Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Date:04/14/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:11:25 AM to 12:10 PM
Hill
*
Jones
X
Place:SCR 353
Ulibarri
X
Sonnenberg
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Scott
X
Senator Scott
This Report was prepared by
Julia Jackson
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB15-039
HB15-1214
HB15-1239
HB15-1315
HB15-1214		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Committee Vote - Final Action Failed
Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
Committee Vote - Final Action Failed


11:25 AM -- SB15-039

Senator Lambert, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-039 to the committee. The committee previously heard the bill on April 6, 2015. Senator Lambert described amendment L.001 (Attachment A), which is a strike-below amendment. He explained that the amendment expands the legislative declaration.

15SenateState0414AttachA.pdf15SenateState0414AttachA.pdf

Committee members commented on the bill and amendment L.001. Senator Lambert discussed problems local officials have faced fighting wildfires on federal land, and he stated that the bill would provide clarity when such issues arise.
















BILL:SB15-039
TIME: 11:36:14 AM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed on a vote of 3-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Yes
Jones
No
Ulibarri
No
Sonnenberg
Yes
Scott
Yes
YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

BILL:SB15-039
TIME: 11:36:37 AM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-039, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 3-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Yes
Jones
No
Ulibarri
No
Sonnenberg
Yes
Scott
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


11:38 AM -- HB15-1214

Senator Cooke, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1214 to the committee. The committee previously heard the bill on April 8, 2015. He discussed amendment L.009 (Attachment B), explaining that it should eliminate the need for appropriations to study the issues raised by the bill.

15SenateState0414AttachB.pdf15SenateState0414AttachB.pdf







11:40 AM

Bill Zepernick, Legislative Council Staff, answered a question concerning the bill's fiscal note. He stated that the amendment should eliminate the need to route the bill to the Appropriations Committee. Discussion ensued concerning the appropriate routing. The bill was laid over to the end of the calendar.


11:43 AM -- HB15-1239

Senator Steadman, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1239 to the committee. Under current law, governmental units are generally prohibited from providing postemployment compensation to government-supported officials or employees after their employment has been terminated. The bill removes the Denver Health and Hospital Authority from the definition of a governmental unit and, as a result, removes this restriction.

Senator Steadman explained that the bill provides parity between the University of Colorado Hospital Authority and the Denver Health and Hospital Authority.

11:44 AM -- Scott Hoye, representing Denver Health and Hospital Authority, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill will help Denver Health recruit senior staff and compete fairly with other hospitals. He added that this option would be used sparingly. Senator Sonnenberg and Mr. Hoye discussed other options available to Denver Health for recruitment.

Committee discussion with Mr. Hoye continued.


11:50 AM

The committee recessed.


11:52 AM

The committee reconvened.

Senator Steadman wrapped up his presentation of the bill.



















BILL:HB15-1239
TIME: 11:53:06 AM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1239 to the Committee of the Whole, with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Yes
Jones
Yes
Ulibarri
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Scott
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


11:54 AM -- HB15-1315

Senator Crowder, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1315 to the committee. Under current law, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) supports the operation of county veterans service officers (CVSOs). A line item in the DMVA's Long Bill appropriation provides funding to assist counties with these operations, subject to a requirement that a county contribute an equal amount for its CVSO from the county budget. The state's payment rate for CVSOs is established annually through the Long Bill. This bill eliminates the requirement that counties contribute a matching amount for CVSO operations. The bill also specifies that the payment rate will be determined by the Division of Veterans Affairs in the DMVA based on available appropriations to support CVSOs, and clarifies that payments to counties are from the DMVA's budgeted line item for CVSOs.

11:56 AM -- Ben Mestas, Director of Veterans Affairs, DMVA, testified in support of the bill. He discussed CVSOs and the process for paying them. He explained that some counties cannot match the funding for their CVSOs, so reimbursement from the state is appropriate.

11:59 AM -- Steve Rylant, representing the United Veterans Committee of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He discussed his exposure to Agent Orange and the help he received from a CVSO to properly file his claims and appeals.

12:03 PM -- Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill. She noted that the increased funding has already been included in the Long Bill. She described the current process of reimbursing counties for CVSOs.














12:05 PM

Senator Crowder noted his experience as a CVSO and wrapped up his presentation of the bill.
BILL:HB15-1315
TIME: 12:07:02 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1315 to the Committee of the Whole, with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Yes
Jones
Yes
Ulibarri
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Scott
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


12:08 PM -- HB15-1214

Bill Zepernick, Legislative Council Staff, returned to the table and presented a letter (Attachment C) noting the effect of amendment L.009 on the bill's fiscal note.

15SenateState0414AttachC.pdf15SenateState0414AttachC.pdf
BILL:HB15-1214
TIME: 12:08:36 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
Jones
Ulibarri
Sonnenberg
Scott
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection






12:08 PM

Committee members commented on the bill.
BILL:HB15-1214
TIME: 12:09:25 PM
MOVED:Sonnenberg
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1214, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 2-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Hill
No
Jones
No
Ulibarri
No
Sonnenberg
Yes
Scott
Yes
YES: 2 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


12:10 PM

The bill was laid over. The committee adjourned.