Date: 03/26/2013
Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-157
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR, ECONOMIC, & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
| Votes: View--> | Action Taken: |
| Refer Senate Bill 13-157 to the Committee of the W | PASS |
01:53 PM -- Senate Bill 13-157
Representatives Exum and Kraft-Tharp, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 13-157 to the committee. The bill extends the Colorado Work Share Program in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) indefinitely and implements recommendations of the Department of Regulatory Agencies' (DORA) sunset review. Representative Exum discussed the merits of the bill and Representative Kraft-Tharp discussed DORA's sunset review. The sponsors responded to a question from Representative DelGrosso on the reason behind continuing this program indefinitely, to which the response was to qualify for federal grants. Representative Navarro asked how this legislation would affect part-time employees. Representative DelGrosso asked a question about the program's vulnerability to fraud. Representative Kraft-Tharp responded that businesses must submit specific criteria and a plan. Representative DelGrosso asked if this bill gives advantages to mismanaged businesses. Representative Kraft-Tharp discussed the bill's ability to bring federal funds to the state to restore unemployment insurance (UI) funds.
The following individuals provided testimony to the committee:
02:10 PM -- Brian Tobias, Senior Policy Analyst with DORA's Research and Regulatory Reform department, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Tobias presented an overview of the sunset process and responded to questions from the committee. Representative DelGrosso asked a question on the sunset process. Representative Szabo asked questions on UI benefits. Representative Hamner asked a question on the indefinite nature of the bill. Representative Szabo asked a question on federal reimbursement.
02:21 PM -- Pat Teegarden, CDLE, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated that nine companies and 65 employees benefit currently benefit from the program. Mr. Teegarden reiterated the federal reimbursement component of the bill, and discussed the UI trust fund. Representative Szabo asked if the bill affects an employers' UI cost. Mr. Teegarden discussed employers' experience rating's effect on premium payments. Mr. Teegarden continued to respond to technical questions on UI benefits.
02:29 PM -- Angela Pfannenstiel, CDLE, came to the table to discuss specifics on the UI program. Ms. Pfannenstiel responded to Representative Szabo's question on how the workshare program differs from regular UI benefits. Representative Hamner discussed her perceptions of the program. Ms. Pfannenstiel stated that after the 26-week workshare program period, employees are still eligible for regular UI benefits for another 26 weeks.
02:32 PM -- Rich Jones, Bell Policy Center, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Jones distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment C). Mr. Jones stated that the program was working effectively in 24 other states and responded to questions from the committee.
130326 AttachC.pdf
02:39 PM
Committee discussion ensued on the funding of the UI benefits program.
02:39 PM -- Pat Teegarden, CDLE, returned to the table to clarify questions about federal UI benefit funding.
 | |
| BILL: | SB13-157 | |
| TIME: | 02:46:14 PM |
| MOVED: | Exum |
| MOTION: | Refer Senate Bill 13-157 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5. |
| SECONDED: | Kraft-Tharp |
| VOTE |
| DelGrosso | No |
| Exum | Yes |
| Hamner | Yes |
| Holbert | No |
| Navarro | No |
| Nordberg | No |
| Rosenthal | Yes |
| Ryden | Yes |
| Szabo | No |
| Kraft-Tharp | Yes |
| Williams | Yes |
| | |
YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS |