Joint Committee Committee on Joint State Veterans & Military Affairs Committee (01/12/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT STATE VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Date:	01/12/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:31 PM to 02:08 PM	Foote	X
		Hill	*
Place:	LSB A	Humphrey	*
		Jones	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Lontine	*
	Representative Ryden	Neville P.	X
		Primavera	X
This Report was prepared by		Salazar	X
	Julia Jackson	Sonnenberg	X
		Tate	X
		Thurlow	X
		Tyler	X
		Ulibarri	X
		Willett	X
		Scott	X
		Ryden	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Introductory Briefing by Legislative Staff Briefing by JBC on Department Budget Requests		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

01:32 PM -- Introductory Briefing by Legislative Staff

Bill Zepernick, Legislative Council Staff, introduced himself and other fiscal analysts who work on the subject areas pertinent to the committee. He described the fiscal note drafting process. He noted that fee bills, such as those affecting the Department of State's business filing fees, could raise TABOR issues in the 2015 session.

Bob Lackner, Office of Legislative Legal Services, introduced himself and other drafters who work on the subject areas pertinent to the committee. He described the bill drafting process and discussed the role of his office in providing legal guidance to legislators.

01:40 PM -- Briefing by JBC on Department Budget Requests

Senator Lambert, Joint Budget Committee (JBC) Chair, introduced the JBC members. He discussed the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget request for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). He noted the small percentage of the department's budget that comes from the state General Fund. Senator Lambert explained DMVA's request for a "process improvement and safety champion." He further explained DMVA's requests to increase payments for county veterans service officers and to lease a protocol vehicle.

01:48 PM

At Representative Ryden's request, Senator Lambert described the next steps in the budget process.

01:53 PM

Senator Lambert discussed the FY 2015-16 budget request for the Department of State. He noted the department's role in managing elections in Colorado. He further explained that the department is funded entirely through cash funds.

Senator Lambert discussed the JBC's efforts to understand issues raised in the implementation of the state's new financial reporting system, the Colorado Operations Resource Engine (CORE).

Senator Lambert explained that a lawsuit has been filed by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) concerning the Department of State's use of business filing fees to fund election administration, an impact of up to $5.4 million in a statewide election year. Senator Ulibarri discussed the fiscal impact of this lawsuit with Senator Lambert.

Representative Salazar and Senator Lambert discussed the department's request for additional funding of the Business Intelligence Center. Senator Steadman noted that JBC staff has written an issue brief about business filing fees.

02:05 PM

Representative Young encouraged committee members to review the full JBC staff briefing documents for both departments.

Senator Jones and Senator Lambert commented on the NFIB lawsuit.

02:07 PM

Senator Ulibarri reminded committee members of his letter concerning an issue at the Grand Junction Veterans Affairs Hospital, which was raised at the committee's SMART Act hearing on January 5, 2015.

02:08 PM

The committee adjourned.