Date: 03/19/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB14-1263

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Postpone House Bill 14-1263 indefinitely. The moti
Refer House Bill 14-1263 to the Committee on Appro		PASS
FAIL



01:36 PM -- HB14-1263

Representative Court, Chair, called the meeting to order.

Representatives McCann and Gerou came to the table to present House Bill 14-1263. The hearing began with witness testimony, following on the bill's initial hearing on March 19, 2014.

01:38 PM -- Grier Baily, representing the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association (CWPMA), spoke against the bill. He stated that the bill would result in compliance issues for retailers that sell cigarettes and that the state will collect less revenue through sales and excise taxes and the Master Settlement Agreement under the new legislation. He added that the CWPMA opposes the bill because it targets the wrong community and will lead to increased law enforcement issues. Mr. Baily responded to questions on existing smoking laws and the enforcement of these laws, and whether he would be in support of the bill if stricter enforcement of tobacco laws were implemented.


01:50 PM

The bill sponsors responded to a question on why the bill incorporated a phase-in process for the new law. They responded that this was out of fairness to existing smokers who are already addicted to cigarettes. They also spoke to questions on the fiscal impact of the bill.

01:55 PM -- Brian Soule, representing himself, spoke against the bill. Mr. Soule stated that he is a former combat veteran, and wanted to speak on behalf of other combat veterans between the ages of 18 to 20 that smoke. He outlined the reasons that he believed the bill would unfairly effect this group of individuals, and added that the bill would result in reduced tax revenue, as cigarettes are the only taxed item sold on military bases.

01:58 PM -- Cindy Liverance, representing the American Lung Association of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Liverance spoke to the health care costs for smoking-related diseases, and the vulnerable populations in the state that would be more protected by the bill. Ms. Liverance responded to questions surrounding the measures that can be taken to prevent teenagers from smoking.

02:04 PM -- Bob Doyle, representing the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance, spoke in favor of the bill. Mr. Doyle outlined smoking rates in the state and how employers are looking for fewer employees who smoke, because of increased health care costs linked to the habit.

02:06 PM -- Jodi Radke, representing the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, spoke in favor of the bill. She stated that the fiscal note does not account for the financial burdens to the state for the health care costs associated with smoking-related diseases, and that the bill will help reduce the costs to the state that arise from smoking. She also outlined the per-person costs associated with smoking in the state of Colorado. She responded to questions on a statistic she cited, similar legislation enacted in other states and nations, what individuals will purchase instead of cigarettes when they stop smoking, her response to Mr. Soule's testimony on how the bill would affect those in the military, and how people under 18 purchasing sweets and sodas instead of cigarettes might affect state revenue.


02:27 PM

Ms. Radke also addressed questions on the rate of alcohol consumption in teenagers and the enforcement of state laws surrounding this.


02:29 PM

Representative McCann made her closing comments, and responded to witness testimony provided in opposition to the bill.


02:36 PM

The committee discussed the merits of the bill.
BILL:HB14-1263
TIME: 02:48:00 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Refer House Bill 14-1263 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a vote of 6-7.
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Becker
Yes
DelGrosso
No
Foote
Yes
Joshi
No
Kagan
No
Melton
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Priola
No
Saine
No
Swalm
No
Wilson
No
Labuda
Yes
Court
Yes
YES: 6 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB14-1263
TIME: 02:49:33 PM
MOVED:Priola
MOTION:Postpone House Bill 14-1263 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 9-3, with 1 member excused.
SECONDED:Kagan
VOTE
Becker
Excused
DelGrosso
Yes
Foote
No
Joshi
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Melton
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Priola
Yes
Saine
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Labuda
No
Court
No
YES: 9 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS