House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs (04/26/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Date:	04/26/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:26 AM to 11:33 AM	Baumgardner	X
		Casso	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Court	X
		Duran	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Joshi	X
	Representative Kerr J.	Liston	X
		Todd	X
This Report was prepared by		Coram	X
	Bo Pogue	Kerr J.	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB12-1350 SB12-004		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Committee Vote - Final Action Failed

10:26 AM -- House Bill 12-1350

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Representative Waller, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1350, concerning in-state tuition classification for dependents of members of the armed forces. Representative Waller explained the effect of the bill, and discussed its need. Discussion ensued regarding the fiscal impact of the bill, and comparisons to other legislation recently heard by the committee that impacts tuition at higher education institutions. Discussion followed regarding the connection between a college degree and employability, and the struggle some face in financing a college education.

10:36 AM

Discussion ensued regarding other states that have passed legislation similar to House Bill 12-1350, language in the legislation pertaining to a student graduating outside the state of Colorado, and the permissive nature of the bill.

10:39 AM

The following persons testified regarding House Bill 12-1350:

10:39 AM -- Ms. Sue Sharkey, University of Colorado (CU) Regent representing CU, testified in support of the bill. Regent Sharkey discussed the Board of Regents' support for the bill, and her experiences as a child of a member of the military, which involved a number of relocations. She discussed the nature of military service, which usually involves relocation, and the value of recognizing this fact through reduced tuition for dependents of military service members who relocate from Colorado. Regent Sharkey responded to questions regarding the ability of dependents to object to a family relocation based on military service.

10:46 AM -- General Ed Anderson, representing CU, testified in support of the bill. General Anderson discussed his work at CU Colorado Springs, and related his experience in relocating his family based on military service. Representative Waller addressed the issue of the number of states that have passed legislation similar to House Bill 12-1350.

10:52 AM -- Mr. Nate Gorman, representing the United Veterans Committee, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:	HB12-1350
TIME:	10:53:49 AM
MOVED:	Todd
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 12-1350 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.
SECONDED:	Court
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Casso	Yes
	Court	Yes
	Duran	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Liston	Excused
	Todd	Yes
	Coram	Excused
	Kerr J.	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:55 AM

The committee recessed.

11:01 AM -- Senate Bill 12-004

The committee returned to order. Representative Miklosi, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-004, concerning the creation of a procurement preference to be granted for materials manufactured in the United States. Representative Miklosi discussed the intent of the bill, and explained its effect. Committee members received a letter in support of the bill (Attachment A), and a news article about a "buy American" policy adopted in San Francisco (Attachment B). Discussion ensued regarding the fiscal impact of the bill, and the global nature of the economy, which results in products and product components consisting of parts from global sources.

11:05 AM

The following persons testified regarding Senate Bill 12-004:

11:05 AM -- Mr. Andrew Persons, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Persons compared the bill to a tariff, and discussed the costs that would accrue to the taxpayer if it were to pass. He also discussed the misallocation of resources that would be encouraged by the bill. Representative Miklosi addressed Mr. Persons' testimony.

11:07 AM -- Mr. Mike O'Connell, representing the Colorado American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, testified in support of the bill. Mr. O'Connell discussed the loss of manufacturing jobs in the United States during the recent economic downturn, and the merits of Senate Bill 12-004. Mr. O'Connell discussed the countries that would be included within the procurement preference created by the bill based on the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement. Discussion ensued regarding the WTO clause in the reengrossed bill. Discussion followed regarding the types of products that would be impacted by the bill, and the ability to ensure that the products procured under the preference created by the bill are manufactured in the United States.

11:16 AM

The committee recessed.

11:17 AM

The committee returned to order.

11:17 AM -- Mr. Noel Ginsberg, representing Intertech Plastics, testified in support of Senate Bill 12-004. Mr. Ginsberg discussed his company's work, and the decline in manufacturing in the United States, resulting in the loss of domestic manufacturing jobs. He discussed foreign competition in the manufacturing sector, and the importance of employment availability to the future of the United States. Mr. Ginsberg discussed the merits of the bill. Mr. Ginsberg responded to questions regarding the number of employees that have been laid off from his company that have subsequently relied on public assistance. Discussion ensued regarding a company under Mr. Ginsberg's oversight that is relocating back to the United States from China, and the trend of companies returning to the United States in general.

11:28 AM

Mr. Ginsberg responded to questions regarding the appropriateness of the preference created by the bill, in light of changing trends in global manufacturing. Mr. Ginsberg responded to questions regarding the impact of the cost of energy on his business.

11:31 AM

No amendments were offered to Senate Bill 12-004.


BILL:	SB12-004
TIME:	11:31:32 AM
MOVED:	Todd
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-004 to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The motion failed on a 4-4 vote.
SECONDED:	Court
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	No
	Casso	Yes
	Court	Yes
	Duran	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Liston	Excused
	Todd	Yes
	Coram	No
	Kerr J.	No

YES: 4 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE

11:33 AM

The committee adjourned.