Date: 05/01/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-288

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (attachment A). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.002 (attachment B). The motion p
Refer Senate Bill 15-288, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



06:06 PM -- SB15-288

Senator Roberts, chair, called the committee to order. Senator Hodge and Senator Baumgardner, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 15-288, concerning the compensation paid to certain public officials. Senator Hodge explained the bill and distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and amendment L.002 (Attachment B). Senator Lundberg and Senator Hodge discussed the bill, and Senator Lundberg explained his position on the bill. Discussion ensued regarding tying compensation to judicial salaries, and how judicial salaries are determined. The committee and Senator Hodge discussed increased compensation for legislators under the bill.

15SenateJud0501AttachA.pdf15SenateJud0501AttachA.pdf 15SenateJud0501AttachB.pdf15SenateJud0501AttachB.pdf

Colorado Counties, Inc. distributed a fact sheet on the bill (Attachment C).

15SenateJud0501AttachC.pdf15SenateJud0501AttachC.pdf

06:17 PM -- Ms. Beverly Breakstone, representing the County Elected Salary Commission (the commission), testified in support of the bill. Ms. Breakstone explained the work of the commission, and informed the committee that employees in many county departments earn more money than elected officials, which makes it difficult to attract people to run for elected positions. She listed many organizations that support the bill, discussed the work among those supporters to craft the bill, and explained the reasons for the structure of the bill. Ms. Breakstone responded to questions regarding the difficulty of recruiting people to run for elected positions, the classifications of counties in the bill, and how the commission's work would be affected by the bill.


06:27 PM

The committee, Senator Hodge, and Ms. Breakstone continued to discuss the role of the commission.


06:29 PM

Mr. Gregg Fraser, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained provisions of the bill. Mr. Fraser responded to questions regarding compensation of officials under the bill.

06:31 PM -- Mr. Eric Bergman, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bergman clarified portions of prior testimony. Mr. Bergman responded to questions regarding continuing the commission under the bill. He also explained compensation for different positions under the bill.


06:38 PM

Senator Hodge explained amendment L.001.
BILL:SB15-288
TIME: 06:38:39 PM
MOVED:Guzman
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Guzman
Merrifield
Lundberg
Roberts
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Senator Baumgardner explained amendment L.002.
BILL:SB15-288
TIME: 06:39:10 PM
MOVED:Guzman
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Guzman
Merrifield
Lundberg
Roberts
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Senator Roberts discussed her position on the bill, including possible amendments.
BILL:SB15-288
TIME: 06:39:41 PM
MOVED:Guzman
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-288, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 4-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cooke
Yes
Guzman
Yes
Merrifield
No
Lundberg
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



06:40 PM

The committee adjourned.