House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor (05/01/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Date:	05/01/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	03:55 PM to 05:04 PM	Balmer	*
		Borodkin	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Butcher	X
		Carroll M.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Coleman	*
	Representative Marshall	Knoedler	X
		Liston	*
This Report was prepared by		McCluskey	X
	Christie Lee	Paccione	X
		Penry	*
		Welker	X
		Cerbo	X
		Marshall	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HJR06-1029 SB06-221 HCR06-1011		Postponed Indefinitely Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole

03:55 PM -- House Joint Resolution 06-1029

Representative Stafford, prime sponsor, presented House Joint Resolution 06-1029 and distributed a handout (Attachment A). The bill would create an Interim Committee to study the regulation of Mortuary Science. Since the Legislative Council Committee decided this year not to fund any interim committees, Representative Stafford asked the committee to postpone the bill indefinitely.


BILL:	HJR06-1029
TIME:	03:58:06 PM
MOVED:	Carroll M.
MOTION:	Moved to postpone House Joint Resolution 06-1029 indefinitely. The motion passed 12-0.
SECONDED:	McCluskey
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Borodkin	Yes
	Butcher	Yes
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Coleman	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	McCluskey	Yes
	Paccione	Yes
	Penry	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	Cerbo	Yes
	Marshall	Excused
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:59 PM -- Senate Bill 06-221

Representative Garcia, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 06-221. He explained that the bill started out as a proposal to eliminate the clean screen program and to put a modest fee on vehicle registrations to help fund uncompensated care for trauma care providers. Representative Garcia stated that the bill was amended with a strike below in the Senate that would add the subject of uncompensated care funding for emergency responders to Health Care Task Force's interim study agenda. He responded to questions from the committee.

04:06 PM

There was discussion about the status of the bills that came out of the Interim Committee on Auto Insurance. There was discussion about the fiscal impact of the bill. Representative Garcia stated that the Health Care Task Force already exists in statute so there would be no fiscal impact. There was a discussion about funding trauma care via vehicle registration fees.

04:12 PM -- Kevin Klein, representing the Colorado Fire Chief's Association, testified in support of the bill. He stated they are the largest employers of trauma care providers. Mr. Klein stated that the bill helps keep the issue of uncompensated care and trauma care providers alive after others have failed this session. Representative Knoedler mentioned that he felt the problem is with the collections system. Mr. Klein agreed and added it is also a negotiation and time issue. He explained that under no fault, trauma care providers were reimbursed within 30 days, and now under the tort system there is a lag time between the time of care and the determination of fault.

04:22 PM -- Cindy Sovine, representing the Trauma Care Preservation Coalition, stated she was there to show support and responded to questions.


BILL:	SB06-221
TIME:	04:23:29 PM
MOVED:	Coleman
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 06-221 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 12-0.
SECONDED:	Balmer
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Borodkin	Yes
	Butcher	Yes
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Coleman	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	McCluskey	Excused
	Paccione	Yes
	Penry	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	Cerbo	Yes
	Marshall	Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:24 PM -- House Concurrent Resolution 06-1011

Representative Butcher, prime sponsor, presented House Concurrent Resolution 06-1011 that would call for the Commissioner of Insurance to be an elected statewide office rather than appointed by the Governor. Several members commented on the Resolution. There was committee discussion about how many states have elected versus appointed Insurance Commissioners. Representative Butcher responded to questions from the committee.

04:32 PM -- Julie Hoerner, representing the Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment B). She responded to questions about the accountability of an appointed commissioner versus an elected commissioner.

04:36 PM -- Virginia Love, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill. She stated that the Council is concerned about the money that would be spent on an election.

04:37 PM -- Bill Imig, representing the Property and Casualty Insurers Association, testified in opposition of the bill. He talked about the history of the Colorado Insurance Commissioner and how it was an elected office prior to 1985 when Colorado switched to an appointed system. He stated that there have not been any problems with the appointees and that there is no need for a change. Mr. Imig talked about Washington's elected commissioner and how the state wants to go back to an appointed Insurance Commissioner. Mr. Imig responded to a question about how an appointed commissioner is held accountable to the public.

04:46 PM -- Robert Ferm, representing the American Insurance Association, testified in opposition to the bill. He talked about some current states that have an elected Insurance Commissioner and the problems they have faced. Mr. Firm responded to questions from the committee. Representative Butcher talked about other states with elected and appointed Insurance Commissioners.

04:55 PM -- Jerry McElroy, representing Kaiser Permanente and the Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in opposition to the bill. He stated he agrees with the previous testimony but wanted to add one point to the discussion on accountability. He stated that consumers are stuck with an elected official, good or bad, for 4 years, but with an appointed official the official is one embarrassment away from being replaced.


BILL:	HCR06-1011
TIME:	04:56:29 PM
MOVED:	Butcher
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Concurrent Resolution 06-1011 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 7-6.
SECONDED:	Coleman
		VOTE
	Balmer	No
	Borodkin	Yes
	Butcher	Yes
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Coleman	Yes
	Knoedler	No
	Liston	No
	McCluskey	No
	Paccione	Yes
	Penry	No
	Welker	No
	Cerbo	Yes
	Marshall	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

05:04 PM

The committee adjourned.