House Committee on Business, Labor, Economic, & Workforce Development (02/18/2014)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR, ECONOMIC, & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Date:	02/18/2014	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:15 AM to 10:37 AM	Exum	X
		Hamner	X
Place:	LSB A	Holbert	X
		Navarro	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Nordberg	X
	Representative Williams	Rosenthal	X
		Ryden	X
This Report was prepared by		Szabo	X
	Erin Vanderberg	Wright	X
		Kraft-Tharp	X
		Williams	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB14-1109 HB14-1179		Postponed Indefinitely Postponed Indefinitely

10:21 AM -- HB 14-1109

Representative Williams called the meeting to order. A quorum was present. Representative Ginal, sponsor, presented House Bill 14-1109, concerning the protection of consumers from liability resulting from the use of unsolicited checks. The bill amends the Colorado Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC) to:

• limit the liability of consumers who receive unsolicited checks, such that a consumer who does not accept an unsolicited check by using it is not liable for any debt related to the check;
• require that credit card issuers that produce unsolicited checks disclose specific financial consequences of using such a check;
• require that credit card issuers that produce unsolicited checks distribute these checks in an envelope that does not indicate the contents are an unsolicited check; and
• void any check or other consumer agreement that interferes with a consumer's rights under the bill.

The bill also amends the Colorado Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) to include within the definition of deceptive trade practices violations of the UCCC under the bill.

Representative Ginal discussed the intent of her bill. She discussed the issues related to unsolicited checks and mail theft, and other states' legislation on the issue. She discussed Colorado's ranking for identity theft. She discussed the effect on an individual who has an unsolicited check stolen, including interest fees and other financial hardships. She stated that after discussions with industry representatives, she decided that this legislation was not necessary because the consumer has the opportunity to refute the dollar amount of a stolen check on their credit card statement within 60 days. She requested a motion to postpone the bill indefinitely.


BILL:	HB14-1109
TIME:	10:27:13 AM
MOVED:	Kraft-Tharp
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 14-1109 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Rosenthal
		VOTE
	Exum	Yes
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Navarro	Yes
	Nordberg	Yes
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Wright	Yes
	Kraft-Tharp	Yes
	Williams	Yes

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

10:28 AM -- HB 14-1179

Representative Landgraf, sponsor, presented House Bill 14-1179, concerning the creation of a grant program to provide accelerated workforce training for advanced industry employees including veterans. The bill creates the Veterans Workforce Accelerator Grant Program (program) in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). The State Workforce Development Council (state council) awards grants to a single grantee organization that provides advanced industry skills training. The grantee is entitled to a grant of up to $2 million in FY 2014-15. Based on continued satisfaction of program objectives, the state council may make additional grants of up to $2 million in FY 2015-16 and up to $1 million in FY 2017-18. Grants require the applicant to secure an equal amount of dedicated matching funds.

Representative Landgraf discussed the rate of unemployment amongst the state's veterans.

10:29 AM -- Anthony Feltman, representing SPIRE Manufacturing Solutions, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Feltman discussed the history of his small business and the workforce-related issues he faces. He stated that the bill would provide him a pipeline of skilled veterans and would be a hands-on accelerator for the immediate manufacturing workforce needs of the state. He compared the bill's public-private partnership to the Silicon Valley successes. Mr. Feldman responded to comments from the committee about recent legislation aimed to bolster manufacturing in the state.

10:35 AM

Representative Szabo stated that, at the sponsor's request, she moved to postpone the bill indefinitely.


BILL:	HB14-1179
TIME:	10:36:33 AM
MOVED:	Szabo
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 14-1179 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Ryden
		VOTE
	Exum	Yes
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Navarro	Yes
	Nordberg	Yes
	Rosenthal	Yes
	Ryden	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Wright	Yes
	Kraft-Tharp	Yes
	Williams	Yes

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

10:37 AM

The committee adjourned.