Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology (04/29/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR, & TECHNOLOGY

Date:	04/29/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:32 PM to 07:36 PM	Aguilar	*
		Baumgardner	X
Place:	SupCt	Heath	*
		Jahn	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Neville T.	X
	Senator Balmer	Newell	*
		Woods	X
This Report was prepared by		Holbert	X
	Jeanette Chapman	Balmer	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB15-271 HB15-1002 HB15-1230 HB15-1276 HB15-1316		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Postponed Indefinitely Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:33 PM -- SB 15-271

Senator Sonnenberg introduced Senate Bill 15-271, concerning the continuation of the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC). The bill continues the Office of Consumer Counsel in the Department of Regulatory Agencies for six more years. The bill removes telephone utilities from the purview of the OCC and the Utility Consumers' Board. He provided amendment L.001 to the committee (Attachment A).

150429 AttachA.pdf

01:37 PM -- Barbara Kelley, Department of Regulatory Agencies, spoke in support of the bill if amended to include continued oversight of telecommunications companies. She described the role and responsibilities of the Office of Consumer Counsel. She responded to questions from the committee.

01:43 PM

Senator Sonnenberg explained the purpose of amendment L.001.

01:48 PM -- Pete Kirchhof, Colorado Technology Association, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

01:56 PM -- Mark Soltes, CenturyLink, spoke in support of the bill.

02:00 PM -- Bill Levis, AARP, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

02:13 PM -- Jennifer Gremmert, Energy Outreach Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

02:16 PM -- Katie Dahl, Colorado Common Cause, spoke in opposition to the bill unless amended to include oversight of telecommunications companies. She provided a handout to the committee (Attachment B).

150429 AttachB.pdf

02:20 PM

Senator Heath offered amendment L.002 (Attachment C) and explained the purpose of the amendment.

150429 AttachC.pdf


BILL:	SB15-271
TIME:	02:23:43 PM
MOVED:	Balmer
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar
	Baumgardner
	Heath
	Jahn
	Neville T.
	Newell
	Woods
	Holbert
	Balmer

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB15-271
TIME:	02:23:59 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C). The motion failed on a vote of 4-5.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar	Yes
	Baumgardner	No
	Heath	Yes
	Jahn	Yes
	Neville T.	No
	Newell	Yes
	Woods	No
	Holbert	No
	Balmer	No

YES: 4 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	SB15-271
TIME:	02:29:51 PM
MOVED:	Aguilar
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar
	Baumgardner
	Heath
	Jahn
	Neville T.
	Newell
	Woods
	Holbert
	Balmer

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

150429 AttachD.pdf


BILL:	SB15-271
TIME:	02:30:46 PM
MOVED:	Balmer
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 15-271, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 8-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar	Yes
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Heath	No
	Jahn	Yes
	Neville T.	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Woods	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Balmer	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:33 PM -- HB 15-1002

Senator Heath introduced House Bill 15-1002, concerning the economic gardening pilot project. The bill modifies the Economic Gardening Pilot Project and extends its termination date to June 30, 2017. The bill repeals statutory deadlines for the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to select participating companies in the pilot project and repeals a 12-month limit on OEDIT services to a participating company. Under the bill, participating companies negotiate terms of their engagement with the pilot project with the OEDIT. A participating company is allowed to use between 40 and 100 hours of pilot project services before renegotiating its terms of engagement.

02:40 PM -- Trevor Dierdorff, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

02:44 PM -- Sharon King, Boulder Small Business Development Center (SBDC), made herself available to answer questions. She spoke in support of the bill.

02:45 PM -- Kelly Manning, OEDIT/SBDC, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed the work of the program.


BILL:	HB15-1002
TIME:	02:51:38 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1002 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a vote of 4-5.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar	Yes
	Baumgardner	No
	Heath	Yes
	Jahn	Yes
	Neville T.	No
	Newell	Yes
	Woods	No
	Holbert	No
	Balmer	No

YES: 4 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	HB15-1002
TIME:	02:53:50 PM
MOVED:	Holbert
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 15-1002 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar
	Baumgardner
	Heath
	Jahn
	Neville T.
	Newell
	Woods
	Holbert
	Balmer

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

02:54 PM -- HB 15-1230

Senator Heath introduced House Bill 15-1230 concerning an innovative industry workforce development program. The bill creates the Innovative Industries Workforce Development Program in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, cooperatively administered by the Colorado Workforce Development Council and the Division of Employment and Training. The program reimburses employers with high-level internships and apprenticeships in an innovative industry for up to $5000 per intern. An employer may be reimbursed for no more than 10 interns, and at least half of the reimbursement must be used to pay interns.

03:02 PM -- Leah Lindahl, Colorado Bioscience Association, spoke in support of the bill.

03:03 PM -- Ryan Gensler, Intertech Plastics/Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

03:05 PM -- Chris Shapard, Colorado Cleantech Industries Association, spoke in support of the bill.

03:06 PM -- Alison Friedman, Colorado Women's Foundation, spoke in support of the bill.

03:07 PM -- Michael Gifford, Associated General Contractors of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

03:11 PM

Senator Cook made closing comments on the merits of the bill. Committee discussion ensued.


BILL:	HB15-1230
TIME:	03:16:12 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1230 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 5-4.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar	Yes
	Baumgardner	No
	Heath	Yes
	Jahn	Yes
	Neville T.	No
	Newell	Yes
	Woods	No
	Holbert	No
	Balmer	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:16 PM -- HB 15-1276

Senator Heath and Senator Cook introduced House Bill 15-1276, concerning skilled worker outreach, recruitment and training. The bill creates the Skilled Worker Outreach, Recruitment, and Key Training Grant Program in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Starting in January 2016, the program accepts applications for matching grants from public and private providers for qualified skilled worker training programs. Qualified grant recipients offer training for skills that are needed in the workplace, with a credential or other evidence of achievement awarded at the completion of training.

03:20 PM -- Frank Waterous, Bell Policy Center, spoke in support of the bill.

03:23 PM -- Michael Gifford, Associated General Contractors of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1276
TIME:	03:25:38 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1276 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 6-3.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar	Yes
	Baumgardner	No
	Heath	Yes
	Jahn	Yes
	Neville T.	No
	Newell	Yes
	Woods	No
	Holbert	Yes
	Balmer	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:28 PM -- HB 15-1316

The committee recessed.

03:39 PM

Senator Hill introduced House Bill 15-1316, concerning simplified process for taxicab certificates. The bill changes the prerequisites for an applicant seeking authorization to provide taxicab service, as required by the Public Utilities Commission in the Department of Regulatory Agencies within and between certain metropolitan counties (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, and Jefferson). Senator Hill and Senator Ulibarri responded to comments from the committee.

03:45 PM -- Doug Dean, Public Utilities Commission, came to the table to provide background on the current law and the impetus for the changes. He responded to questions from the committee.

04:04 PM -- Larry Hurst, Metro Taxi, spoke in support of the bill.

04:06 PM -- Mark Valentine, Metro Taxi and Yellow Cab, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

04:14 PM -- Mohammed Warid, Union Taxi, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions to the committee.

04:22 PM -- Larry Dunn, Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center, spoke in support of the bill.

04:24 PM -- Emal Zadroon, Green Taxi Co-op, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

04:39 PM -- Mark Hoisington, Metro Taxi, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

04:43 PM -- Rev. Patrick Demmer, Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, spoke in support of the bill.

04:50 PM -- Jamie Lewis, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

04:55 PM -- Francesca Maes, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. She stated that she would support the bill if there was a requirement that transportation providers have a vehicle fleet with 30 percent accessible vehicles. She responded to questions from the committee.

04:59 PM -- Max Sarr, Freedom Cabs, testified in opposition to the bill.

05:03 PM -- Kyle Brown, Metro Taxi, testified in opposition to the bill. He spoke regarding the potential unintended consequences of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

05:21 PM -- Jay Sant' Anna, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

05:28 PM -- Loyal Merrick, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill.

05:31 PM -- Tom Harrison, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

05:40 PM -- Scott Abrahamson, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

05:45 PM -- Zaheer Akbar, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

05:51 PM -- Randy Dunn, Mile High Cab Company, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

05:55 PM -- Isaac Kaiser, Union Taxi, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

06:07 PM -- Sondra Herrera, Metro Taxi, spoke in opposition to the bill.

06:09 PM -- Gemedi Dullo, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

06:12 PM -- Elias Chasari, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.

06:15 PM

The committee recessed.

07:05 PM

The committee came back to order. Senator Hill and Senator Ulibarri made closing comments on the merits of the bill. Committee discussion ensued. The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

07:20 PM

The members continued to make closing remarks on the bill.

07:31 PM

Senator Balmer provided amendment L.013 (Attachment E).

150429 AttachE.pdf
BILL:	HB15-1316
TIME:	07:31:38 PM
MOVED:	Balmer
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.013 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar
	Baumgardner
	Heath
	Jahn
	Neville T.
	Newell
	Woods
	Holbert
	Balmer

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB15-1316
TIME:	07:35:48 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1316, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-3.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Aguilar	Yes
	Baumgardner	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Jahn	No
	Neville T.	Yes
	Newell	No
	Woods	Yes
	Holbert	No
	Balmer	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

07:36 PM

The committee adjourned.