House Committee on Finance (02/09/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	02/09/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	12:22 PM to 02:03 PM	Acree	X
		Beezley	X
Place:	LSB A	Conti	X
		Hullinghorst	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Joshi	X
	Representative DelGrosso	Kagan	X
		Kefalas	X
This Report was prepared by		Labuda	X
	Ron Kirk	McCann	X
		Pabon	X
		Swalm	X
		Swerdfeger	X
		DelGrosso	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB12-1006 HB12-1066 HB12-1075		Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to Appropriations Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

12:23 PM -- House Bill 12-1006 - Red Cross Income Tax Checkoff

Representative Todd, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 12-1006 creates a new income tax return checkoff to collect donations for the American Red Cross Colorado Disaster Response, Readiness, and Preparedness Fund, a registered Colorado-based 501 (c) (3) public charity organization. After subtracting the Department of Revenue's programming costs and expenses to administer contributions, the remaining money would be transferred to the fund. She closed by saying that fund money would be used by the American Red Cross Colorado Chapters to help prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies in assisting victims of disasters.

The following persons testified:

12:27 PM -- Ms. Kate Meyer, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions about the bill.

12:31 PM -- Mr. Gino Greco, representing the American Red Cross, testified in support of the bill. He explained the role of the American Red Cross when responding to disasters and discussed the types of training that prepares citizens to respond to disasters.

12:32 PM -- Mr. Erin Mounsey, representing the American Red Cross, testified in support of the bill. He discussed his personal experiences with the American Red Cross.


BILL:	HB12-1006
TIME:	12:38:02 PM
MOVED:	Swalm
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 12-1006 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:	Kagan
		VOTE
	Acree	Yes
	Beezley	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Hullinghorst	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Kefalas	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	McCann	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	DelGrosso	Yes

Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:44 PM -- House Bill 12-1066 - Concerning Vehicles Laws for ATVs

Representative Priola, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 12-1066 details the provisions under which off-road and powersports vehicles, also known as off-highway vehicles (OHVs), can be driven on roads. He noted that these provisions are primarily safety-related. Representative Priola closed by noting that the bill also aligns the OHV registration, titling, and insurance process with other motor vehicles.

The committee discussed the question of whether some local governments can opt out of certain requirements under the bill. The discussion continued on the subject of the local control issue for counties and cities.

The following persons testified:

01:04 PM -- Mr. Jery Payne, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to committee questions about the bill.

01:14 PM -- Mr. Mark Radtke, representing the Colorado Municipal League and Colorado Counties Inc., testified in opposition of the bill. Mr. Radtke discussed local government policies that affect powersports vehicles that would be impacted by the legislation.

01:26 PM -- Ms. Dianna Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in opposition of the bill.


BILL:	HB12-1066
TIME:	01:30:44 PM
MOVED:	Conti
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Swerdfeger
		VOTE
	Acree
	Beezley
	Conti
	Hullinghorst
	Joshi
	Kagan
	Kefalas
	Labuda
	McCann
	Pabon
	Swalm
	Swerdfeger
	DelGrosso

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB12-1066
TIME:	01:34:39 PM
MOVED:	Kagan
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.004 (Attachment B). The motion passed on a vote of 10-3.
SECONDED:	Swerdfeger
		VOTE
	Acree	Yes
	Beezley	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Hullinghorst	No
	Joshi	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Kefalas	No
	Labuda	No
	McCann	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	DelGrosso	Yes

YES: 10 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB12-1066
TIME:	01:42:20 PM
MOVED:	Conti
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.005 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Swerdfeger
		VOTE
	Acree
	Beezley
	Conti
	Hullinghorst
	Joshi
	Kagan
	Kefalas
	Labuda
	McCann
	Pabon
	Swalm
	Swerdfeger
	DelGrosso

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB12-1066
TIME:	01:42:43 PM
MOVED:	Swerdfeger
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 12-1066, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 9-4.
SECONDED:	Acree
		VOTE
	Acree	Yes
	Beezley	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Hullinghorst	No
	Joshi	Yes
	Kagan	No
	Kefalas	No
	Labuda	Yes
	McCann	Yes
	Pabon	No
	Swalm	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	DelGrosso	Yes

Final YES: 9 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:45 PM -- House Bill 12-1075 - Six Percent Appropriations Limit

Representative Beezley and Representative DelGrosso, prime sponsors, explained the provisions of the bill. Representative DelGrosso noted that under current law, General Fund appropriations are limited to an amount equal to 5 percent of Colorado personal income. Beginning in FY 2012-13, this bill limits General Fund appropriations growth to 6 percent over the prior year's appropriations. He closed by saying that the bill also requires that year-end surplus revenue above the new 6 percent appropriations limit, net of statutory or constitutionally required reserves, TABOR refunds, and other required transfers, such as Senate Bill 09-228, be distributed as follows:

50% to the newly created State Reserve Fund;

25% to the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF); and

25% to the Capital Construction Fund (CCF).

Representative DelGrosso asked that the committee begin testimony on the bill due to time constraints.

The following persons testified:

01:46 PM -- Mr. Michael Gifford, representing the Associated General Contractors of Colorado, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout on the Controlled Maintenance Fund (Attachment D). Mr. Gifford closed by saying that this bill would be good for the economy because it would generate new jobs.

01:55 PM -- Ms. Carol Hedges, representing the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, testified in opposition of the bill. She noted that the bill will not enable the state to respond to economic downturns in terms of funding vital state services. She closed by discussing some historical examples of budget reductions and said that this bill would limit funding for many state services when the economy slows.

02:03 PM

The committee adjourned.