House Committee on Local Government (01/30/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:	01/30/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:31 PM to 02:29 PM	Conti	*
		Fields	X
Place:	HCR 0111	Gardner B.	*
		Kerr J.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Labuda	X
	Representative Szabo	Lee	X
		Pace	X
This Report was prepared by		Soper	X
	Raegan Robb	Swerdfeger	X
		Balmer	X
		Szabo	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB12-1017 Recommendations concerning DOLA strategic plan Recommendations to the JBC concerning DOLA budget		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Discussion Only Discussion Only

01:31 PM

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

01:31 PM -- House Bill 12-1017

Representatives Swerdfeger and Pace, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 11-1017, concerning the extension of the Local Access to Health Care Pilot Program operated under the authority of the Pueblo Board of County Commissioners. Representative Swerdfeger explained that the bill extends the Local Access to Health Care Pilot Program, which authorizes of the Pueblo Board of County Commissioners to create and contract with a provider to operate the pilot health care program within the county. Representative Pace explained that the program was created under House Bill 07-1022 to provide access to health care services to working individuals in Pueblo County. The program is operated by a nonprofit organization called Health Access Pueblo and is available to employers with two or more eligible employees that have not offered health insurance to at least one class of uninsured employees within 12 month and agree to enroll at least 50 percent of their eligible employees. Representative Pace explained that the program does not receive any direct state funding and will be repealed on July 1, 2012, unless the bill is adopted to delay the repeal to July 1, 2017. Representatives Pace and Swerdfeger addressed questions from the committee concerning the success of the pilot program.

01:39 PM

Laura Kelly, president, Health Access Pueblo, testified in support of the bill, explained the functions of the pilot program, and discussed the funding mechanisms for health insurance under the program. Ms. Kelly addressed questions from the committee concerning the funding sources that currently funds the pilot program and she explained that the program helps cover children who are not eligible for the Children's Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Ms. Kelly also responded to questions concerning the limit on services to members under the pilot program and the impact to the program caused by the federal Affordable Care Act.

01:48 PM

Karen Lillie, Pueblo Diversified Industries, testified in support of the bill, discussed the ability for employers to use the Access to Health Care Pilot Program, and responded to questions from the committee. Ms. Lillie distributed a support letter from Action 22 Inc. (Attachment A) and information concerning Pueblo Diversified Industries (Attachment B) to the committee.

01:51 PM

Donald Moore, Pueblo Community Health Center, testified in support of the bill, discussed the benefits of the pilot program, and addressed questions from the committee concerning the pilot program and other programs in the state like Cover Colorado.


BILL:	HB12-1017
TIME:	01:55:43 PM
MOVED:	Swerdfeger
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 12-1017 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0-1.
SECONDED:	Pace
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Excused
	Kerr J.	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Balmer	Yes
	Szabo	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:57 PM -- Recommendations concerning the FY 2012-13 strategic plan for the Department of Local Affairs

Bruce Eisenhauer, Deputy Executive Director, Department of Local Affairs, addressed the committee to discuss the department's strategic plan, summarized some of the department's priorities under the strategic plan, and responded to questions from the committee concerning the department's budget for FY 2012-13. Committee discussion ensued concerning housing programs offered by the Division of Housing and rural areas of the state that do not have building code enforcement.

02:07 PM

Representatives Conti and Lee, Committee Liaisons, discussed the departments strategic plan and talked about possible recommendations to the department. Committee discussion ensued concerning the need for the department to assist smaller local governments that need to develop long-term plans for major infrastructure and assure compliance with state and federal requirements for water and waste water projects.

02:12 PM

Mr. Eisenhauer discussed how the Division of Local Government serves smaller local governments for major infrastructure projects. Committee discussion ensued concerning the need for the department to take measures to assist smaller local government that need to develop long-term planning for community improvement and infrastructure needs. Mr. Eisenhauer also responded to questions concerning programs provided by the Division of Housing and discussed the importance of providing short-term assistance to individuals or families that need affordable housing. He discussed the need for collaboration between governmental entities, nonprofit groups, and citizens in order to solve problems within a community.

02:21 PM -- Recommendations to the Joint Budget Committee regarding the FY 2012-13 budget for the Department of Local Affairs

Mr. Eisenhauer addressed questions from the committee concerning recommendations from the Senate Local Government Committee to explore alternative funding for the essential services for wildfire mitigation. He also responded to questions concerning state and federal unfunded mandates that burden local government. He then discussed Executive Order D 2011-005, issued by Governor Hickenlooper, which directs state agencies to enhance relations with local governments and limit unfunded mandates from state agencies. He also responded to questions concerning the increase of 19.5 FTEs for the department due to the consolidation of housing assistance programs from the Department of Human Services into DOLA.

02:29 PM

The committee adjourned.