Bill Summary for Bill Number SB05-237

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB05-237

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Votes:

Action Taken:

Moved amendment L.015 (Attachment C). Representat
Moved that SB05-237, as amended by amendment L.015
Moved to amend the reengrossed bill by striking th

Pass Without Objection
PASS
FAIL

12:13 PM -- Senate Bill 05-237

Representative Green presented the bill which creates the Healthy Business Healthy People 5-Year pilot program with the purpose of making standardized, low-cost health insurance available to qualifying small employers and individuals. Representative Green responded to questions from the committee.

12:33 PM -- Peg Brown, representing the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified neither for nor against the bill, but rather Ms. Brown testified that she has concerns about the bill. These concerns are listed in a handout Ms. Brown provided to the committee (Attachment A). Ms. Brown also provided the committee with a comparison of the bill to a similar program in the state of New York (Attachment B). Ms. Brown responded to questions from the committee.

12:46 PM -- Vickie Agler, representing the National Federation of Independent Business, testified neither for nor against the bill, but rather Ms. Agler testified that she has concerns about the bill. Ms. Agler is most concerned about the inequity between those small businesses that qualify for the pilot program and those that do not. Another concern of hers is that the bill is not clear regarding its repeal after the pilot program is completed. Ms. Agler responded to questions from the committee.

12:58 PM -- Travis Berry, representing the Business Council on Health Care Competition, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Berry supports the bill because the program can be implemented within the existing state system, the program may encourage lower premiums, and eligibility for the program is broad-based.

01:02 PM -- Spencer Swalm, representing the Colorado Association of Health Underwriters, testified that he has questions about the bill. Mr. Swalm questions the timing of such a major proposal so late in the session and wants to know if an actuarial study has been done.


BILL:	SB05-237
TIME:	01:07:27 PM
MOVED:	Marshall
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.015 (Attachment C). Representative Green told the committee that L.015 prevents an employee from receiving coverage under the pilot program if they are already receiving Medicare. The amendment passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Paccione
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Borodkin
	Butcher
	Carroll M.
	Coleman
	Knoedler
	Liston
	Massey
	McCluskey
	Paccione
	White
	Cerbo
	Marshall
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB05-237
TIME:	01:10:02 PM
MOVED:	White
MOTION:	Moved to amend the reengrossed bill by striking the enacting clause. The motion failed 4-8, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:	Knoedler
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Borodkin	No
	Butcher	No
	Carroll M.	No
	Coleman	No
	Knoedler	Yes
	Liston	Excused
	Massey	No
	McCluskey	Yes
	Paccione	No
	White	Yes
	Cerbo	No
	Marshall	No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 8 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	SB05-237
TIME:	01:11:13 PM
MOVED:	Butcher
MOTION:	Moved that SB05-237, as amended by amendment L.015, be referred to the House Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed 7-6.
SECONDED:	Marshall
		VOTE
	Balmer	No
	Borodkin	Yes
	Butcher	Yes
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Coleman	Yes
	Knoedler	No
	Liston	No
	Massey	No
	McCluskey	No
	Paccione	Yes
	White	No
	Cerbo	Yes
	Marshall	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS