House Committee on Finance (02/11/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	02/11/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:35 PM to 05:37 PM	Becker K.	X
		Conti	X
Place:	LSB A	Garnett	X
		Kagan	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Pabon	X
	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:
HB15-1100 HB15-1007		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:35 PM

Representative Court, chair, called the meeting to order.

01:36 PM -- HB15-1100

Representative Lebsock, co-prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1100. Under current law, 85 percent of state sales and use taxes are allocated to the Old Age Pension Fund and 15 percent to the General Fund, except that $10 million is diverted to the Older Coloradans Cash Fund. This bill increases that diversion by $4 million to a total of $14 million per year. Representative Lebsock distributed a fact sheet and information on Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) (Attachments A and B). He described the work AAAs do for seniors in Colorado with the funds.

15HouseFin0211AttachA.pdf

15HouseFin0211AttachB.pdf

Representative Roupe, co-prime sponsor, spoke to House Bill 15-1100. She noted this is a fiscally prudent bill, helps seniors in Colorado, and reduces the state's Medicaid burden. She noted that all of the funds go to local agencies through the Department of Human Services for senior services. She stated funds for administrative costs are provided by local areas.

01:51 PM -- Mr. Rich Mauro, Senior Policy and Legislative Analyst for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), testified in support of the bill. He noted the need for stability by making this transfer through statute instead of the budget process. He commented on the growth of the number of seniors in Colorado and the growing need for services.

02:01 PM -- Mr. Guy Dutra-Silveira, Director of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Government's AAA, testified in support of the bill. He noted that the Pikes Peak AAA helps seniors in conjunction with non-profits, a few for-profit businesses, and government agencies. He offered examples of clients who have benefited from AAA services.

02:10 PM -- Ms. Jayla Sanchez-Warren, Director of DRCOG's AAA, testified in support of the bill. She noted that AAA programs allow people to stay in their homes and offers them numerous services. Responding to a committee question, she stated that the AAA contracts with about 30 different providers for 40 different services.

02:18 PM -- Ms. Susan Honstein, representing the Colorado Alliance of Retired Americans, testified in support of the bill. She noted that the bill is fiscally prudent, encourages community involvement, and is cost-effective.

02:23 PM -- Mr. Gregory Golyansky, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He talked about his personal experience with nursing facilities.

02:32 PM -- Ms. Kathleen Flynn, representing the Association of American Retired Persons, testified in support of the bill. She noted this bill would help AAAs better plan their annual budgets and expand services. She spoke about her personal experience with the transportation program.

02:36 PM -- Mr. John Zabawa, President and CEO of the Seniors' Resource Center, testified in support of the bill.

02:37 PM -- Ms. Evelyn Woodall, client of the Seniors' Resource Center, testified in support of the bill. She testified about her experience with the Seniors' Resource Center.

02:42 PM -- Mr. Ben Sawamura, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He spoke of his experiences with Meals on Wheels through Volunteers of America, one of the programs supported by these funds.

02:47 PM -- Mr. Ed Shackelford, President of the Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill. He noted the impact of the aging population in Colorado. He distributed a Colorado Senior Lobby newsletter (Attachment C).

15HouseFin0211AttachC.pdf

03:01 PM -- Mr. John Stoffel, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He spoke of his personal experience as a senior in Colorado.

03:05 PM -- Ms. Julie Leonard, representing the League of Woman Voters Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She noted senior programs benefit families, neighborhoods, and the whole community.

03:09 PM

Representative Lebsock handed out an article to the committee (Attachment D). The committee laid over the bill to a future date.

15HouseFin0211AttachD.pdf

03:25 PM -- HB15-1007

Representative Singer, sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1007. This bill, recommended by the Marijuana Revenues Interim Committee, clarifies that counties and statutory cities have the authority to levy a voter approved special sales tax on retail marijuana and gives them authority to levy a voter approved excise tax. The Department of Revenue would not collect, administer, or enforces the local taxes on retail marijuana.

03:34 PM -- Ms. Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the introduced bill. She answered committee questions regarding county licensing and double taxation.

03:53 PM -- Commissioner Ray Garcia, representing Huerfano County, testified in support of the introduced bill. Huerfano County passed an excise tax to deal with enforcement costs. He stated the bill offers clarity regarding whether the county can collect an excise tax.

04:00 PM -- Ms. Nicole Myers, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions about the bill. Committee discussion ensued on Amendment 64, Proposition AA, and interpretations of both of those laws. Representative Singer noted that intent of the bill is to clarify taxing authority for statutory counties and cities.

04:11 PM -- Mr. Kevin Bronski, Senior Policy Analyst with the Colorado Department of Revenue, came to the table to answer questions regarding retail marijuana tax shareback.

04:14 PM -- Commissioner Sal Pace, representing Pueblo County, testified in support of the bill. He noted the bill will give counties express authority, with voter approval, to levy a special sales tax and an excise tax. He answered committee questions regarding inter-governmental agreements.

04:28 PM -- City Councilwoman Carol Dodge and City Councilman Kyle Mullica from City of Northglenn testified in support of the bill with potential amendments. They discussed the current tax situation in Northglenn and Adams County. They provided a handout on the tax rates in Northglenn and Adams County (Attachment E).

15HouseFin0211AttachE.pdf

04:51 PM -- Mr. Corey Hoffmann, City Attorney for the City of Northglenn, testified in support of the bill with potential amendments. He described Northglenn's interpretation of the taxing authority granted to them under Amendment 64 and Proposition AA. He answered committee questions regarding taxation, licensing, and inter-governmental agreements.

05:07 PM -- Mr. Harley Gifford, General Counsel for the Pueblo West Metropolitan District, testified in support of the bill with potential amendments. He distributed a map and list of retail marijuana businesses in Pueblo West (Attachments F and G). He noted the importance of including metropolitan districts in this bill.

15HouseFin0211AttachF.pdf

15HouseFin0211AttachG.pdf

05:08 PM -- Board Member Mark Carmel, Publeo West Metropolitan District, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the excise tax portion of the bill. He stated that potential amendments would foster intergovernmental cooperation.

05:14 PM -- Mr. Shawn Coleman, representing 36 Solutions, took a neutral position on the bill. He spoke about the impact of the bill on the consumer and the tax collector.

05:23 PM -- Mr. Kevin Bommer, Deputy Director of the Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill with potential amendments. He stated that the bill is a tax simplification measure. He also addressed double taxation. He also spoke about his experience on the Marijuana Revenues Interim Committee.


BILL:	HB15-1007
TIME:	05:30:48 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment H). The motion passed on a vote of 9-2. 15HouseFin0211AttachH.pdf
SECONDED:	Foote
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Garnett	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	No
	Roupe	Yes
	Van Winkle	Yes
	Wilson	No
	Foote	Yes
	Court	Yes

YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	HB15-1007
TIME:	05:33:46 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment I). The motion passed on a vote of 6-5. 15HouseFin0211AttachI.pdf
SECONDED:	Foote
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Conti	No
	Garnett	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	No
	Roupe	No
	Van Winkle	No
	Wilson	No
	Foote	Yes
	Court	Yes

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


BILL:	HB15-1007
TIME:	05:34:57 PM
MOVED:	Court
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1007, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 9-2.
SECONDED:	Pabon
		VOTE
	Becker K.	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Garnett	Yes
	Kagan	Yes
	Pabon	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Roupe	Yes
	Van Winkle	No
	Wilson	No
	Foote	Yes
	Court	Yes

FINAL YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

05:37 PM

The committee adjourned.