Date: 03/11/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1205

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment A). The motion p
Refer House Bill 15-1205, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



02:09 PM -- HB15-1205

Representative Becker, K, co-prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1205. The bill creates the Tax Expenditure Evaluation Committee (committee), a year-round joint committee of the General Assembly. The committee is responsible for reviewing evaluations of state tax expenditures to be prepared by the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) or its contractor, and for making recommendations or authoring legislation regarding improvements to the state's administration of tax expenditures. Representative Becker, K. discussed the state's budget and the need for a review of prior tax expenditures. She noted the need for a non-partisan review process using the expertise of OSA. Representative Becker distributed amendment L.005 (Attachment A).

15HouseFin0311AttachA.pdf15HouseFin0311AttachA.pdf

Representative Saine, co-prime sponsor, spoke to the bill. She noted the benefits of a non-partisan review process. She stated the bill aims to make sure every tax expenditure is still needed and doing its job. She noted amendment L.005 reduces the fiscal note.

02:21 PM -- Mr. Robert Zahrachih, representing the Pew Charitable Trust, testified in support of the bill. He discussed how other states review economic development projects and tax expenditures. He stated that reviews provide independent and reliable data to help make tax expenditures work better for the state and its taxpayers. He stated the bill improves the effectiveness of tax expenditures. In response to committee questions, he discussed methodologies of evaluating tax expenditures.

02:32 PM -- Mr. Tony Gagliardi representing the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), testified in support of the bill. He noted that while NFIB members disagree on the policies behind tax expenditures, they fully support the study of tax expenditures.

02:38 PM -- Mr. Patrick Boyle, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in support of the bill. He stated the organization is supportive of the tax expenditure committee, but is concerned that tax expenditures for individual taxpayers will not be evaluated. He discussed the Gallagher Amendment and property taxes in Colorado. He noted that a review could serve as useful guidance in assessing the value of tax expenditures.

02:45 PM -- Representatives Becker, K and Saine discussed the benefits of studying tax expenditures in conjunction with other state laws and the Colorado State Constitution.

03:01 PM -- Mr. Charles Ward, representing the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (chamber), took a neutral position on the bill. He discussed the mission of the chamber and that this bill could help attract, retain, and grow Colorado businesses.

03:06 PM -- Mr. George Awuor, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the importance of reviewing tax expenditures to make sure they are achieving their intended goals.

03:09 PM -- Ms. Ali Mickelson, representing the Colorado Fiscal Institute, testified in support of the bill. She noted the value of reviewing state tax expenditures and discussed the use of tax expenditures as public policy.
BILL:HB15-1205
TIME: 03:16:32 PM
MOVED:Becker K.
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
15HouseFin0311AttachB.pdf15HouseFin0311AttachB.pdf
SECONDED:Court
VOTE
Becker K.
Conti
Garnett
Kagan
Pabon
Priola
Roupe
Van Winkle
Wilson
Foote
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB15-1205
TIME: 03:17:15 PM
MOVED:Becker K.
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
15HouseFin0311AttachC.pdf15HouseFin0311AttachC.pdf
SECONDED:Court
VOTE
Becker K.
Conti
Garnett
Kagan
Pabon
Priola
Roupe
Van Winkle
Wilson
Foote
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB15-1205
TIME: 03:22:33 PM
MOVED:Becker K.
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Court
VOTE
Becker K.
Conti
Garnett
Kagan
Pabon
Priola
Roupe
Van Winkle
Wilson
Foote
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


03:24 PM -- Ms. Diane Ray, Colorado State Auditor, came to the table to answer a question.
BILL:HB15-1205
TIME: 03:26:45 PM
MOVED:Becker K.
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1205, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:Conti
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Conti
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Priola
Yes
Roupe
Yes
Van Winkle
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Foote
Yes
Court
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS