Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs (04/20/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Date:	04/20/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:32 PM to 03:27 PM	Hill	*
		Jones	X
Place:	SCR 353	Ulibarri	*
		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:
HB15-1018 HB15-1308 HB15-1268 HB15-1181 HB15-1097		Postponed Indefinitely Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar Postponed Indefinitely Referred to Appropriations Postponed Indefinitely

01:32 PM -- HB15-1018

Senator Todd, sponsor, presenting House Bill 15-1018 to the committee. The reengrossed bill expands the list of professional persons required to report the abuse or exploitation of a person 70 years of age or older to include:

• victim advocates associated with law enforcement agencies; and
• employees or contractors of a bus company who has picked up an individual at home or another specific location other than a designated route (such as Access-a-Ride).

Senator Todd explained that Senate Bill 13-111 created mandatory elder abuse reporting. She stated that the bill would help identify more cases of elder abuse.

01:37 PM -- Rebecca Meyers, representing the National Association of Social Workers Colorado Chapter, testified in support of the bill. She explained that additional reporting helps prevent additional cases of elder abuse.

01:39 PM

Senator Todd wrapped up her presentation of the bill. She discussed the benefits of reporting elder abuse.

Senator Hill and Senator Todd discussed the reasons for expanding the scope of SB 13-111.


BILL:	HB15-1018
TIME:	01:42:19 PM
MOVED:	Jones
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1018 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a vote of 2-3.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hill	No
	Jones	Yes
	Ulibarri	Yes
	Sonnenberg	No
	Scott	No


YES: 2 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	HB15-1018
TIME:	01:42:39 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 15-1018 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. 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

01:43 PM -- HB15-1308

Senators Heath and Lundberg, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 15-1308 to the committee. This bill amends provisions of the "SMART Act," concerning interim meetings and other interactions between members of the General Assembly and representatives of state executive branch departments. Specifically, the bill:

• repeals current requirements for departmental hearings with legislative committees of reference in the legislative interim, replacing current language with a general requirement that each legislative committee of reference with departmental oversight responsibilities hold at least one and not more than three SMART Act hearings between November 1 and the beginning of the next legislative session;

• requires members of each committee of reference to be appointed by December 1, and to include members-elect of the next General Assembly;

• allows members-elect to receive per diem and expense reimbursement to attend SMART Act hearings; and

• makes members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), as appointed by the chair of the JBC, the sole departmental liaisons for performance planning, eliminating a statutory requirement that, for each department, two members of the relevant legislative joint committee of reference also serve as liaisons.

Senator Heath explained that the bill would expand SMART Act hearings to include newly elected legislators. Senator Lundberg added that the bill deals with technical, administrative aspects of the SMART Act.


BILL:	HB15-1308
TIME:	01:46:20 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1308 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

01:48 PM -- HB15-1268

Senator Johnston, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1268 to the committee. The reengrossed bill creates the CO9To25 Youth Development Council (council) in the Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The council will develop and implement a comprehensive system of youth and young adult development services. The council will also identify best practices for prevention, intervention, and treatment services related to youths and young adults ages 9 to 25. The duties of the council include, but are not limited to:

• establishing regional councils across the state to support healthy youths and young adults;
• increasing public awareness of available youth and young adult services and organizations;
• establishing standards and systemic indicators for positive youth and young adult development and engagement;
• coordinating funding and programmatic efforts between state agencies and departments that serve youths and young adults;
• eliminating duplication of efforts and identifying gaps in services;
• creating a sustainable and productive quality statewide network of youth, young adult, and adult partnerships; and
• ensuring that the work of the early childhood councils is connected to the work of the council.

The council must establish an operational structure and expectations for its members in accordance with recommendations made in the Colorado State Youth Development Plan in the DHS. The council will consist of at least 20 members and interested potential members may submit letters of interest to the Executive Director of the DPHE. By August 1, 2015, the DPHE will designate a convening entity for the council. The convening entity may be a local nonprofit organization.

Senator Johnston explained that he serves on the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program Board, and he discussed the creation of the CO9To25 Plan by the board's recommendation.

01:50 PM -- Yashna Eswaran, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. She stated that the bill was drafted with the inclusion of youth voices.

01:52 PM -- Audra Bishop, representing the CDPHE, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the importance of engaging young people and their families in addressing the issues they face. She stated that the CO9To25 Plan would help youth meet their full potential.

01:54 PM -- Betsy Fordyce, representing the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill. She explained that the bill focuses on improving outcomes for youth, and that it does so in a way that will effectively engage them.

01:57 PM -- Ronn Nixon, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the principles of positive youth development.

02:00 PM -- Connie Rule, representing the Colorado Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs and the Statewide Youth Development and Planning Committee, testified in support of the bill. She explained that the process of preparing the CO9To25 Plan featured authentic youth engagement and focused on positive youth development.

Senator Johnston and Ms. Rule discussed the reasons for putting the CO9To25 Council in statute.

02:07 PM

Senator Johnston wrapped up his presentation of the bill. He explained that the bill would help coordinate youth services statewide. Senator Hill and Senator Johnston discussed the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1268
TIME:	02:10:51 PM
MOVED:	Jones
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1268 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 2-3.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hill	No
	Jones	Yes
	Ulibarri	Yes
	Sonnenberg	No
	Scott	No


YES: 2 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	HB15-1268
TIME:	02:11:15 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 15-1268 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. 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

02:12 PM -- HB15-1181

Senator Crowder, sponsor, presenting House Bill 15-1181 to the committee. As amended by the House Finance Committee, HB15-1181 allows a person on active duty in the military who reacquires Colorado residency to receive a tax deduction from his or her state taxable income. The person's military home of record must be Colorado and he or she must have changed his or her state of legal residence to Colorado after January 1, 2016, in order to be eligible for the deduction. Individuals who qualify for the tax deduction under the bill may claim an exemption from Colorado withholding taxes. If his or her only source of income is military income, the serviceperson is not required to file a Colorado income tax return. The tax deduction will be available beginning in tax year 2016.

Senator Crowder explained that the bill would encourage military personnel to move back to Colorado.

02:15 PM -- Michael Ragole, representing the United Veterans Committee of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He explained that the bill only affects active duty military personnel. He clarified the difference between "home of record" and "home of residence" in military service.

Senator Jones and Mr. Ragole discussed the way the bill was amended in the House to reduce the fiscal impact.

02:20 PM

Senator Crowder wrapped up his presentation of the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1181
TIME:	02:20:42 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1181 to the Committee on Appropriations. 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

02:22 PM -- HB15-1097

The committee recessed.

02:25 PM

The committee reconvened.

Senator Newell, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1097 to the committee. This reengrossed bill dissolves an existing temporary commission called the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Commission and recreates it as a Type 2 agency within the Department of Human Services (DHS) beginning July 1, 2015. The commission will be composed of 12 members and must be appointed by the executive director of the DHS by July 30, 2015. The bill permits the executive director to appoint members to the commission who have previously served on the temporary commission. The bill requires the commission to meet at least once a year and the first meeting must be held by August 30, 2015. The commission is repealed on June 30, 2020. The commission must distribute and promote the use of health warning signs and other informational materials in community locations and for use by persons licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. The bill describes the minimum requirements of the health warning signs. The bill also requires that the presentence investigation of a juvenile in the juvenile justice system include a preliminary screening of whether the mother drank alcoholic beverages during the pregnancy and if the juvenile should be evaluated for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

Senator Newell discussed the importance of continuing the FASD Commission.

02:29 PM -- Marijo Rymer, representing the Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the nature of FASDs and the importance of continuing the commission.

02:31 PM -- Heidi Heissenbottel, representing the FASD Commission, testified in support of the bill. She described her work at the Sewall Child Development Center with children with FASDs. She discussed the work of the FASD Commission.

02:35 PM -- Dr. Kathryn Wells, representing Denver Health and Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She described her work as a child abuse pediatrician, and she described FASDs. She discussed alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Committee members and Senator Newell discussed this testimony with Dr. Wells.

02:43 PM -- Mark Cloven, representing the Arc of Larimer County, testified in support of the bill. He described his work with children with FASDs, and he explained how he has benefited from the work of the FASD Commission.

02:49 PM -- Gianfranco Zizza, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He told the committee about himself and discussed his experience with FASD.

02:51 PM -- Julene Zizza, representing NOFAS Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She told the committee about herself and discussed her experience raising Gianfranco. She noted that Gianfranco's outcome was completely different from that of her other children. Ms. Zizza read quotes from her two other children. She stated that the FASD Commission provides validity and grant support for families who deal with FASDs. Ms. Zizza explained that in adoption cases, information is not always available about a birth mother's pregnancy. She noted the shame involved in dealing with FASDs.

03:03 PM -- April Montgomery, representing the March of Dimes, testified in support of the bill. She described the March of Dimes and its mission, and she discussed the importance of preventing prenatal alcohol exposure. She described the FASD Commission, noting its minimal costs to the state.

03:08 PM

Senator Newell wrapped up her presentation of the bill. She explained the reasons to keep the FASD Commission at the state government level, instead of running it through a nonprofit organization.

Senator Sonnenberg and Senator Newell discussed the bill's changes to the FASD Commission.

03:17 PM

The committee recessed.

03:21 PM

The committee reconvened.

Debbie Haskins, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from Senator Sonnenberg about the structure of the bill and the FASD Commission.


BILL:	HB15-1097
TIME:	03:27:12 PM
MOVED:	Jones
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1097 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a vote of 2-3.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Hill	No
	Jones	Yes
	Ulibarri	Yes
	Sonnenberg	No
	Scott	No


YES: 2 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	HB15-1097
TIME:	03:27:34 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 15-1097 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. 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

03:27 PM

The committee adjourned.