House Committee on Finance (03/14/2013)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	03/14/2013	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:17 AM to 10:52 AM	DelGrosso	X
		Foote	X
Place:	LSB A	Joshi	X
		Kagan	X
This Meeting was called to order by		May	X
	Representative Court	Melton	X
		Pabon	X
This Report was prepared by		Priola	X
	Ron Kirk	Saine	X
		Swalm	X
		Wilson	X
		Labuda	X
		Court	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB13-179 SB13-190		Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations

10:17 AM -- Senate Bill 13-190 - Concerning the Colorado Financial Reporting System Modernization Project

Representative Gerou, prime sponsor, distributed a handout on the bill (Attachment A) and explained the provisions of the bill. She began by saying that the bill authorizes the State Treasurer to enter into lease-purchase agreements on behalf of the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) for a period of up to nine years to complete the Colorado Financial Reporting System (COFRS) Modernization project. She noted that the bill will result in a $3.8 million savings from the General Fund. Representative Gerou continued by noting the bill also requires OIT to add specific functions to COFRS identified as important by various legislative agencies, or to provide an explanation as to why such functionality cannot be incorporated into the system.

13HseFin0314AttachA.pdf

The following persons testified.

10:19 AM -- Ms. Dara Hessee, Office of Information Technology, responded to committee questions.

10:20 AM -- Ms. Brenda Berlin, Office of Information Technology, responded to committee questions.


BILL:	SB13-190
TIME:	10:22:55 AM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-5.
SECONDED:	Pabon
		VOTE
	DelGrosso	Excused
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kagan	Yes
	May	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	No
	Saine	No
	Swalm	No
	Wilson	No
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 5 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:41 AM -- Senate Bill 13-179 - Concerning Greyhound Racing

Representative Williams, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the bill. She began by noting that under current law, when there is no live greyhound race at a Colorado licensed greyhound track, a class B horse track, licensed by the Division of Racing Events in the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR), is authorized to simulcast greyhound races and conduct parimutuel wagering on those races. The statutory authority for such simulcasts and associated parimutuel wagering expires after June 30, 2014. The bill repeals this expiration date and extends the authority for such simulcasts indefinitely.

After a brief committee discussion, Representative Williams asked if Mr. Dan Williams could provide the committee with some history on racing industry in Colorado.

The following persons testified:

10:43 AM -- Mr. Dan Williams, representing Mile High Racing and Entertainment, testified in support of the bill. He noted that the statutory authority for simulcasting greyhound races at a class B horse track was initially established by Senate Bill 09-174, which at the same time established the June 30, 2014, sunset date. The committee discussed parimutuel racing in Colorado. Mr. Williams responded by saying that pursuant to SB 09-174, the Division of Racing Events issued a series of reports concerning the status of parimutuel racing in Colorado. The most recent report, released in January 2012, details various economic and statutory changes that have led to simulcasting at licensed parimutuel facilities as a supplement to live racing events. He continued by noting that historically, simulcasting is restricted in favor of live racing events. However, controls on simulcasting have been relaxed as the number of tracks supporting live racing events has declined. Colorado's last greyhound track closed in June 2008.

The committee discussed the history of policy changes as they apply to greyhound racing. Mr. Williams continued by saying that for greyhound simulcasts at class B horse tracks, SB 09-174 directed that certain fees otherwise assessed to Colorado State University (CSU) for funding racing-related equine research be deposited in a trust fund for either greyhound race purses or, in the absence of live greyhound races, to organizations that promote the welfare of racing greyhounds. Approximately $5,850 is deposited in the greyhound purse trust fund each month.

10:45 AM -- Mr. Randy Cloud, representing Red and Jerry's, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Cloud discussed his family's former involvement in the operation of a greyhound racing track and the parimutuel wagering business his family currently operates.

10:49 AM -- Mr. David Reitz, representing the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association, testified in support of the bill.

10:50 AM -- Ms. Shannon Rushton, representing the Colorado Horse Racing Association, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:	SB13-179
TIME:	10:50:52 AM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 13-179 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:	Saine
		VOTE
	DelGrosso	Yes
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	May	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Saine	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

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

10:52 AM

The committee adjourned.