Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Date:04/12/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:02:23 PM to 04:45 PM
Boyd
X
Evans
X
Place:SCR 354
Kester
X
Takis
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Wiens
X
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:
Conf 06-Denver Metro Baseball Stadium District
HB06-1344
SB06-220
HB06-1278		Favorably Refer to the Full Senate
Amended, Referred to Finance
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to Appropriations

02:24 PM

Ray Baker, Mac Slingerlend, F. Robert Lee, Patricia Baca, John Dikeou, Patty Imhoff, appointees for the Denver Metropolitan Major League Stadium District, introduced themselves and discussed their experiences with the board. A copy of their application materials was provided to the committee (Attachment A). Mr. Ray Baker responded to questions from the committee regarding the current duties of the board.
BILL:Conf 06-Denver Metro Baseball Stadium District
TIME: 02:36:20 PM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Favorably refer the candidates for appointment to the Metro Stadium Board to the full Senate for confirmation. Senator Veiga noted that Mr. John Card, who was not present for the confirmation hearing, would have to come before the committee at another time. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Evans
Yes
Kester
Yes
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:44 PM -- House Bill 06-1344

Senator Fitz Gerald introduced her bill that would refer a measure to Colorado voters that would permit domestic partnerships of same sex couples.

02:46 PM -- Beth Bryant, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill. She described her experiences as an estate planning attorney.

02:51 PM -- Carmah Lawler, Colorado League of Women Voters, spoke in support of the legislation.

02:56 PM -- Dan Willis, Colorado Stonewall Democrats, spoke in support of the legislation.

02:59 PM -- Shawn Nowlen, Equal Rights Colorado, spoke in support of the legislation.

03:03 PM

Senator Fitz Gerald made closing comments on the merits of the bill. She provided two amendments to the committee (Attachments B and C). She discussed the purposes of the amendments.
BILL:HB06-1344
TIME: 03:04:35 PM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Amendment L.025. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Evans
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB06-1344
TIME: 03:06:06 PM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Amendment L.028. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Evans
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB06-1344
TIME: 03:06:19 PM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Refer HB 1344 to the Committee on Finance, as amended. The motion passed 5-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Evans
No
Kester
Yes
Takis
Yes
Wiens
No
Tochtrop
Yes
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:09 PM

The committee recessed to locate Senator Bacon.

03:09 PM -- Senate Bill 06-220

Senator Bacon introduced his bill that would require utilities to establish policies to ensure that low-income seniors or medically fragile customers can avoid a service shut off under certain circumstances. He provided an attachment and an amendment to the committee (Attachments D and E).

03:15 PM -- Bill Schroeder, Intermountain Rural Electric Association, spoke in opposition to the bill as it is currently drafted. He discussed the current process of certain rural electric companies for people who are missing payments of their utility bills. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment F). He responded to questions from the committee.

03:25 PM -- Sylvia Van Horn, CSU, spoke in opposition to the legislation. She described her company's policy for dealing with service shut-offs during the winter months and the types of low-income services the utility provides.

03:30 PM -- Dave Lock, Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities, spoke in opposition to the bill. He described the role of municipal utilities in their communities and noted that all municipal utilities have assistance programs for individuals who need assistance with their utility bills. Senator Bacon commented on Mr. Lock's testimony.

03:36 PM -- Peter Minihan, representing Aquila and Atmos Energy, two small utility companies spoke in opposition to the legislation. He discussed the impact on small companies to fulfill the requirements of the bill.

03:41 PM -- Len Mize, Kinder Morgan, Inc., spoke in opposition to the bill.

03:44 PM -- Skip Arnold, Energy Outreach Colorado, spoke in support of the legislation. He described similar policies in other states. He responded to questions from the committee.

03:50 PM -- Fred Stoffel, Xcel Energy, spoke in support of the legislation. He described the services Xcel provides to individuals who need payment assistance.


03:55 PM

Senator Bacon made closing comments on the merits of the bill. He described the unofficial, preamended version of the bill.
BILL:SB06-220
TIME: 03:58:14 PM
MOVED:Veiga
MOTION:Amendment L.003 (Attachment D). Senator Tochtrop moved to sever lines 12 through 15 of the bill on page 3. Severed section 1 passed without objection. Senator Tochtrop explained her objection to severed section 2. Senator Bacon noted his belief that such a motion would make the bill applicable to no utility companies. Severed section 2 passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Evans
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE
BILL:SB06-220
TIME: 04:01:49 PM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Amend amendment L.003, page 3, line 13, after utilities insert "with more than 300,000 customers,". Committee discussion ensued. The motion passed 5-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
No
Evans
Yes
Kester
Yes
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Veiga
No
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:SB06-220
TIME: 04:07:22 PM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Amendment L.004 (Attachment G). Senator Tochtrop explained the purpose of the amendment. Senator Weins moved an amendment to the amendment. Senator Weins amendment passed. Senator Boyd moved an amendment to the amendment. Senator Boyd's amendment passed. The committee returned to the original motion which passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Evans
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION
BILL:SB06-220
TIME: 04:08:35 PM
MOVED:Wiens
MOTION:Amend amendment L.004, in all cases, after "investor-owned" add "with more than 300,000 customers". The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Evans
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:SB06-220
TIME: 04:12:04 PM
MOVED:Boyd
MOTION:Amend amendment L.004. Line 5, strike "EIGHT" and substitute "NINE"; line 6, strike "TWO" and substitute "THREE"; after line 9 insert the following:
(B) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING INVESTOR OWNED NATURAL GAS UTILITIES OF MORE THAN 300,000 CUSTOMERS;". The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Evans
Kester
Takis
Wiens
Tochtrop
Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:SB06-220
TIME: 04:12:31 PM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Refer SB 220 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended. The motion passed 5-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Evans
No
Kester
No
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



04:13 PM

The committee recessed to locate Senator Keller.

04:25 PM -- House Bill 06-1278

Senator Keller introduced her bill that would create a comprehensive hospital information system.

04:28 PM -- Carrie Curtiss, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, spoke in support of the legislation. She noted some concerns of her organization.

04:30 PM -- Jeff Selberg, Exempla Health Care and Colorado Hospital Association, spoke in support of the legislation.

04:36 PM -- Peter Freytag, Colorado Health and Hospital Association, spoke in support of the legislation.

04:38 PM -- Errol Snyder, Family Health West, spoke in support of the legislation.

04:42 PM

Senator Tochtrop discussed her concerns with the legislation. Senator Boyd asked questions of the sponsor.
BILL:HB06-1278
TIME: 04:45:01 PM
MOVED:Tochtrop
MOTION:Refer HB 1278 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 6-0-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Evans
Excused
Kester
Yes
Takis
Yes
Wiens
Yes
Tochtrop
Yes
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:45 PM

The committee recessed.