Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Date:03/13/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:40 PM to 04:09 PM
Fitz-Gerald
X
Johnson
X
Place:SCR 353
Lamborn
E
May R.
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Windels
X
Senator Tupa
Groff
*
Tupa
X
This Report was prepared by
Leslie Herod
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB06-1010
HB06-1154
HB06-1086
HB06-1199		Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to Appropriations
Laid Over
Postponed Indefinitely

01:40 PM -- Call to Order

Senator Tupa, chairman, called the committee to order.

01:40 PM -- House Bill 06-1010

Senator Hanna, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1010, concerning state participation in government procurement rules of an international trade agreement. This bill would allow the legislature to be involved in discussions surrounding the state's entry into international trade contracts.

01:45 PM -- James Reis, president of the Rocky Mountain Trade Association, testified against the bill. He spoke to the importance of international trade, and reviewed the history of trade agreements in Colorado. He opposes requirements placed on that would hinder Governor's and the state's ability to enter into agreements.

01:51 PM -- Lous Cheroutes, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. He spoke to fostering relations with foreign countries. He testified that this bill is bad policy. He said that free trade agreements promote cultural understanding, and further, that there is no problem that exists within current policy. Mr. Cheroutes also specifically opposes the retroactivity of the bill. Senator Fitz-Gerald spoke to the financial obligations these agreements bind the General Assembly to without legislative input. Senator Tupa spoke to the process at the federal level. Senator Johnson asked if other state legislatures ratify state procurement trade agreements, and Mr. Cheroutes responded that 37 states have some form of this law.

02:08 PM -- Kristy Schloss, CEO, Schloss Engineered Equipment, Inc., testified against the bill. She said that contracts and jobs would be lost if this measure were to pass. She testified that Colorado companies would be enticed to relocate to more business-friendly states. Senator Tupa asked if this measure would preclude current agreements.


02:19 PM -- Peter Hughes, representing CH2M Hill, testified against the bill. His concern is that the passage of the bill would create strain on the trade process.

02:23 PM -- Carolyn Siegel, representing the Colorado AFL-CIO, testified in support of the bill. She said this bill adheres to the philosophy that state's have control over procurement contracts. She testified to states that have opted out of certain trade agreements. Senator Johnson asked for examples of how agreements are hurting the states budget. Ms. Siegel spoke to Colorado's commitment to providing preference to agricultural products in Colorado and how this practice could conflict with certain trade agreements.

02:33 PM

Senator Hanna provided closing comments on the bill.
BILL:HB06-1010
TIME: 02:35:28 PM
MOVED:Groff
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1010 to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 3-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Johnson
No
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
No
Windels
Yes
Groff
Tupa
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:39 PM -- House Bill 06-1154

Senator Hanna, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1154, concerning the issuance of heirloom certificates, and making an appropriation therefore. Senator Fitz-Gerald asked if the certificate would be a legal document, and Senator Hanna distributed examples of heirloom certificates and indicated that they would be legal documents (Attachment A).


02:41 PM -- Marilyn Gaipa, representing the Bighorn Policy Center, testified in favor of the bill. She said this is a revenue generating opportunity for the state. Senator Fitz-Gerald spoke to the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) impact.
BILL:HB06-1154
TIME: 02:50:00 PM
MOVED:Windels
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1154 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 5-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Johnson
Yes
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
No
Windels
Yes
Groff
Yes
Tupa
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:51 PM -- House Bill 06-1086

Senator Johnson, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1086, concerning the regulation of games of chance by the Secretary of State, and making an appropriation therefore. Senator Windels asked for clarification on whether this measure addresses cash prizes. Senator Tupa asked about the fiscal note.

03:01 PM -- Corky Kyle, representing the Colorado Charitable Bingo Association, testified in support of the bill. He spoke to the regulatory power of the Secretary of State in bingo. He said this bill would allow nonprofits to maintain programs. Senator Windels asked about the maximum prize. Mr. Kyle clarified that currently the maximum prize limit is $1,500. This bill would allow the Secretary of State to grant a $50,000 prize maximum. Senator Tupa asked about the revenue neutrality of the bill. Senator Fitz-Gerald spoke about the deregulation of bingo.

03:17 PM -- Chris Cash, representing the Licensing Division of the Secretary of State's Office, came to the table to answer questions from the committee. He testified that fees are assessed on a prorated structure based on funds generated. Senator Tupa asked if there is a way to make the bill revenue neutral.


03:27 PM

Senator Tupa took the bill off the table.

03:28 PM -- House Bill 06-1199

Senator Teck, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1199, concerning the authorization of an appointing authority in a department of state government to determine an employee's initial hiring

03:30 PM -- Jeff Schutt, representing the Department of Personnel and Administration, testified in support of the bill. He spoke to the necessity of the bill and the ability to hire someone at a salary within the pay grade, but higher than the initial salary. Senator Fitz-Gerald expressed concerns about the language this bill deletes. Senator May spoke to how hard it is to attract employees in the information technology field to state jobs. Mr. Schutt spoke to how the state is competing with industry for skilled employees. Senator Johnson expressed the need for an improved salary survey, and further that this bill could create inequities within the system. The committee discussed performance-based pay.

03:46 PM -- Evan Goulding, representing the Association of Colorado State Patrolling Professionals, testified in support of the bill. He spoke to the failure of performance-based pay, and the need of the agencies to retain flexibility in hiring. Mr. Goulding said that under current law, the qualifications exemptions may be difficult to meet.

03:55 PM -- Jo Romero, representing the Colorado Federation of Public Employees, testified in opposition to the bill. She spoke to the effect of salary compression, and how this creates inequities within the system. She said this bill penalizes employees who are already in the state system.

04:03 PM -- Jeff Schutt said performance-based pay is a different issue than this bill addresses. He said long-term state employees today are often close to the top of their pay ranges.
BILL:HB06-1199
TIME: 04:08:41 PM
MOVED:May R.
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1199 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a 1-5 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
No
Johnson
No
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
Yes
Windels
No
Groff
No
Tupa
No
Not Final YES: 1 NO: 5 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:HB06-1199
TIME: 04:09:11 PM
MOVED:Fitz-Gerald
MOTION:Moved to postpone House Bill 06-1199 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 5-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fitz-Gerald
Yes
Johnson
Yes
Lamborn
Excused
May R.
No
Windels
Yes
Groff
Yes
Tupa
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

04:09 PM

The committee recessed.