bill to restaurants.

11:24 AM -- Cathy Garcia, Action 22, spoke in opposition to the bill and distributed Attachment H.

11:29 AM -- Jean Dubofsky, Mile High Racing, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the bill's constitutionality.

11:33 AM -- John Anderson, Mile High Racing, spoke in support of the bill, and discussed the constitutionality of the bill and explained Colorado Supreme Court opinions on the issue. He distributed Attachment J.

11:36 AM -- Diane Schwenke, Chamber of Commerce, spoke in support of the bill and the impacts of the bill on businesses and community colleges.

11:42 AM -- Dr. Lance Bolten, Colorado Community Colleges, spoke inn support of the bill and explained how community colleges would benefit from the bill.

11:45 AM -- Shannon Rushton, Colorado Horse Racing Association, spoke in support of the bill and discussed how the bill will help the horse racing industry.

11:52 AM -- Ray Teutsch, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed horse racing in Colorado.

11:56 AM -- Mark Suprka, Colorado Community College, answered questions from the committee about the impacts to community colleges.

11:58 AM -- Brent Beeman, Running B Stables, spoke in support of the bill, and discussed his profession as a horse trainer and racer and how the bill will help him.

12:03 PM -- Mark Hillman, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill and discussed racing tracks and horse racing in the state.

12:04 PM

The bill was laid over. The committee adjourned.