Date: 04/29/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-014

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-014 to the Committee on ApproPASS



02:46 PM -- SB14-014

Representative Pettersen introduced Senate Bill 14-014. The bill, which was recommended by the Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force, makes changes to the Property Tax, Rent, and Heat Rebate (PTC) Program. The bill increases the maximum property tax and rent rebate for income-eligible claimants to $700, establishing a "flat rate" rebate for both the property tax and rent rebate and the heat rebate in an expanded range of income eligibility, and implementing certain recommendations of the 2013 audit of the program.

02:52 PM -- Michael Cortes, Colorado Latino Age Wave, testified in support of the bill. He discussed research regarding Latinos and public benefits.

 03:01 PM -- Mark Simon, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment B). He stated that the rebates are very important to people with disabilities and that the benefit can exceed a month's income, so the program can provide a substantial benefit. He stated that the bill also addresses a long-standing problem for people with disabilities who are beneficiaries of a special needs trust.

14HsePHS0429AttachB.pdf14HsePHS0429AttachB.pdf

03:07 PM -- Tracey Stewart, Colorado Impact, testified in support of the bill. She spoke regarding the 2013 audit of the PTC program.

03:11 PM -- Julie Leonard, League of Women Voters, testified in support of the bill and stated that the PTC program is an effective, targeted way to allow people to say in their homes.

03:13 PM -- Mike Hoover, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the PTC rebates mean a lot to people who live near poverty.

03:16 PM -- Eileen Doherty, Colorado Gerontological Society, testified in support of the bill, and stated that as enrollment in the program has decreased, payouts in the program have also decreased. She stated that the bill increases the PTC award which may increase the participation in the program. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the funding for the PTC program and the appropriation for the bill.

03:27 PM -- Herbert Homan, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill, but stated his disappointment that the bill's appropriation had been reduced from $5 million to $2.5 million. He responded to questions from the committee regarding amendments to the bill that were made in the Senate.

03:38 PM -- George Walker, representing himself, testified.

03:42 PM

Representative Pettersen gave concluding remarks regarding the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

BILL:SB14-014
TIME: 03:45:11 PM
MOVED:Young
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-014 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.
SECONDED:Schafer
VOTE
Conti
No
Everett
No
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
No
Landgraf
No
McCann
Yes
Schafer
Yes
Singer
Yes
Stephens
No
Tyler
Yes
Wilson
No
Young
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS