Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE & HUMAN SERVICES

Date:04/29/2014
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:33 PM to 03:49 PM
Conti
X
Everett
X
Place:HCR 0107
Ginal
X
Joshi
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Landgraf
X
Representative Primavera
McCann
X
Schafer
X
This Report was prepared by
Singer
X
Elizabeth Burger
Stephens
*
Tyler
X
Wilson
X
Young
X
Primavera
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB14-013
SB14-014
SB14-185		Postponed Indefinitely
Referred to Appropriations
Referred to Education


01:35 PM -- SB14-013

Representative Pettersen introduced Senate Bill 14-013. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to disregard the first $300 per month in gift income received by a person who is eligible for Old Age Pension (OAP) program when calculating the person's income and resources. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the eligibility criteria for the program. The committee discussed the eligibility criteria for the Old Age Pension Program and how the bill may affect a person's eligibility for other public assistance programs.

01:51 PM -- Bill Zepernick, Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill's fiscal note. Committee discussion continued regarding the eligibility criteria for the OAP and how income is calculated for purposes of the program.

02:08 PM -- Eileen Doherty, Colorado Gerontological Society, testified regarding the OAP program. She responded to questions from the committee regarding how changes to the OAP program could affect the other benefits a client receives. The committee continued to discuss how the bill may affect clients' eligibility for other public assistance programs.

02:21 PM -- Bill Hanna, Colorado Department of Human Services, explained the OAP program and responded to questions from the committee regarding the relationship of OAP program and other assistance programs.

02:34 PM

Representative Primavera distributed and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

14HsePHS0429AttachA.pdf14HsePHS0429AttachA.pdf
BILL:SB14-013
TIME: 02:35:42 PM
MOVED:Primavera
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Young
VOTE
Conti
Everett
Ginal
Joshi
Landgraf
McCann
Schafer
Singer
Stephens
Tyler
Wilson
Young
Primavera
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:SB14-013
TIME: 02:36:15 PM
MOVED:Young
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-013, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a vote of 5-8.
SECONDED:Singer
VOTE
Conti
No
Everett
No
Ginal
No
Joshi
No
Landgraf
No
McCann
Yes
Schafer
Yes
Singer
Yes
Stephens
No
Tyler
Yes
Wilson
No
Young
Yes
Primavera
No
YES: 5 NO: 8 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:SB14-013
TIME: 02:45:42 PM
MOVED:Everett
MOTION:Postpone Senate Bill 14-013 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 8-5.
SECONDED:Stephens
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Everett
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
McCann
No
Schafer
No
Singer
No
Stephens
Yes
Tyler
No
Wilson
Yes
Young
No
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


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

03:46 PM -- SB14-185

The committee took a brief recess.

03:47 PM

The committee reconvened. Represenative Primavera explained that Representative Pettersen requested that the bill be moved to the Education committee.


BILL:SB14-185
TIME: 03:48:13 PM
MOVED:Schafer
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-185 to the Committee on Education. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Primavera
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Everett
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Joshi
Yes
Landgraf
Yes
McCann
Yes
Schafer
Yes
Singer
Yes
Stephens
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Young
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:49 PM

The committee adjourned.