Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:02/28/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:02:07 PM to 02:42 PM
Bacon
X
Entz
X
Place:SCR 353
Jones
*
Kester
*
This Meeting was called to order by
Tochtrop
X
Senator Hanna
Groff
*
Hanna
X
This Report was prepared by
Raegan Robb
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB06-1068
HB06-1059
HB06-1139		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Postponed Indefinitely


02:07 PM -- House Bill 06-1068

Senator Grossman, prime sponsor, presented HB06-1068 and explained that his bill addresses the Fire and Police Pension Association's (FPPA) Social Security Supplemental plan. The bill changes the existing plan into a more modern and usable plan. Senator Grossman explained that the current plan is small with only 60 members enrolled compared to the more than 11,000 members participating in all FPPA plans.


02:10 PM

Kevin Lindahl, general Counsel, Fire and Police Pension Association, testified in support of HB06-1068 and explained the operation of the existing Social Security Supplemental plan and also explained the calculation of benefits under the old plan compared to the new bill. Mr. Lindahl explained the differences in the contribution and benefit rates between the existing and proposed plan and that the new plan would only be available to individuals employed by a department currently paying Social Security taxes.


02:12 PM

Mark Paschall, Colorado County Officials and Employees Retirement Association, testified in support of the bill and introduced prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment A). Mr. Paschall explained that the amendment clarifies that local government boards will maintain local control over retirement plans.







02:14 PM

Senator Grossman entered closing comments on HB06-1068.
BILL:HB06-1068
TIME: 02:15:45 PM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment A). Motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Entz
Jones
Kester
Tochtrop
Groff
Hanna
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB06-1068
TIME: 02:16:44 PM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Move HB06-1068 to the Committee of the Whole with the recommendation that it be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Yes
Entz
Yes
Jones
Yes
Kester
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Groff
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:19 PM -- House Bill 06-1059

Senator Williams, prime sponsor, presented her bill and explained that this bill is the result of her membership on the Fire and Police Pension Reform Commission during the summer of 2005. Senator Williams briefly explained the history of the FPPA and spoke to how this bill responds to changing retirement demands and fiscal management needs. Senator Williams referenced a handout (Amendment B), which explained the FPPA structure and how this structure would change under her bill. Senator Williams addressed questions from the committee regarding state funds, referenced in Referendum D, previously committed to older FPPA plans.






02:23 PM

Kevin Lindahl, FPPA General Counsel, testified in support of HB06-1059, stating that the state created the FPPA in response to the previous plan that was in trouble. Mr. Lindahl explained that this bill will change the statute to recognize a more modern method for accounting for these FPPA funds. Mr. Lindahl explained that FPPA holds funding from all aspects of the retirement plan, including the self-directed investment fund, which allows employees to direct their own investments options. Mr. Lindahl clarified the FPPA plan, specifically the self-directed aspect of the retirement plan for FPPA employees. Mr. Lindahl responded to questions from the committee regarding the FPPA funding, that was referenced in Referendum D, for older FPPA plans.
BILL:HB06-1059
TIME: 02:36:53 PM
MOVED:Groff
MOTION:Move HB06-1059 to the Committee of the Whole with the recommendation that it be placed on the Consent Calendar. Motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Yes
Entz
Yes
Jones
Yes
Kester
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Groff
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:40 PM -- House Bill 06-1139

Senator Fitz-Gerald, prime sponsor, presented her bill and explained that this bill was originally crafted between Colorado gaming communities (Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek) and the State Historical Fund to specify how these state historical monies, derived from limited gaming, may be expended by these gaming communities. Senator Fitz-Gerald explained that this bill had been amended in the House and that this amendment places the State Historical Fund in an adversarial position with these gaming communities. Due to this amendment, Senator Fitz-Gerald requested that HB06-1139 be postponed indefinitely at the request of the State Historical Fund.

















BILL:HB06-1139
TIME: 02:41:21 PM
MOVED:Groff
MOTION:Move to postpone HB06-1139 indefinitely. Motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Bacon
Yes
Entz
Yes
Jones
Yes
Kester
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Groff
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


02:42 PM

Committee recessed.