House Committee on Finance (04/03/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	04/03/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	12:30 PM to 01:37 PM	Becker	X
		DelGrosso	X
Place:	LSB A	Foote	X
		Joshi	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Kagan	X
	Representative Court	Melton	X
		Pabon	*
This Report was prepared by		Priola	X
	Matt Kiszka	Saine	*
		Swalm	*
		Wilson	*
		Labuda	X
		Court	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB14-1101 HB14-1300 HB14-1334		Amended, Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations

12:30 PM -- HB14-1101

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

Representative Tyler came to the table and presented House Bill 14-1101. He explained that under current law, business owners of a community solar garden (CSG) must pay property tax on the personal property used to generate electricity. Assessors value this property by determining the generating capacity of the CSG and multiplying by the cost per kilowatt of alternating current electricity as published by the Division of Property Taxation in the Department of Local Affairs. Beginning in property tax year 2015, this bill specifies that the share of electricity generated by a CSG and attributed to residential or governmental subscribers is exempt from property tax. Thus, business personal property tax for a CSG would be levied only on the share of electricity generating capacity used by businesses. He responded to questions on the backfilling required by the bill, and the ownership of a CSG by a business.


BILL:	HB14-1101
TIME:	12:36:24 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.007 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection. 14HseFin0403AttachA.pdf
SECONDED:	Foote
		VOTE
	Becker
	DelGrosso
	Foote
	Joshi
	Kagan
	Melton
	Pabon	Absent
	Priola
	Saine	Absent
	Swalm
	Wilson	Excused
	Labuda
	Court

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 2 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB14-1101
TIME:	12:37:05 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1101, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-3, with 2 members excused and 1 member absent.
SECONDED:	Foote
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	DelGrosso	No
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kagan	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Absent
	Priola	Yes
	Saine	Excused
	Swalm	No
	Wilson	Excused
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 7 NO: 3 EXC: 2 ABS: 1 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:38 PM -- HB14-1300

Representatives Garcia and Duran came to the table and presented House Bill 14-1300, and explained that it transfers $300,000 General Fund to the Colorado State Fair Authority Cash Fund to renovate and improve facilities at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo and to pay associated program costs. The facilities are used in the State Fair's programs with state 4-H clubs and the Colorado Association of the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization. Representative Garcia stated that the city of Pueblo had provided matching funds of $125,000. The representatives responded to questions on why funding was not requested as part of the Capital Development Committee's process and why the state is investing in the Colorado State Fair when it has been losing money in recent years. Committee discussion ensued.

12:44 PM -- Reece Melton, representing the 4-H organization, spoke in favor of the bill. He said that 4-H is an organization that helps produce leaders within Colorado's youth and that the facilities of the Colorado State Fair are in great need of renovation.

12:47 PM -- Nicholas Colglazier, representing the Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated that State Fair programs present a great opportunity for Colorado's youth and that the fairground facilities are currently in need of funding. He responded to questions on how additional funding for the Colorado State Fair will be spent, how much funding it has received in the past 10 years, and the current condition of the fairground facilities. Committee discussion of long term planning for the State Fair ensued. Representative Garcia responded to a question on how far the additional funds laid out by the bill will go in renovating the facilities.

01:01 PM

Mr. Colglazier responded to questions on how organizations such as 4-H and FFA are involved in the State Fair and how they would be affected by the increased funding provided by the bill, and what the future of the State Fair and its programs looks like.

01:09 PM -- Margy Christiansen, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill. She spoke about her personal experience in a 4-H organization, and how important such organizations are for Colorado's youth.

01:12 PM -- Don Thorn, representing the Colorado FFA Foundation, spoke in support of the bill. He stated that he sits on the Colorado State Fair Foundation Board. He spoke to how the State Fairgrounds are currently managed and how 4-H and the FFA have been working towards improving the facilities at the fairgrounds.

01:16 PM

The representatives made their closing comments on the bill. Representative Labuda requested that they have the bill language amended to clearly state how the funding will be spent. Committee discussion of the merits of the bill ensued.


BILL:	HB14-1300
TIME:	01:21:59 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1300 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-5, with 1 member excused.
SECONDED:	Labuda
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	DelGrosso	No
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kagan	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	No
	Saine	Excused
	Swalm	No
	Wilson	No
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

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

01:22 PM -- HB14-1334

Representative Hamner came to the table to present House Bill 14-1334. She explained that it specifies that revenue in the Petroleum Cleanup and Redevelopment Fund is exempt from the cash fund uncommitted reserves limit imposed by current law, and continuously appropriates revenue in the fund to the Division of Oil and Public Safety within the Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). She responded to questions on the fund's expenditures, and what will happen to current funds if the bill does not pass.

01:27 PM -- Grier Baily, representing the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, and Mahesh Albuquerque, representing the Division of Oil and Public Safety within the CDLE, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Albuquerque outlined how the bill will assist the division in its work, and said that it will provide it with continuous spending authority. Mr. Baily stated that the bill has the full support of the petroleum industry, which was involved in the drafting process. He responded to a question on other state funds that receive continuous appropriations. Committee discussion ensued.

01:32 PM

The committee discussed the merits of the bill.


BILL:	HB14-1334
TIME:	01:36:01 PM
MOVED:	DelGrosso
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1334 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-2, with 1 member excused.
SECONDED:	Priola
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	DelGrosso	Yes
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	No
	Kagan	Excused
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Saine	No
	Swalm	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 10 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:37 PM

The committee adjourned.