House Committee on Business, Labor, Economic, & Workforce Development (02/18/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR, ECONOMIC, & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Date:	02/18/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:37 PM to 03:08 PM	Exum	X
		Hamner	X
Place:	LSB A	Holbert	E
		Navarro	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Nordberg	X
	Representative Williams	Rosenthal	*
		Ryden	X
This Report was prepared by		Szabo	X
	Erin Vanderberg	Wright	X
		Kraft-Tharp	X
		Williams	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB14-1168 HB14-1185 HB14-1231		Referred to Finance Amended, Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations

01:38 PM -- HB 14-1168

Representative Williams called the meeting to order. A quorum was present. Representative Duran, sponsor, presented House Bill 14-1168, concerning the repeal of the "Private Investigators Voluntary Licensure Act." In 2011, the General Assembly enacted House Bill 11-1195, authorizing the creation of a voluntary licensure program for Private Investigators (PIs) in the Division of Professions and Occupations in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). This bill, recommended by the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), repeals the voluntary licensure program. Effective July 1, 2014, the division is precluded from accepting new voluntary PI license applications or renewing voluntary PI licenses issued prior to that date. The program repeals when all outstanding licenses expire.

Representative Duran discussed the financial strain the voluntary licensure program had placed on DORA and the purpose of the Senate counterpart of this bill, Senate Bill 14-133, which would require mandatory licensure of private investigators. She stated that HB 14-1168 was a stopgap measure, in case SB 14-133 did not pass. Representative Duran responded to clarifying questions from the committee on the counterpart bill.

01:41 PM -- Dino Ioannides, DORA, came to the table to respond to questions from the committee.


BILL:	HB14-1168
TIME:	01:43:55 PM
MOVED:	Kraft-Tharp
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1168 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0.
SECONDED:	Nordberg
		VOTE
	Exum	Yes
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Excused
	Navarro	Yes
	Nordberg	Yes
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Wright	Yes
	Kraft-Tharp	Yes
	Williams	Yes

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

01:44 PM -- HB 14-1185

Representative Kraft-Tharp, sponsor, presented House Bill 14-1185, concerning the issuance of travel insurance policies. This bill changes the name of travel-ticket-sales insurance to travel insurance and creates a regulatory structure for travel insurance producers. Travel insurance covers personal risks related to planned travel. This includes coverage for trip interruption or cancellation, baggage loss, damages to accommodations or rental vehicles, as well as sickness, accident, disability, or death that occurs during travel.

Representative Kraft-Tharp stated that her bill addresses the need to modernize travel insurance licensing. Representative Kraft-Tharp distributed Amendment L.001 to committee members (Attachment A).

140218 AttachA PM.pdf

The following individuals testified in support of the bill:

01:49 PM -- John Fielding, representing the US Travel Insurance Association, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill is a positive step for both the industry and its consumers. Mr. Fielding discussed the issues facing travel agencies and how this bill would address those issues.

01:52 PM -- Marc Simon, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He distributed his written testimony to members of the committee (Attachment B), which described his experience with travel insurance policies. Mr. Simon responded to questions from the committee.

140218 AttachB PM.pdf

02:02 PM -- Rich Sattizahn, representing the American Society of Travel Agents, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill would bring uniformity in travel insurance, which is currently lacking. Mr. Sattizahn responded to questions from the committee.

02:07 PM -- Kelly Campbell, Property and Casualty Insurers of American, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the bill would provide consistency in travel insurance across states.

02:09 PM

Representative Kraft-Tharp discussed Amendment L.001.


BILL:	HB14-1185
TIME:	02:09:10 PM
MOVED:	Kraft-Tharp
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Ryden
		VOTE
	Exum
	Hamner
	Holbert	Excused
	Navarro
	Nordberg
	Rosenthal
	Ryden
	Szabo
	Wright
	Kraft-Tharp
	Williams

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

02:10 PM

Representative Kraft-Tharp made closing remarks.


BILL:	HB14-1185
TIME:	02:10:51 PM
MOVED:	Kraft-Tharp
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1185, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0.
SECONDED:	Szabo
		VOTE
	Exum	Yes
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Excused
	Navarro	Yes
	Nordberg	Yes
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Wright	Yes
	Kraft-Tharp	Yes
	Williams	Yes

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

02:10 PM

The committee recessed.

02:30 PM -- HB 14-1231

The committee came back to order. Representative Buckner and Representative Kagan presented House Bill 14-1231, concerning the acquisition of a talent analytics tool by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to assess the strength of the state's market intelligence. The bill requires OEDIT to purchase access to a talent data analytics tool in order to conduct a comprehensive study of the state's employee talent base. By November 1, 2014, the OEDIT must enter into a contract with a talent analytics tool provider. The bill specifies the research questions the study must answer. For FY 2014-15, the General Assembly will appropriate up to $225,000 to allow the OEDIT to contract with a data analytics provider, conduct the study, and finalize a report. The OEDIT is responsible for including findings in their annual report submitted to the General Assembly by November 1, 2015. Any unspent moneys at the end of the fiscal year will remain in the OEDIT.

Representative Kagan stated the bill would improve Colorado's ability to attract businesses to the state. Representative Buckner stated that the bill would help the state build its workforce. The sponsors responded to questions from the committee on the provenance of the bill and on company's talent analytics process.

The following individual testified:

02:40 PM -- Ken Lund, OEDIT, testified in support of the bill. Director Lund discussed the importance of competitive intelligence related to the state's workforce. Director Lund responded to questions from the committee.

02:52 PM

Director Lund continued to respond to questions from the committee on the importance workforce data for the state's economy.

02:58 PM -- Lauren Schreier, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to respond to a question about the term of the talent data analytics tool.

03:07 PM

Director Lund continued to respond to questions from the committee.


BILL:	HB14-1231
TIME:	03:08:03 PM
MOVED:	Kraft-Tharp
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1231 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 6-4.
SECONDED:	Hamner
		VOTE
	Exum	Yes
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Excused
	Navarro	No
	Nordberg	No
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Szabo	No
	Wright	No
	Kraft-Tharp	Yes
	Williams	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:08 PM

The committee adjourned.