Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Date:02/20/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:37 PM to 03:10 PM
Evans
X
Hanna
X
Place:SCR 354
Kester
X
Takis
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Wiens
*
Senator Veiga
Tochtrop
X
Veiga
X
This Report was prepared by
Jeanette Chapman
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB06-1002
SB06-180
HB06-1040
HB06-1140
SB06-071		Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole


01:38 PM -- House Bill 06-1002

Senator Isgar introduced his bill that would continue the Office of Consumer Counsel.

01:40 PM -- Brian Tobias, Department of Regulatory Agencies, spoke in support of the legislation and described the sunset review of the Office of Consumer Counsel.

01:42 PM -- Cameron Graham, American Association of Retired Persons, spoke in support of the legislation.

01:44 PM -- Ron Binz, representing himself as well as the Colorado Public Interest Research Foundation, spoke in support of the legislation. He discussed the role of the Office of Consumer Counsel. He noted the savings that the office has provided to consumers and the litigation that the office has helped to avoid by the service it provides.



01:48 PM

Senator Isgar made closing comments on the merits of the bill.
BILL:HB06-1002
TIME: 01:49:00 PM
MOVED:Hanna
MOTION:Refer HB 1002 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation to the consent calendar. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Kester
Yes
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:50 PM -- Senate Bill 06-180

Senator Isgar introduced his bill that would require that the average premium rates for CoverColorado be the average rate for health benefit plans charged by the 5 largest insurance carriers in the state for a comparable plan. Currently, CoverColorado premiums are 150 percent of premium rate levels.

01:53 PM -- Barbara Brett, Executive Director of CoverColorado, spoke in favor of the legislation. She provided two handouts to the committee (Attachments A & B). She provided a brief history of CoverColorado. She responded to questions from the committee.

02:01 PM -- Carrie Curtiss, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative and American Association of Retired Persons, spoke in support of the legislation. She discussed the Consumer Health Initiative's experience with the uninsured in the state and the cost prohibitions of CoverColorado for many people.

02:02 PM -- Mike Hootari, Colorado Association of Health Plans, spoke in support of the legislation. He responded to questions from the committee members regarding the possibility of an increased assessment on insurance providers if the decreased rates increase the number of participants in the program.



02:05 PM

Senator Isgar made closing comments on the merits of the bill. He responded to the committee's questions about the possibility of additional assessments on health insurers. He provided an amendment to the committee (Attachment C).
BILL:SB06-180
TIME: 02:08:34 PM
MOVED:Hanna
MOTION:Amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Hanna
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:SB06-180
TIME: 02:08:51 PM
MOVED:Hanna
MOTION:Refer SB 180 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended, with a recommendation to the consent calendar. The motion passed 6-0-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Kester
Yes
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Yes
Tochtrop
Excused
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:10 PM -- House Bill 06-1040

Senator Veiga introduced her bill concerning the sunset review process for the functions of the Division of Insurance. The bill would reschedule future sunset reviews based on the type of insurance, rather than looking at the entire Division of Insurance in one sunset review.

02:12 PM -- Brian Tobias, Department of Regulatory Agencies, spoke in support of the legislation. He described the sunset process that had been the impetus for the bill, to break up the sunset reports by function. At the request of the sponsor, Mr. Tobias explained a proposed amendment.


02:17 PM

Senator Takis asked about the advisability of eliminating a review. Senator Veiga explained that there would still be a review process, it was covered someplace else.
BILL:HB06-1040
TIME: 02:18:34 PM
MOVED:Veiga
MOTION:Amend page 2, strike lines 6-11 and page 5, strike lines 14-22. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Hanna
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB06-1040
TIME: 02:20:05 PM
MOVED:Veiga
MOTION:Refer HB 1040 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended, with a recommendation to the consent calendar. The motion passed 5-0-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Kester
Yes
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Excused
Tochtrop
Excused
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:21 PM -- House Bill 06-1140

Senator Veiga introduced her bill concerning the registration of trademarks in the state. The bill would facilitate on-line registration of trademarks and simplify the registration process.

02:23 PM -- Beat Steiner, Colorado Bar Association, spoke in support of the legislation. He explained the changes that the bill would make to the trademark registration process. He responded to questions from the committee.



02:29 PM -- Keith Whitelaw, Colorado Secretary of State's Office, spoke in support of the legislation.
BILL:HB06-1140
TIME: 02:30:46 PM
MOVED:Veiga
MOTION:Refer HB 1140 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation to the consent calendar. The motion passed 5-0-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Kester
Excused
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Yes
Tochtrop
Excused
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:33 PM -- Senate Bill 06-071

Senator Veiga brought her bill concerning foreclosure agreements that was previously discussed in the committee on February 6, 2006. She provided an amendment to the committee (Attachment D). She briefly described the amendment. She asked Jan Zavislan from the Attorney General's office to return to the table to explain what changes are proposed to the legislation.

02:36 PM -- Jan Zavislan, Colorado Attorney General's office, spoke about the discussions that had resulted in the proposed amendment. He responded to questions from the committee.

02:43 PM

Senator Veiga responded to some of Senator Evans' comments about the balance between legitimate businesses being able to operate and regulation of the business to keep out dishonest individuals.



02:53 PM

Committee discussion ensued with Mr. Zavislan regarding provisions of the amendment and the legislation.
BILL:SB06-071
TIME: 02:54:00 PM
MOVED:Veiga
MOTION:Amendment L.002. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Hanna
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE
BILL:SB06-071
TIME: 02:54:23 PM
MOVED:Evans
MOTION:Amendment L.003 (Attachment E). Senator Evans described the provisions of his proposed amendment. He responded to questions from the committee. Mr. Zavislan commented about the amendment. Thomas Morris, Office of Legislative Legal Services discussed changes to the numbering in portions of the amendment. Senator Evans withdrew L.003.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Hanna
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:SB06-071
TIME: 03:08:21 PM
MOVED:Veiga
MOTION:Refer SB 071 as amended to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
Yes
Hanna
Yes
Kester
Yes
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:09 PM

The committee recessed.