House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor (01/18/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Date:	01/18/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:42 AM to 10:49 AM	Balmer	X
		Borodkin	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Butcher	X
		Carroll M.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Coleman	*
	Representative Marshall	Knoedler	*
		Liston	X
This Report was prepared by		McCluskey	X
	Christie Lee	Paccione	X
		Penry	X
		Welker	X
		Cerbo	X
		Marshall	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB06-1002 HB06-1040 HB06-1041		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole

09:43 AM -- House Bill 06-1002

Representative Carroll, prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 06-1002. She explained that the bill would continue the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC). Representative Carroll responded to questions from the committee about cost of running the OCC, and gave a brief history of the OCC.

09:48 AM -- Bruce Harrelson from the Department of Regulatory Agencies testified about the role of the OCC. Mr. Harrelson answered questions from the committee regarding the fiscal note. There was a discussion about the employees' salaries at the OCC.

09:53 AM -- Cameron Graham testified on behalf of the American Association of Retired Persons in support of the bill.

09:56 AM -- John McCormick testified on behalf of Qwest Communications in support of the bill.

09:58 AM -- John Stoffel, representing the Colorado Alliance for Retired Americans, spoke in favor of the bill and spoke highly of the work of the OCC. Mr. Stoffel responded to a question from the committee regarding the Public Utilities Commission and its role in consumer protection.

10:05 AM -- Ron Binz, former Director of the Office of Consumer Counsel from 1984 until 1995, spoke in favor of continuing the OCC. He explained that the OCC offers a single point of contact for consumer representatives. He believes the OCC improves public utility regulation. Mr. Binz addressed the earlier questions from the committee regarding the OCC's budget and staff. Representative Butcher commented on the OCC and stated that the Office has gained respect and deserves to be continued. Mr. Binz responded to some more questions from the committee and concluded his testimony.

10:18 AM -- Representative Carroll gave her closing statements on the bill and discussed the cost.


BILL:	HB06-1002
TIME:	10:21:08 AM
MOVED:	Carroll M.
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1002 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 13-0.
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	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:22 AM -- House Bill 06-1040

Representative Marshall came to the table to present HB 06-1040. She explained that the bill continues the function of the Division of Insurance to issue certificates of authority for those companies providing health and life insurance to the citizens of the state of Colorado. She added that the certificates of authority insure that there is viability for those companies to provide insurance. Representative Marshall stated that the bill also includes two recommendations from the Department of Regulatory Agencies: to amend the scope of the sunset reviews of the Division, and to provide better data for administrative oversight to the legislature.


BILL:	HB06-1040
TIME:	10:25:53 AM
MOVED:	Marshall
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1040 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 12-0.
SECONDED:	Paccione
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Borodkin	Yes
	Butcher	Excused
	Carroll M.	Yes
	Coleman	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Liston	Yes
	McCluskey	Yes
	Paccione	Yes
	Penry	Yes
	Welker	Yes
	Cerbo	Yes
	Marshall	Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:27 AM -- House Bill 06-1041

Representative Borodkin, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1041. She stated that the bill concerns provisions that govern the preparation of a cost-benefit analysis by state agencies. She stated that the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) recommended the program be continued. Representative Borodkin stated that at the initial sunset hearing that lead to the bill, the program was fully supported by small businesses, the Colorado Restaurant Association, the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, and the Region 8 Advocates for the Small Business Administration. She stated that the bill requires the rules and regulations to be written in plain language. Representative Coleman stated that she had some questions regarding the plain language issue for DORA.

10:30 AM -- Bruce Harrelson, DORA, came to the table to respond to Representative Coleman's concern with what she considers biased language on DORA's web page. She asked if any changes have been made to the web page since the initial sunset hearing. Mr. Harrelson stated that nothing has changed since the initial hearing. Representative Coleman commented on her disagreement of the plain language portion of the bill. Mr. Harrelson responded to a question from the committee about how responsive the agencies are to the cost-benefit analysis. Mr. Harrelson stated that after a cost-benefit analysis the rules are usually either withdrawn or modified.

10:38 AM -- Tony Gagliardi, Director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) testified in support of the bill. He stated that the NFIB has a long history of supporting cost-benefit analyses at the state and federal level. He stated that the program serves as a check and balance. Representative Coleman asked if Mr. Gagliardi had any thoughts on the plain language portion of the bill. Mr. Gagliardi explained that plain language is a legal term.

10:44 AM -- Donnah Moody, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, reiterated the Association's support for the continuation of the cost-benefit analysis program. She stated that the cost-benefit helps small businesses and creates a competitive business environment.

10:45 AM -- Rep Marshall commented on the program's importance to small businesses. Mr. Welker commented on the bill and stated that Colorado has been dubbed the second best in regulating businesses.


BILL:	HB06-1041
TIME:	10:48:39 AM
MOVED:	Borodkin
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 06-1041 to the Committee of the Whole. Motion passed 13-0.
SECONDED:	Welker
		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	Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:49 AM

The committee adjourned.