House Committee on Finance (04/02/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	04/02/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:59 AM to 10:53 AM	Becker K.	E
		Conti	X
Place:	LSB A	Garnett	*
		Kagan	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Pabon	*
	Representative Court	Priola	X
		Roupe	X
This Report was prepared by		Van Winkle	X
	Katie Ruedebusch	Wilson	X
		Foote	*
		Court	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB15-138 HB15-1243 HB15-1260		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

09:59 AM -- SB15-138

Representative Court, chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was present. Representative Wilson, sponsor, introduced House Bill SB15-138. The bill, as amended by the Senate Education Committee, clarifies the way state funding for ASCENT students is distributed to those schools districts that include ASCENT students in their funded pupil count under the School Finance Act.


BILL:	SB15-138
TIME:	10:01:10 AM
MOVED:	Wilson
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 15-138 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:	Court
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Excused
	Conti	Yes
	Garnett	Absent
	Kagan	Absent
	Pabon	Absent
	Priola	Yes
	Roupe	Yes
	Van Winkle	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Foote	Absent
	Court	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 5 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:02 AM -- HB15-1243

Representative Vigil, sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1243. The bill establishes the Parks for a Future Generations Trust, amends the Wildlife for Future Generations Trust Fund, and establishes fund sources for both trust funds. The bill also gives the Parks and Wildlife Commission the authority to receive and expend moneys made available to the Division of Parks and Wildlife for the purpose of mitigating or offsetting adverse impacts of development on state parks or wildlife habitat without requiring further legislative action.

10:03 AM -- Mr. Steve Cassin, representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife, came to the table to answer questions. He discussed the current flow of cash funds used by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.


BILL:	HB15-1243
TIME:	10:05:17 AM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1243 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0.
SECONDED:	Foote
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Excused
	Conti	Yes
	Garnett	Absent
	Kagan	Absent
	Pabon	Absent
	Priola	Yes
	Roupe	Yes
	Van Winkle	Yes
	Wilson	Excused
	Foote	Yes
	Court	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 4 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:06 AM -- HB15-1260

Representative Lee, sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1260. The bill eliminates the wildfire mitigation income tax deduction and creates a wildfire mitigation state income tax credit. The tax credit will be available for tax years 2016 through 2018. Representative Lee discussed past wildfires in Colorado and explained that this bill will better help mitigate wildfire damage in Colorado. He noted that a tax credit is a more valuable incentive than a deduction.

10:12 AM -- Mr. Louis Pino, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to discuss the fiscal note.

10:22 AM

Committee discussion ensued regarding tax credits versus deductions along with private incentives to mitigate fire damage.

10:23 AM -- Ms. Janene Johnson, representing the Colorado Association of Realtors, testified in support of the bill. She stated that a tax credit is a stronger incentive for citizens to conduct wildfire mitigation.

10:26 AM -- Mr. Ted Leighty, representing the Colorado Association of Realtors, testified in support of the bill. He noted that this bill helps mitigate damage, sustains homes for the future, and provide incentives to taxpayers to assess risks to their property. He discussed how the Colorado Association of Realtors is promoting fire mitigation. He stated there are not incentives from private insurance companies to mitigate fire damage. He noted that the state of Colorado spent $15 million on the Waldo Canyon Fire.

10:35 AM

Committee discussion ensued regarding wildfire mitigation.

10:37 AM -- Ms. Esther van Mourik, Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to answer questions. She stated that the tax deduction has been available to taxpayers since 2008 and was amended in 2013.

10:39 AM -- Mr. Louis Pino returned to the table to answer a question regarding the number of taxpayers who have taken advantage of the tax deduction.

10:43 AM -- Mr. Ted Leighty returned to the table to answer a question regarding the number of homes at risk for wildfires in Colorado.

10:44 AM

The committee took a brief recess.

10:52 AM

The committee returned to order. The bill was laid over to a future date for action only.

10:53 AM

The committee adjourned.