Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT STATE VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Date:12/01/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:10:37 AM to 12:22 PM
Foote
E
Hill
E
Place:RM 271
Humphrey
E
Jones
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Lontine
X
Senator Scott
Neville P.
E
Primavera
X
This Report was prepared by
Salazar
E
Julia Jackson
Sonnenberg
E
Tate
X
Thurlow
X
Tyler
X
Ulibarri
X
Willett
E
Scott
X
Ryden
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Department of State SMART Act Presentation
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs SMART Act Presentation		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only


10:38 AM -- Department of State SMART Act Presentation

Secretary of State Wayne Williams provided an overview of the Department of State. Committee members received a summary of the department's work (Attachment A). Secretary Williams discussed registered voters, licensed businesses, and other registrations and filings managed by the department. He emphasized the department's online presence.

15JtStateVetsSMARTAct1201AttachA.pdf15JtStateVetsSMARTAct1201AttachA.pdf

Secretary Williams discussed business and licensing, and the department's work to improve data security. He noted awards the department has received and spoke about the Go Code Colorado application challenge.

Secretary Williams discussed the department's preparations for the 2016 elections, noting that he has been visiting with new county clerks across the state. He spoke about the watcher committee convened to recommend changes to the state's election watcher laws. He further discussed the pilot election review committee that will be recommending a new uniform voting system for the state. He responded to a question from Representative Thurlow about the types of voting systems being considered.





10:55 AM

Secretary Williams explained the role of the department's information technology (IT) division.

Representative Ryden and Secretary Williams discussed U.S. Postal Service (USPS) processing and how the USPS delivers mail ballots. Secretary Williams noted that the department would be requesting a legal change to allow county clerks to mail out ballots a few days earlier in the election cycle. He further discussed the role of 24/7 ballot drop boxes in conducting elections, noting that a bill on this issue would be forthcoming.


11:07 AM

Discussion between Representative Ryden and Secretary Williams continued. Representative Tyler and Secretary Williams discussed the department's bipartisan election advisory committee.

Senator Jones discussed mail balloting with Secretary Williams, particularly the recommended deadline for mailing in ballots before an election. Discussion ensued on this issue.


11:22 AM

Representative Ryden questioned Secretary Williams about ballot drop box security. Secretary Williams noted that counties are required to provide video surveillance for ballot drop boxes, and he discussed the benefits of this level of security.

Representative Tyler and Secretary Williams discussed the department's efforts to improve transparency of lobbyist registrations and campaign finance reports.


11:28 AM

Secretary Williams discussed the department's 2016 regulatory and legislative agendas and budget request. Senator Jones commented on the budget request.

Senator Scott and Secretary Williams discussed issues regarding registrations for businesses and campaign committees that have closed. Representative Tyler commented on this.


11:37 AM

No witnesses testified on the presentation.














11:38 AM -- Department of Military and Veterans Affairs SMART Act Presentation

Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards, Adjutant General of the State of Colorado, provided an overview of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). He introduced key staff members from the department. Committee members received a copy of DMVA's briefing (Attachment B). Gen. Edwards noted that the department has no legislative or regulatory agenda for 2016, nor any budget decision items. He discussed DMVA's three capital construction requests for Fiscal Year 2016-17.

15JtStateVetsSMARTAct1201AttachB.pdf15JtStateVetsSMARTAct1201AttachB.pdf

Gen. Edwards commented on DMVA's FY 16-17 budget request and its strategic policy initiatives. He discussed National Guard deployments in 2015 and 2016. He clarified these figures with Representative Ryden.


11:49 AM

Gen. Edwards described joint operations and emergency response conducted by the Colorado National Guard.

Gen. Edwards noted the federally funded construction projects currently underway in Colorado. He highlighted the Buckley P-4 initiative, which received $5 million of state funding.


11:59 AM

Gen. Edwards discussed future National Guard projects and ongoing National Guard family programs. He highlighted initiatives undertaken by the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Gen. Edwards discussed the work of the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs and the Civil Air Patrol. He also noted statewide military issues and trends.


12:10 PM

At Representative Ryden's request, Mickey Hunt, Deputy Director of DMVA, provided an overview of the Buckley P-4 project. He noted that the project is a partnership between the federal government, the state, Arapahoe County, and the city of Aurora. He explained that land surrounding Buckley Air Force Base will be preserved as open space through conservation easements.

Representative Primavera and Mr. Hunt discussed homeless veterans in Colorado. Dana Nimela, chair of the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs, came to the table to respond to this question. Representative Primavera continued to discuss data collection with Ms. Nimela.

Representative Ryden and Gen. Edwards discussed efforts to meet the mental health needs of National Guard members and their families.









12:19 PM

Representative Ryden and Mr. Hunt discussed implementation of changes to the county veterans' service officers program.


12:22 PM

No witnesses testified on the presentation.

The committee adjourned.