House Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs (02/26/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Date:	02/26/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:25 AM to 11:37 AM	Conti	X
		Dore	E
Place:	LSB A	Foote	*
		Humphrey	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Labuda	X
	Representative Ryden	Melton	X
		Moreno	X
This Report was prepared by		Nordberg	*
	Jessika Shipley	Williams	X
		Salazar	X
		Ryden	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB14-1043 HB14-1206 SB14-084		Postponed Indefinitely Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Postponed Indefinitely

10:25 AM -- HB14-1043

Representative Stephens, prime sponsor, asked the committee to postpone indefinitely House Bill 14-1043. The bill would have made changes to election and voter registration processes in Colorado.


BILL:	HB14-1043
TIME:	10:26:21 AM
MOVED:	Labuda
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 14-1043 indefinitely at the request of the sponsor. The motion passed on a vote of 8-0, with 3 excused.
SECONDED:	Williams
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Dore	Excused
	Foote	Excused
	Humphrey	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Nordberg	Excused
	Williams	Yes
	Salazar	Yes
	Ryden	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:27 AM -- HB14-1206

Representative Conti, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 14-1206. The Colorado Charitable Solicitations Act requires charitable organizations and paid solicitors to register with the Secretary of State and regulates various aspects of charitable solicitations by these entities. This bill makes the following changes to the act:

requires persons and organizations registering under the act to appoint and maintain a registered agent;

requires that charitable organizations list the titles of officers, directors, and other executive personnel on its registration statement and eliminates the requirement that the addresses of these staff be listed;

prohibits a charitable organization from aiding, abetting, or permitting a person to solicit contributions on its behalf who has not complied with the requirements of the act;

requires that the Secretary of State's Office website rather than its telephone number be listed on paid solicitor written disclosures; and

modifies the fining authority of the Secretary of State for failure to timely file documents required under the act.

10:29 AM -- Chris Cash, representing the Colorado Secretary of State, testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Cash spoke about registration requirements for charities in Colorado. He discussed the benefits of the bill and responded to questions from the committee about a possible amendment.

10:34 AM -- Mark Turner, representing the Colorado Nonprofit Association, testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Turner spoke about the changes made by the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.


BILL:	HB14-1206
TIME:	10:36:26 AM
MOVED:	Melton
MOTION:	Adopt a conceptual amendment on page 2, line 16, strike "person" and substitute "paid solicitor". The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:	Labuda
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Dore	Excused
	Foote	Yes
	Humphrey	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Nordberg	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Salazar	Yes
	Ryden	Yes

YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB14-1206
TIME:	10:38:51 AM
MOVED:	Moreno
MOTION:	Adopt a conceptual amendment on page 2, line 17, strike "person" and substitute "paid solicitor". The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Labuda
		VOTE
	Conti
	Dore	Excused
	Foote
	Humphrey
	Labuda
	Melton
	Moreno
	Nordberg
	Williams
	Salazar
	Ryden

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


BILL:	HB14-1206
TIME:	10:39:43 AM
MOVED:	Conti
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 14-1206, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:	Salazar
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Dore	Excused
	Foote	Yes
	Humphrey	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Nordberg	Yes
	Williams	Yes
	Salazar	Yes
	Ryden	Yes

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

10:40 AM -- SB14-084

Representative Coram, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 14-084. The bill allows the voters of a county with a population of less than 70,000 people to change the method by which county commissioners are elected so that each commissioner is elected exclusively by the voters residing within that district. To change the method of electing commissioners, the bill authorizes the board of county commissioners to refer the question to the voters. Alternatively, qualified electors may file a petition to have the question placed on the county-wide ballot at the next general election. Any change to the method of election applies to the terms of the newly elected commissioners. The terms of presently elected commissioners remain unchanged.

10:46 AM -- Pat Ratliff, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Ratliff discussed issues that are unique to county governments. She talked about the various responsibilities of county governments with regard to carrying out state programs. She explained how home rule charters and charter commissions work, and commented that the use of the home rule charter procedure would be a more appropriate avenue for accomplishing the goals of the bill. She responded to questions from the committee.

10:55 AM -- Doris Beaver, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Beaver talked about her experience observing the government of Gilpin County. She expressed her opinion that the bill will create friction and divisiveness in county governments.

10:59 AM -- Zach Snyder, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Snyder spoke about animosity rural communities often have for their population centers. He commented that different parts of rural counties have different needs and should be represented differently. He expressed his opinion that some voters become disenfranchised as a result of not having a voice in their county government. He responded to questions from the committee.

11:07 AM -- Jerry Chesnut, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Chesnut spoke about his experience as a resident of western San Miguel County who does not feel adequately represented by the San Miguel Board of County Commissioners. He commented that the bill would give voters like him an equal chance to have their voices heard.

11:14 AM -- Pastor John Dottson, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Pastor Dottson provided information about his professional background and experience with the local and county governments throughout San Miguel County. He reiterated testimony of prior witnesses about feeling disenfranchised by the board of county commissioners.

11:17 AM -- Davis Watson, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Watson expressed his opinion that the bill will not change anything in any county that does not choose to change the way the county government is elected. He discussed the current method of electing county commissioners. He reiterated testimony of prior witnesses about feeling disenfranchised by the board of county commissioners.

11:21 AM -- Nick Colglazier, representing the Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Colglazier reiterated testimony of prior witnesses about rural voters feeling disenfranchised by boards of county commissioners. He spoke about rural values.

11:23 AM -- Brett Moore, representing the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Moore stated that the bill allows counties to determine what election method best suits them.


BILL:	SB14-084
TIME:	11:36:42 AM
MOVED:	Nordberg
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 14-084 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 3-7, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:	Conti
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Dore	Excused
	Foote	No
	Humphrey	Yes
	Labuda	No
	Melton	No
	Moreno	No
	Nordberg	Yes
	Williams	No
	Salazar	No
	Ryden	No

YES: 3 NO: 7 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	SB14-084
TIME:	11:37:04 AM
MOVED:	Salazar
MOTION:	Postpone Senate Bill 14-084 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 6-4, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:	Melton
		VOTE
	Conti	No
	Dore	Excused
	Foote	Yes
	Humphrey	No
	Labuda	Yes
	Melton	Yes
	Moreno	No
	Nordberg	No
	Williams	Yes
	Salazar	Yes
	Ryden	Yes

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

11:37 AM

The committee adjourned.