House Committee on Finance (01/18/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	01/18/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:34 PM to 02:57 PM	Benefield	X
		Cloer	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Crane	X
		Frangas	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Garcia	X
	Representative Vigil	Harvey	X
		Jahn	X
This Report was prepared by		Kerr	X
	Ron Kirk	Marshall	X
		Massey	X
		McCluskey	X
		Judd	X
		Vigil	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB06-1033 HB06-1018		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to Appropriations

01:35 PM -- Opening Comments

Representative Val Vigil, Chairman, welcomed everyone to the first House Finance Committee meeting and discussed committee procedures for the 2006 legislative session.

01:42 PM -- House Bill 06-1033

Representative Coleman, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 06-1033 would change the timing for the allocation of money above the General Fund Excess Reserve to the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) and the Capital Construction Fund. The committee briefly discussed the SB 97-1 diversion to the HUTF allowed under current law. Staff distributed a copy of the General Fund overview showing the FY 2005-06 reserve amount of $96.9 million (Attachment A). Representative Coleman distributed a fact-sheet on House Bill 06-1033 and reiterated that the bill would modify the dates for which the General Fund Surplus less the 4 percent reserve (Excess Reserve) would be annually transferred to the HUTF and the Capital Construction Fund.

Representative Vigil, Chairman, placed the bill on the table for action.


BILL:	HB06-1033
TIME:	01:48:02 PM
MOVED:	Judd
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1033 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 13-0-0.
SECONDED:	Garcia
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Cloer	Yes
	Crane	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Garcia	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Jahn	Yes
	Kerr	Yes
	Marshall	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McCluskey	Yes
	Judd	Yes
	Vigil	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:49 PM -- House Bill 06-1018

Representative Riesberg, prime sponsor, discussed the programs that receive funding from the Older Coloradans Cash Fund and explained that House Bill 06-1018 would increase funding by an additional $1 million from state sales and use tax revenue. Representative Riesberg commented on the value that seniors place on programs funded by the Older Coloradans Cash Fund.

The following persons testified:

02:02 PM -- Mr. Thomas Swanson, American Association of Retired Persons, testified in favor of the legislation and commented on the importance of additional funding for programs that benefit seniors. Mr. Swanson discussed the concerns seniors have about the rising costs of long-term care.

02:06 PM -- Mr. Frank Lay, Colorado Alliance for Retired Americans, testified in support of the legislation and commented on the growing number of seniors in Colorado who would benefit from the additional funding under House Bill 06-1018.

02:07 PM -- Ms. Fern Osborne, Older Americans Coalition, testified in support of the legislation. Ms. Osborne discussed the factors that are driving more seniors into poverty such as rising prescription drug costs and the increasing costs of medical coverage. Ms. Osborne closed by saying nearly 40 percent of all seniors in Colorado have incomes that are below the federal poverty level.

02:10 PM -- Mr. Nolan Knox, Volunteers of America, testified in support of the legislation. Mr. Knox discussed the importance of programs such as "Meals on Wheels" and explained that it is a program that receives state funding from the Older Coloradans Cash Fund. Mr. Knox maintained that the additional funding under House Bill 06-1018 will help provide more valuable programs and services for low-income seniors in Colorado. The committee discussed the distribution of money under the Older Coloradans Fund.

02:17 PM -- Mr. Mike Drake, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the legislation and stated that seniors on fixed incomes are the hardest hit by increasing health care costs. The additional funding under House Bill 06-1018 will benefit seniors who depend upon health care services provided by the state.

02:18 PM -- Mr. Rich Mauro, Denver Regional Council of Governments, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Mauro talked about the value of increasing state funding for programs funded by the Older Coloradans Cash Fund. Representative Riesberg and Mr. Mauro commented on the many seniors who benefit from programs such as Meals on Wheels. Mr. Mauro commented on a 2004 survey that identified a growing need for programs that aid seniors in Colorado. By 2012, this need may exceed $97 million. Population growth and rising prescription drug costs are driving up the costs of long-term care. Mr. Mauro closed by saying that more seniors are reaching the federal poverty level each year as the costs of health care soar.

02:33 PM -- Mr. Jerry Wathen, Colorado Commission on Aging, testified in support of the bill and commented on services offered by AAA that aid seniors.

02:38 PM -- Ms. Catherine Dunlap, Visiting Nurses Association, testified in support of the legislation. Ms. Dunlap commented on in-home service programs that benefit low-income seniors. Ms. Dunlap talked about the client base for in-house programs and their dependency on state assistance.

02:47 PM -- Ms. Sue Bozinorski, Denver Regional Council of Governments, and the Colorado Commission on Aging, responded to committee questions about defining the poverty level for seniors. Ms. Bozinorski commented on the different demographic senior groups that benefit from programs funded by the Older Coloradans Cash Fund.

02:54 PM -- Ms. Lonna Fischer, Alliance for Retired Americans, and representing self, commented on the circumstances that are driving more seniors near retirement to poverty and cited poorly-funded pension plans as one concern for many seniors.

Representative Vigil, Chairman, placed the bill on the table for action.


BILL:	HB06-1018
TIME:	02:56:21 PM
MOVED:	Frangas
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1018 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 13-0-0 vote.
SECONDED:	McCluskey
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Cloer	Yes
	Crane	Yes
	Frangas	Yes
	Garcia	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Jahn	Yes
	Kerr	Yes
	Marshall	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McCluskey	Yes
	Judd	Yes
	Vigil	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE

02:57 PM

Adjourn.