Date: 04/11/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1297

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Motion to refer HB06-1297 to the Committee of the PASS



03:15 PM -- House Bill 06-1297

Senator Shaffer, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of HB 06-1297 which creates a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society checkoff for income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2006, but prior to January 1, 2009, on state individual income tax return forms. He discussed statistics on MS and distributed a handout on the disease and the MS Society (Attachment D). He indicated that he was not sure whether Easter Seals provides services to those with MS, but stated that the MS Society is involved with funding research on the disease.

The following people testified on the bill:

03:21 PM -- Mr. Mike McCarty, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, spoke in opposition to the bill. He commented that the state should not favor one organization over others through creating a checkoff for the organization.

03:23 PM -- Ms. Ellie Mohler, Colorado Chapter of the MS Society, spoke in favor of the bill and discussed how MS affects people. She also discussed how the Colorado Chapter helps MS victims and provides research dollars.

03:27 PM -- Mr. Jim Donnelly, MS Society, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated that all of the money received through the checkoff will be spent in Colorado and that 40 percent of the Society's funds are used for research. He indicated that the Society's work has very little overlap with Easter Seals. He indicated that 7 percent of the Society's money is used for administration, which is one of the best rates in the nation. He indicated that there is currently no research on curing MS, only on how to alleviate symptoms of the disease.

Senator Shaffer commented on how their is a higher incidence of MS in Colorado.

Senator Teck discussed his concerns with placing more prominent organizations on the income tax form instead of lesser known organizations.

Senator Taylor discussed the high rate of MS in the Steamboat Springs area.
BILL:HB06-1297
TIME: 03:34:47 PM
MOVED:Shaffer
MOTION:Motion to refer HB06-1297 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 5 - 1 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Brophy
Yes
Shaffer
Yes
Taylor
Yes
Teck
No
Tupa
Yes
Veiga
Excused
Sandoval
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:35 PM

The committee recessed.