Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:04/26/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:37 PM to 04:36 PM
Benefield
X
Cloer
X
Place:HCR 0107
Crane
X
Frangas
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Garcia
X
Representative Vigil
Harvey
X
Jahn
X
This Report was prepared by
Kerr
X
Ron Kirk
Marshall
X
Massey
X
McCluskey
X
Judd
X
Vigil
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HCR06-1006
HB06-1399
SB06-218
SB06-141
SCR06-001		Postponed Indefinitely
Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Referred to Appropriations


01:37 PM -- House Concurrent Resolution 06-1006 Concerning a Deduction for Federal Income Tax Paid

Representative Cloer, prime sponsor, commented on the $1 billion fiscal impact of the bill and asked the committee to postpone House Concurrent Resolution 06-1006 indefinitely. Representative Cloer closed by saying that he believed the state income tax deduction was an important issue but the cost does not make it a viable policy option at this time.

Representative Cloer moved to postpone House Concurrent Resolution 06-1006 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 10-1-2 vote.













BILL:HCR 06-1006
TIME: 01:39:35 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Moved to postpone House Concurrent Resolution 06-1006 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 10-1-2 vote.
SECONDED:Garcia
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
No
Frangas
Excused
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Excused
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


01:40 PM -- House Bill 06-1399 - Concerning Stipend Spending Authority To Purchase Postsecondary Educational Services

Representative Hall, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the bill. This bill, does not require the governing board of an institution of higher education to expend up to 3 percent of the amount annually authorized as cash spending authority for stipends received on behalf of eligible students for postsecondary educational services purchased by the Department of Higher Education if authorized through a fee-for-service contract. Representative Hall closed by saying the bill authorizes the Department of Higher Education to transfer General Fund spending authority from stipends to fee-for-service contracts in an equivalent amount to fulfill its fee-for-service contract obligations.

The following person testified:

01:44 PM -- Ms. Jenna Larger, Colorado Commission on Higher Education, testified in support of the measure.

Representative Hall distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and explained that it makes the bill effective upon the signature of the Governor. After a brief committee discussion, the bill was placed on the table for action.













BILL:HB06-1399
TIME: 01:44:17 PM
MOVED:McCluskey
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (the amendment makes the bill effective upon signature of the Governor). The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Judd
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
BILL:HB06-1399
TIME: 01:45:24 PM
MOVED:McCluskey
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1399, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 11-0-2 vote.
SECONDED:Kerr
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Excused
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Excused
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




01:47 PM -- Senate Bill 06-218 - Concerning Disabled Telephone User Programs

Representative Coleman, prime sponsor, explained that Senate Bill 06-218 makes technical changes to allow the two programs under the bill to receive on-going funding from the Disabled Telephone Users Fund. The bill also adds the Disabled Telephone Users Fund to the funds that are not subject to the limits on uncommitted reserves. Finally, the bill deletes obsolete language from the related statutes.

The following persons testified:

01:50 PM -- Mr. Ron Jack, Public Utilities Commission, testified in favor of the bill. Mr. Jack explained that in 2000, the General Assembly created the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDEHH). In 2002, the General Assembly passed legislation creating the Telephone Equipment Distribution Program (TEDP). Technical changes in Senate Bill 06-218 will allow these two programs to receive on-going funding from the Disabled Telephone Users fund.

01:54 PM -- Ms. Mary McGhee, Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the legislation and distributed a handout on the legislation (Attachment B).

01:55 PM -- Ms. Leeanne Seaver, Colorado Commission for the Deaf, testified in support of the legislation.
BILL:SB06-218
TIME: 01:57:36 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-218 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:McCluskey
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Excused
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










02:00 PM -- Senate Bill 06-141 - Concerning the Creation of the Health Care Transparency Act

Representative Riesberg, prime sponsor, briefly explained that Senate Bill 06-141 establishes the Health Care Transparency Act. He discussed some of the annual reporting requirements for hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers under the bill and commented that the legislation is aimed at making the system more accountability. Representative Vigil, Chairman, moved to the testimony phase of the hearing.

The following persons testified:

02:11 PM -- Ms. Colleen Goode, University of Colorado Hospital, testified in opposition toward the bill. Ms. Goode commented that the legislation will result in a financial burden for hospitals to comply with. Ms. Goode closed by saying that the bill is not needed and explained that if passed, the bill would result in a cost shift to those patients who have health insurance.

02:20 PM -- Mr. Peter Freytag, Colorado Hospital Association Coalition, distributed a packet of materials in opposition to Senate Bill 06-141 (Attachment D) including a flow chart entitled "Who Regulates and Requires Information From Hospitals", and testified in opposition toward the legislation. Mr. Freytag said that this bill will divert money from patient care to pay for more administrative costs. The 19 pages of reporting requirements in the bill will impose a significant cost on hospitals. Mr. Freytag pointed out that the majority of the reporting requirements are financial in nature and may not make health care costs more affordable. He closed by pointing out that the financial reporting requirements in the bill are financial in nature and do not address quality issues.

02:30 PM -- Ms. Holly Fedak, Exempla St. Joseph Hospital, testified in opposition toward the bill. Mr. Fedak commented on the financial reporting issues in the bill and said that the most important concern should be reporting requirements that keep patients safe. The reporting requirements in the bill do not accomplish this.

02:34 PM -- Ms. Peg Burnette and Ms. Darlene Ebert, Denver Health, testified in opposition toward the bill. Ms. Burnette commented that the bill will add more administrative costs to the high costs that hospitals already pay. These additional costs will ultimately be shifted to patients. This bill will require 18 separate annual reports and include about 525 data reporting items. Ms. Burnette closed by saying that the bill will not have the intended impact of reducing health care costs.

02:45 PM -- Ms. Patricia Geiger, representing self, testified in support of the bill and said that the requirements in the bill are not burdensome and can result in an overall improvement in the quality of health care. Ms. Geiger commented on the programs that could benefit from the bill and urged the committee to vote for the measure.

03:00 PM -- Mr. Tim Markham, testified in support of the legislation and commented on the benefits of a more transparent health care system.

03:09 PM -- Ms. Carrie Curtiss, CCHI, testified in support of the bill and said the bill will enable consumers to make more well-informed decisions about choosing health care providers.












The committee discussed the reporting requirements in the bill and the potential administrative costs tied to the bill. In response to some of the financial reporting requirements in the bill, Representative Jahn moved amendment L.008 (Attachment E). The amendment removes the requirement that contractual rates for services, prescription drug pricing and other proprietary information be part of the reporting requirements under the legislation. The motion passed without objection by those members present.

Representative Cloer moved amendment L.007 (Attachment F). The amendment would repeal the legislation if the costs exceed the amount specified in the fiscal note. Prior to the vote, Representative Judd moved a substitute motion to adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment G). The amendment authorizes a fee increase while Referendum C is in place. The motion passed on a 7-5-1 vote.

Representative Cloer moved amendment L.009 (Attachment H). The amendment exempts certain state hospitals or other government hospitals from the reporting requirements in the legislation. Prior to the vote on amendment L.009, Representative Garcia moved a substitute motion to amendment L.009 on page 6 that would amend lines 15 through 19. After a brief committee discussion, the substitute motion was withdrawn. Next, Representative Harvey moved a substitute motion to amendment L.009 on page 6 that would strike lines 15 through 19. The motion failed on a 8-4-1 vote. After the motion failed, amendment L.009 was back on the table and it was adopted on a 8-4-1 vote. For final action, Representative Judd moved to refer Senate Bill 06-141, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 7-5-1 vote.
BILL:SB06-141
TIME: 03:31:07 PM
MOVED:Jahn
MOTION:Moved amendment L.008 (the amendment removes the requirement that contractual rates for services, prescription drug pricing and other proprietary information be part of the reporting requirements under the legislation). The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Marshall
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

BILL:SB06-141
TIME: 03:32:41 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.007 (the amendment would repeal the legislation if the costs exceed the amount specified in the fiscal note). Representative Judd moved the following substitute motion to adopt amendment L.006 (the amendment authorizes a fee increase while Referendum C is in place). The motion passed on a 7-5-1 vote.
SECONDED:Crane
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE
BILL:SB06-141
TIME: 03:36:16 PM
MOVED:Judd
MOTION:Moved amendment L.006 as a substitute motion to amendment L.007 (the amendment authorizes a fee increase while Referendum C is in place). The motion passed on a 7-5-1 vote.
SECONDED:Garcia
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
No
Crane
No
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
No
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
No
Marshall
Yes
Massey
No
McCluskey
Excused
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Not Final YES: 7 NO: 5 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:SB06-141
TIME: 03:46:27 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.009 (the amendment exempts certain state hospitals or other government hospitals from the reporting requirements in the legislation). The following two substitute motions by Representative Garcia (motion withdrawn) and Representative Harvey (motion failed) were made to amendment L.009 before the committee adopted L.009 on a 8-4-1 vote.
SECONDED:Harvey
VOTE
Benefield
No
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
No
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
No
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
No
McCluskey
Excused
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Not Final YES: 8 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:SB06-141
TIME: 03:52:26 PM
MOVED:Garcia
MOTION:Moved a substitute motion (first) to amendment L.009; Page 6, amend lines 15 through 19. After a brief committee discussion, the substitute motion was withdrawn.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE
BILL:SB06-141
TIME: 03:53:47 PM
MOVED:Harvey
MOTION:After Representative Garcia's substitute motion was withdrawn, Representative Harvey moved a second substitute motion to amendment L.007; Page 6, strike lines 15 through 19. The motion failed on a 8-4-1 vote.
SECONDED:Crane
VOTE
Benefield
No
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
No
Garcia
No
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
No
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
No
Massey
No
McCluskey
Excused
Judd
No
Vigil
No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 8 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:SB06-141
TIME: 04:06:02 PM
MOVED:Judd
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-141, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 7-5-1 vote.
SECONDED:Frangas
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
No
Crane
No
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
No
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
No
Marshall
Yes
Massey
No
McCluskey
Excused
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 5 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


04:15 PM -- Senate Concurrent Resolution 06-001 - Concerning the Extension of the Senior Homestead Exemption to Military Disabled Veterans

Representative Gallegos, prime sponsor, explained that the measure would expand the senior homestead exemption to 100 percent permanently disabled military personnel who are disabled due to a service-related disability. Representative Gallegos and the committee briefly discussed the $1 million cost of the resolution. Representative Gallegos closed by saying that most of the beneficiaries of the bill are on fixed incomes and need the financial assistance in the resolution.

The following persons testified:

04:22 PM -- Mr. Artie Guerrero, United Veterans Committee of Colorado, testified in support of the legislation.

04:24 PM -- Mr. George Thomas, United Veterans Committee of Colorado, testified in support of the measure and urged committee members to vote for the resolution.

04:28 PM -- Mr. Charles Carter, Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the legislation.

04:30 PM -- Mr. Wayne Thompson, Jr., Veterans of Foreign Wars, urged the committee to vote for the measure.

Representative Judd distributed and moved amendment L.003 (Attachment C). Representative Judd explained that the amendment accomplishes two goals. First, it would not require the state backfill component in the resolution to count against the TABOR limit. Second, it would require that the cost of the resolution be funded with a one-one-thousandth percent state income tax increase. After a brief committee discussion, the Chair ruled that the amendment did not fit under the title of the resolution. Representative Cloer moved that the measure be referred to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 9-2-2 vote.

























BILL:SCR 06-001
TIME: 04:32:40 PM
MOVED:Judd
MOTION:Moved amendment L.003 (The amendment accomplishes two goals. First, it would not require the state backfill component in the resolution to count against the TABOR limit. Second, it would require that the cost of the resolution be funded with a one-one-thousandth percent state income tax increase. After a brief committee discussion, the Chair ruled that the amendment did not fit under the title of the resolution.
SECONDED:Garcia
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Harvey
Jahn
Kerr
Marshall
Massey
McCluskey
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:SCR 06-001
TIME: 04:35:23 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Refer Senate Concurrent Resolution 06-001 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 9-2-2 vote.
SECONDED:Crane
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
No
Harvey
Excused
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Excused
Judd
No
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


04:36 PM

Adjourn.