Date: 04/04/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-158

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-158 to the CommitteePASS



10:33 AM

Representative Bradford, committee chair, called the meeting to order.


10:34 AM -- Senate Bill 12-158

Representative Bradford, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-158, concerning the consolidation of two public housing agencies within the Division of Housing in the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Representative Bradford explained that the bill was a cleanup bill for House Bill 11-1230, which consolidated the Housing Assistance Programs from the Department of Human Services into DOLA. She explained that the bill clarifies that the Division of Housing is the sole public housing agency for the purpose of meeting federal requirements. The bill also shifts the administration of the Homeless Prevention Activities Program (HPAP) to the Division of Housing and allows the division to provide financial housing assistance to both households with low income and to persons with disabilities under the Supportive Housing Program (SHP).


10:35 AM

Bruce Eisenhauer, the Deputy Director of DOLA, testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to clarify state law, established by House Bill 11-1230, and to consolidate the two housing programs into the Division of Housing. Mr. Eisenhauer discussed the need for the bill in order to comply with mandates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which require a single public housing authority for each state. He also talked about the LEAN Management priority, implemented by Governor Hickenlooper, and the department's goal to create efficiencies within the Division of Housing for distributing housing grants and improving other areas within the division. Mr. Eisenhauer responded to questions from the committee concerning the need to consolidate the state's public housing authority for the HUD and discussed the types of federal dollars that the division distributes for housing assistance. Mr. Eisenhauer responded to questions concerning the fiscal note of the bill and explained that a $5,000 fiscal impact would result from transferring the voluntary tax check-off program that funds HPAP into the Division of Housing from the nonprofit organization that currently administers the program.


10:44 AM

Annmarie Jensen, representing Housing Colorado, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of providing housing assistance to households with low income and persons with disabilities. Ms. Jensen responded to questions from the committee concerning the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program implemented by the HUD.


10:49 AM

Representative Bradford entered closing comments on the bill.
BILL:SB12-158
TIME: 10:49:58 AM
MOVED:Bradford
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-158 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Conti
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Conti
Yes
Fields
Yes
Gardner B.
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Lee
Yes
Pace
Yes
Soper
Yes
Swerdfeger
Yes
Szabo
Yes
Bradford
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS