Bill Summary for Bill Number SB14-012

Date: 04/30/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-012

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt Amendment L.005 (Attachment D). The motion p Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment E). The motion p Refer Senate Bill 14-012, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS Pass Without Objection

01:57 PM -- SB14-012

Representative Exum came to the table to present Senate Bill 14-012. He explained that the bill was recommended by the Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force, and requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to increase the monthly benefit amount for Aid to the Needy and Disabled (AND) program by 10 percent in FY 2014-15. From FY 2015-16 to FY 2018-19, subject to available appropriations, the DHS is encouraged to increase the monthly award until it is equal to the award level in FY 2006-07, and then to increase the award to account for the cost of living in future years. The bill also allows the DHS to promulgate rules permitting counties to waive the requirement that AND applicants first submit a federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application. This requirement may be waived for a specified period of time in order to give applicants more time to submit a complete and through SSI application.

02:02 PM

Bill Zepernick, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to speak to the fiscal note for the bill. He responded to questions.

02:06 PM

Representative Exum responded to questions on qualifications for the program under the bill. Committee discussion of Social Security disability assistance programs ensued. Mr. Zepernick responded to questions on a potential amendment concerning the pilot program and how it would impact the costs of the bill.

02:16 PM

Representative Exum responded to a question on whether the bill expands access to the program and the expansion of the program laid out in the bill.

02:22 PM -- Peter Pike, representing the Colorado Disability Benefits Support Program, spoke in favor of the bill. He detailed the qualifications for the program that each individual must exhibit in order to be eligible. He responded to questions on SSI benefits and how they relate to the AND program, and how the appeals process for SSI and AND benefits works.

02:30 PM -- Nan Morehead, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, came to the table for questions as an expert witness. She stated that she had worked with the DHS for 30 years. She spoke to procedures surrounding AND program benefits and their interplay with SSI benefits. Committee questioning and discussion ensued.

02:39 PM

Ms. Morehead responded to questions on fraud within the AND program. Mr. Pike spoke to the qualification difference between the AND and SSI programs and how the proposed pilot program would examine these differences. Ms. Morehead distributed some written testimonies (Attachments A, B, and C).

14HseFin0430AttachA.pdf

14HseFin0430AttachB.pdf

14HseFin0430AttachC.pdf

02:48 PM -- Jaime Lewis, former mayor of Salida, representing the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, spoke in support of the bill. He detailed the numerous ways that the bill would benefit those with disabilities in the state. He responded to questions on the application processes for SSI and AND, and the 10-day window laid out by the bill for AND applications following an SSI application. Ms. Morehead returned to the table to discuss the high denial rate of AND applications and responded to questions on the application process.

02:58 PM

Representative Exum explained Amendment L.005 (Attachment D).

14HseFin0430AttachD.pdf


BILL:	SB14-012
TIME:	02:59:57 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Adopt Amendment L.005 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Melton
		VOTE
	Becker
	DelGrosso
	Foote
	Joshi
	Kagan
	Melton
	Pabon
	Priola	Excused
	Saine
	Swalm
	Wilson
	Labuda
	Court

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

03:00 PM

Representative Exum explained Amendment L.006 (Attachment E).

14HseFin0430AttachE.pdf


BILL:	SB14-012
TIME:	03:00:54 AM
MOVED:	Melton
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Pabon
		VOTE
	Becker
	DelGrosso
	Foote
	Joshi
	Kagan
	Melton
	Pabon
	Priola	Excused
	Saine
	Swalm
	Wilson
	Labuda
	Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB14-012
TIME:	03:02:02 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-012, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 12-1.
SECONDED:	Melton
		VOTE
	Becker	Yes
	DelGrosso	Yes
	Foote	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Saine	No
	Swalm	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PAS