Date: 03/12/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB14-1001

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
The motion passed without objection.
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.005 The motion passed without ob
Adopt amendment L.006 The motion passed without ob
Refer House Bill 14-1001, as amended, to the Commi
The motion passed without objection.

Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection



03:00 PM -- HB14-1001

Representative Singer presented House Bill 14-1001, which he explained establishes a state reimbursement for certain property taxes owed or paid for real property and business personal property that has been destroyed in a natural disaster or by other cause beyond the control of the property owner. After county assessors and county treasurers compile a list of destroyed property and its tax liability, the state treasurer distributes to counties payments from the state General Fund for the tax liability of destroyed property, for the tax year in which it was destroyed. County treasurers, in turn, are required to pay the tax owed or reimburse each affected taxpayer. The bill applies to tax years starting on or after January 1, 2013. Representative Singer distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment B), Amendment L.003 (Attachment C), Amendment L.004 (Attachment D), Amendment L.005 (Attachment E), and Amendment L.006 (Attachment F).

14HseFin0312AttachB.pdf14HseFin0312AttachB.pdf 14HseFin0312AttachC.pdf14HseFin0312AttachC.pdf

14HseFin0312AttachD.pdf14HseFin0312AttachD.pdf 14HseFin0312AttachE.pdf14HseFin0312AttachE.pdf

14HseFin0312AttachF.pdf14HseFin0312AttachF.pdf

03:05 PM -- Brad Roelens, John Casey, and Terry Mayes, representing themselves, came to the table to speak in favor of the bill. Ms. Mayes distributed a before and after photo of the town of Lyons and the damage that it suffered from the flood of 2013 (Attachment G). She stated that she believes in the payment of property taxes, but that she was unable to do anything with her property because of the damage sustained. Mr. Roelens provided his personal testimony as to how he was impacted by the floods, and how the bill would benefit him personally. Mr. Casey explained his experience in the flood and how the town of Lyons and its community was affected. Mr. Casey responded to a question on the work in the town of Lyons that remained to be done to repair the damages of the floods.

14HseFin0312AttachG.pdf14HseFin0312AttachG.pdf

03:18 PM

Representative Singer responded to questions on whether county assessors currently have the ability to waive the property tax on properties that have been destroyed, whether county assessors are in support of the bill, and the level of damage to a property that must result from a natural disaster in order for it to qualify for the property tax reimbursement.


03:28 PM

Representative Singer responded to questions on whether county assessors can prorate property taxes, and how long the property tax reimbursement is established under the bill. Committee discussion ensued.

03:39 PM -- Nick Shaffer, representing himself, debated the merits of the bill. Mr. Shaffer stated that the bill is timely legislation, but that it does not effectively address the issues it is trying to address. He discussed his reservations with the bill, which included arbitrary guidelines and definitions laid out for county assessors.

03:47 PM -- Jim Everson, representing the Jefferson County Assessor, JoAnn Groff and Curt Settle, representing the Division of Property Taxation within the Department of Local Affairs, and Tim Kauffman, representing the Colorado County Treasurer's Association, came to the table for questions. Mr. Kauffman stated that the Colorado County Treasurer's Association is neutral on the bill. Mr. Everson stated that the Jefferson County Assessor was in support of the bill, and responded to questions on prorating property taxes, the definition of destroyed property, whether definitions of destroyed property laid out for county assessors are too arbitrary, and if statutory guidance for assessors is required. Ms. Groff elaborated on the need for a definition of destroyed property for county assessors.


04:00 PM

Ms. Groff responded to questions on the Assessor's Reference Library for county assessors, and whether a new owner of a property that is destroyed by natural causes could claim the full amount of a property tax reimbursement for a full tax year. Committee discussion of property tax proration and reimbursement ensued.


04:18 PM

 Mr. Everson responded to a question on the report of destroyed property that must be prepared by county assessors under the provisions of the bill, and whether the adoption of all of the amendments on the table will satisfy his reservations about the bill. He stated that they would. Mr. Kauffman provided the committee with details on how the bill would impact county treasurers.

04:25 PM -- Mr. Casey made some additional comments on the definition of property in the eyes of county assessors, and spoke to how his property was not adequately covered by flood insurance to fully cover the damage suffered.


04:28 PM

Representative Singer explained the changes made by Amendment L.003 (Attachment C).
BILL:HB14-1001
TIME: 04:29:12 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Pabon
VOTE
Becker
DelGrosso
Foote
Joshi
Kagan
Melton
Pabon
Priola
Saine
Swalm
Wilson
Labuda
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


04:29 PM

Representative Singer spoke to the changes made by Amendment L.004 (Attachment D).
BILL:HB14-1001
TIME: 04:30:31 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment D) The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Becker
DelGrosso
Foote
Joshi
Kagan
Melton
Pabon
Priola
Saine
Swalm
Wilson
Labuda
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


04:30 PM

Representative Singer explained Amendment L.005 (Attachment E).
BILL:HB14-1001
TIME: 04:31:00 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Kagan
VOTE
Becker
DelGrosso
Foote
Joshi
Kagan
Melton
Pabon
Priola
Saine
Swalm
Wilson
Labuda
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


04:32 PM

Representative Singer described the changes made by Amendment L.006 (Attachment F).
BILL:HB14-1001
TIME: 04:32:43 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Becker
DelGrosso
Foote
Joshi
Kagan
Melton
Pabon
Priola
Saine
Swalm
Wilson
Labuda
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


04:35 PM

The committee discussed the merits of including a sunset clause to the bill.


04:49 PM

The committee discussed the merits of the bill.


04:53 PM

Representative Singer made his closing comments on the bill.
BILL:HB14-1001
TIME: 04:57:49 PM
MOVED:Pabon
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Court
VOTE
Becker
DelGrosso
Foote
Joshi
Kagan
Melton
Pabon
Priola
Saine
Swalm
Wilson
Labuda
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB14-1001
TIME: 04:58:09 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Refer House Bill 14-1001, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-1, with 1 member excused.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Becker
Yes
DelGrosso
Yes
Foote
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Melton
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Priola
Excused
Saine
No
Swalm
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Court
Yes
YES: 11 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


05:01 PM

The committee was adjourned.