Date: 01/27/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1200

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (restricts the department's
Refer House Bill 06-1200, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS


12:21 PM -- House Bill 06-1200

Representative Buescher, prime sponsor, explained the appropriation in the fiscal note summary to the Low Income Energy Assistance Program. He explained that the bill has some complexities because the appropriations are tied to a formula that is dependent upon severance tax collections. Representative Buescher discussed the appropriations in the bill by year and distributed amendment L.001 to committee members. He explained that the amendment restricts the department's ability to hire additional state employees.

The following persons testified:

12:26 PM -- Mr. Skip Arnold, Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), explained that EOC distributes funds to low income persons for energy assistance and commented on the bill's benefit. Mr Arnold distributed a December 2005 report by EOC (Attachment B). Many of these people pay up to 50 percent of their income to heat their home. Mr. Arnold commented that program applications are up 14 percent this year and commented that many seniors and low-income people who benefit from the program are unable to catch up in the summer with their winter heating bills. Mr. Arnold concluded urging all committee members to support the legislation.

12:32 PM -- Mr. Fred Willholf, American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout to committee members entitled "Natural Gas Utility Issues in Colorado: A Survey of AARP Members" (Attachment C). Mr. Wilholf closed by asking committee members to approve the legislation.

12:34 PM -- Mr. Drew Bolin, Governor's Office of Energy Management, commented on the home energy efficiency improvements component of the program. He said that money appropriated for this program is needed to achieve a balanced long-term approach that will save energy in the future and enable more homes to receive assistance.

12:36 PM -- Mr. Matthew Flora, Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the program and commented on the program's administration.

12:37 PM -- Mr. Rex Wilmouth, CoPIRG, testified in support of the legislation and commented on the long-term approach taken in the legislation.
BILL:HB06-1200
TIME: 12:39:25 PM
MOVED:Massey
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (restricts the department's ability to hire additional state employees). The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:McCluskey
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Excused
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB06-1200
TIME: 12:40:40 PM
MOVED:Judd
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1200, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:Marshall
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Excused
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



12:42 PM

Adjourn.