House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor (04/03/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND LABOR

Date:	04/03/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:34 PM to 03:05 PM	Balmer	X
		Borodkin	X
Place:	HCR 0107	Butcher	X
		Carroll M.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Coleman	X
	Representative Marshall	Knoedler	X
		Liston	*
This Report was prepared by		McCluskey	X
	Christie Lee	Paccione	X
		Penry	*
		Welker	*
		Cerbo	X
		Marshall	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB06-188 SB06-036 SB06-195		Referred to Appropriations Amended, Referred to Appropriations Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:35 PM -- Senate Bill 06-188

Representative Hodge, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 06-188. The bill would clarify the information that must be included in an effective financing statement (EFS) as it relates to the implementation of the federal Food Security Act of 1985. The bill allows the Secretary of State, as the central filing officer for secured EFS transactions, to determine EFS filing requirements and requires the Secretary of State to distribute the master list containing active EFS filings electronically.

01:37 PM -- Charles Calvin, representing the Colorado Bar Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Calvin explained that he was on the task force assembled by the Secretary of State to look at problems with article 9.5. He spoke about the Federal Security Act and explained the purpose of the bill and indicated that it would increase financial protections and reduce the difficulties of transactions involving produce in the state.

01:45 PM

There was discussion about what would be included on the financial statements and whether it would include personal information. Mr. Calvin stated that the bill would mandate that the Secretary of State create a replacement identification number in lieu of a taxpayer identification number and social security numbers.

01:48 PM

Keith Whitelaw, Secretary of State's Office, spoke in favor of the bill and explained that the task force had developed the bill over a year. He indicated that the bill was intended to make secured transactions relating to the federal Food Security Act of 1985 easier.


BILL:	SB06-188
TIME:	01:50:20 PM
MOVED:	Balmer
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 06-188 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 13-0.
SECONDED:	Penry
		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

01:51 PM -- Senate Bill 06-036

Representative Marshall, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-036. She explained to the committee that she had taken over House sponsorship of the bill when Representative Boyd moved to the Senate. The bill eliminates the requirement that small employer carriers offer a standard health benefit plan design to small employers, and adds an additional design to the basic plan required to be offered to small employers in the state. The bill was recommended by the Interim Committee to Study Health Insurance. Under current statute, the basic and standard plans will repeal on July 1, 2006. Representative Marshall discussed amendment L.006 (Attachment A).

01:56 PM -- Alan Jensen, representing the Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters, testified in support of the bill. He responded to a previous question pertaining to the difference in cost between the standard plan versus the basic plan. Mr. Jensen estimated a 60 percent savings. There was discussion about the prescription drug program under the bill. Mr. Jensen stated that the bill would add the option for a generic only prescription card. Mr. Jensen responded to additional questions and concluded his testimony. There was discussion about whether the bill would help the uninsured population. Mr. Jensen responded.

02:10 PM

There was discussion about the previous "mandate light" bill passed three years ago.

02:22 PM -- Michael Huotari, Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in support of the bill and amendment L.006. He stated that this is a mandate that businesses already provide. He emphasized that the bill continues the basic and standard plans that already exist and phases in additional options over time.

02:28 PM -- Christy Chase, Legislative Legal Services, was called up to respond to questions about amendment L.006.

02:34 PM -- Molly Markert, Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved, testified in support of the bill. She gave a brief summary of what the coalition does. Ms. Markert responded to questions.
02:38 PM

Representative Marshall stated that the cost of health care is the number one cause of bankruptcy in Colorado.

02:38 PM -- Jerry McElroy, representing Kaiser Permanente, commented on the bill. He discussed the requirement for a generic prescription drug card option and that generic drugs are not always the cheapest for Kaiser.


BILL:	SB06-036
TIME:	02:48:48 PM
MOVED:	Marshall
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.006 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Liston
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Borodkin
	Butcher
	Carroll M.
	Coleman
	Knoedler
	Liston
	McCluskey
	Paccione
	Penry
	Welker
	Cerbo
	Marshall
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB06-036
TIME:	02:49:19 PM
MOVED:	Marshall
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.007 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Coleman
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Borodkin
	Butcher
	Carroll M.
	Coleman
	Knoedler
	Liston
	McCluskey
	Paccione
	Penry
	Welker
	Cerbo
	Marshall
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB06-036
TIME:	02:49:47 PM
MOVED:	Coleman
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.008 (Attachment C). There was discussion about the bill having to go before the Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits if the amendment passes. The motion failed on a 2-10 vote.
SECONDED:	Borodkin
		VOTE
	Balmer	No
	Borodkin	No
	Butcher	No
	Carroll M.	No
	Coleman	Yes
	Knoedler	No
	Liston	No
	McCluskey	No
	Paccione	Excused
	Penry	No
	Welker	No
	Cerbo	Yes
	Marshall	No
Not Final YES: 2 NO: 10 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	SB06-036
TIME:	02:54:02 PM
MOVED:	Marshall
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 06-036, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. 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

02:57 PM -- Senate Bill 06-195

Representative Coleman, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 06-195. The bill would modify the Colorado Employment Security Act. She said that the bill would update Colorado statutes bringing them into compliance with federal law, and thus avoid potential costs to the State of Colorado and to Colorado employers. Representative Coleman responded to questions.

03:01 PM -- Mike Cullen, Unemployment Insurance Director, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, testified in support of the bill. He responded to a previous question.


BILL:	SB06-195
TIME:	03:04:31 PM
MOVED:	Coleman
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 06-195 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 13-0.
SECONDED:	Balmer
		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

03:05 PM

The committee adjourned.