House Committee on Finance (05/01/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	05/01/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:31 AM to 12:33 PM	Becker	*
		DelGrosso	X
Place:	LSB A	Foote	*
		Joshi	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Kagan	X
	Representative Court	Melton	X
		Pabon	*
This Report was prepared by		Priola	*
	Matt Kiszka	Saine	X
		Swalm	X
		Wilson	X
		Labuda	X
		Court	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB14-002 SB14-005 HB14-1168		Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations Postponed Indefinitely

11:34 AM -- SB14-002

Representative Court, Chair, called the House Finance Committee to order.

Representative DelGrosso came to the table to present Senate Bill 14-002. He explained that the bill repeals the existing Safe2Tell program and recreates it in the Department of Law. The terms of the transfer are specified, including the transfer of property and assets and the licensing of the intellectual property belonging to the nonprofit. While the bill keeps the existing duties, mission, and requirements of the Safe2Tell program generally the same as before, it also specifies additional duties concerning training and dissemination of educational material for school districts and law enforcement. The Minority Leader responded to questions on funding for the existing program and why the bill is being carried.


BILL:	SB14-002
TIME:	11:38:31 AM
MOVED:	DelGrosso
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-002 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0, with 1 member excused and 1 member absent.
SECONDED:	Wilson
		VOTE
	Becker	Excused
	DelGrosso	Yes
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	Absent
	Saine	Yes
	Swalm	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 1 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:40 AM -- SB14-005

Representative Singer came to the table to continue presenting Senate Bill 14-005, which was laid over from April 30, 2014.

11:40 AM

Patrick Teegarden, Legislative and Policy Director for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), came to the table to discuss the statutory authority of CDLE in imposing fines upon employers that do not pay wages. Committee discussion ensued. Mr. Teegarden responded to a question on whether the CDLE was in favor of the bill. He stated that it is neutral on the bill, but has been involved in negotiations during the development of the bill. He responded to questions on why the department is not in support of the bill and did not make it a part of its legislative agenda. Committee discussion of CDLE's legislative agenda and how wage theft fits into its agenda ensued.

11:54 AM

The committee further discussed the existing statutory authority of the CDLE in imposing fines upon employers that do not pay wages. Mr. Teegarden responded to questions on the commonality of employers who close their doors and re-open under a different name to avoid paying wages to employees, whether the bill will result in increased identification of wage payment violations, if wage theft is already against the law in Colorado, the additional resources that the bill would provide CDLE, and alternative legislation that could be pursued in lieu of SB14-005. Committee discussion ensued.

12:04 PM

Mr. Teegarden responded to questions on the number and type of wage theft claims in Colorado, how CDLE processes for handling wage theft claims will be altered by the bill, and how the expediency of CDLE administrative procedures for a wage theft claim compares to small claims court procedure.

12:11 PM

Representative Singer spoke to questions from the committee on the changes to statute made by the bill, whether the bill could have a negative impact on small businesses, and the options for remedy for an individual whose employer has not paid their wages.

12:24 PM

The committee went into a brief recess.

12:27 PM

Representative Singer made his closing comments on the bill and the committee discussed its merits.


BILL:	SB14-005
TIME:	12:30:32 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-005 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.
SECONDED:	Melton
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	DelGrosso	No
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kagan	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	No
	Saine	No
	Swalm	No
	Wilson	No
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:31 PM -- HB14-1168


BILL:	HB14-1168
TIME:	12:32:02 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 14-1168 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.
SECONDED:	Labuda
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	DelGrosso	No
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kagan	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	No
	Saine	No
	Swalm	No
	Wilson	No
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:32 PM

The committee was adjourned.