Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:04/27/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:12:17 PM to 01:36 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:
HB06-1398
SB06-011
SB06-048
HB06-1100		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to Appropriations
Referred to Appropriations
Laid Over


12:17 PM -- House Bill 06-1398 - Concerning Clarification of Transfers for State Sales and Use Taxes

Representative Plant, prime sponsor, distributed a JBC summary on House Bill 06-1398 (Attachment A) and explained the provisions in the bill. He also distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment B) and explained that it makes a technical correction. After explaining that the bill would clarify procedures used to divert state sales and use tax revenue to the Highway Users Tax Fund, Mr. Mike Mauer, Legislative Council Staff was asked to respond to committee questions.

12:24 PM -- Mr. Mike Mauer, responded to committee questions about the SB 97-1 triggers that divert money to the Highway Users Tax Fund and Capital Construction.

12:25 PM -- Mr. Ben Stein, Deputy Treasury, responded to committee questions. Mr. Stein commented that current law makes it difficult to administer the transfer of funds under SB 97-1 because of the disparity between Legislative Council Staff and the Governor's forecasts especially when an economic downturn begins. This law provides clarification for the administration of funds under SB 97-001.

12:27 PM -- Mr. Herman Stockinger, Colorado Department of Transportation, commented that the department is still monitoring the legislation and at this time is not taking a position on the bill.






After a brief committee discussion, Representative Vigil, Chairman, placed the bill on the table for action. Representative Plant distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment B) and commented that it makes a technical clarification. The motion was moved by Representative McCluskey and it passed without objection by those members present. Representative Judd moved a conceptual amendment to House Bill 06-1398 that would require the following. Rather than transferring about half of the estimated SB 97-1 diversion in February and a quarter in April from the Sales and Use Tax Holding Fund to the HUTF, the amendment would transfer about one quarter in October, one quarter in February, and one quarter in April. The final quarter would be transferred when the state's financial books are closed for the fiscal year; this is unchanged by the amendment. The motion passed without objection by those members present. Representative Garcia moved to refer House Bill 06-1398, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-1-2 vote.
BILL:HB06-1398
TIME: 12:28:57 PM
MOVED:McCluskey
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (the amendment makes a technical clarification). 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:HB06-1398
TIME: 12:31:21 PM
MOVED:Judd
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment to House Bill 06-1398 that would require the following. Rather than transferring about half of the estimated SB 97-1 diversion in February and a quarter in April from the Sales and Use Tax Holding Fund to the HUTF, the amendment would transfer about one quarter in October, one quarter in February, and one quarter in April. The final quarter would be transferred when the state's financial books are closed for the fiscal year; this is unchanged by the amendment. The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:McCluskey
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:HB06-1398
TIME: 12:31:58 PM
MOVED:Garcia
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1398, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 10-1-2 vote.
SECONDED:Judd
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
No
Crane
Excused
Frangas
Yes
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


12:35 PM -- Senate Bill 06-011 - Concerning A Study of Health Care in Pueblo County

Representative Butcher, prime sponsor, explained that Senate Bill 06-011 requires the Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Insurance, to conduct a study of the factors that drive health insurance costs for individuals and groups in Pueblo County. The Division of Insurance must collect information from health insurers in Pueblo County, and may contract with a nonprofit organization to analyze the data and prepare a report of the analysis. Representative Butcher closed saying the Insurance Commissioner must submit a report to numerous members of the General Assembly no later than January 15, 2008.

The following persons testified:

12:35 PM -- Mr. A. D. Schnellbacher Jr., AARP, testified in support of the legislation and commented that a study could work to lower health care costs for individuals and groups in Pueblo County. The legislation is an excellent approach to make the true costs of health care more transparent.

12:37 PM -- Mr. Mike Huotano, Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in support of the legislation and commented that this approach makes sense and can lower the cost of health care for many individuals in Pueblo County.

12:38 PM -- Mr. Ralph Pollack, representing self, testified in support of the legislation.

After a brief committee discussion, the bill was placed on the table for action.
BILL:SB06-011
TIME: 12:39:09 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-011 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 9-1-3 vote.
SECONDED:Judd
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Excused
Frangas
Excused
Garcia
Excused
Harvey
No
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 1 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS









12:40 PM -- Senate Bill 06-048 - Concerning Dynamic Modeling

Representative Massey, prime sponsor, explained that Senate Bill 06-048, re-establishes a pilot program for the director of research of the Legislative Council Staff to use a dynamic model to analyze the economic impact of bills that make a change in tax policy.

After a brief committee discussion, the bill was placed on the table for action.
BILL:SB06-048
TIME: 12:44:06 PM
MOVED:Kerr
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 06-048 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 9-4-0 vote.
SECONDED:Massey
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
No
Garcia
No
Harvey
No
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
No
Vigil
Yes
Not Final YES: 9 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


12:46 PM -- House Bill 06-1100 - Concerning the Colorado Cares RX Program

Representative Frangas, prime sponsor, discussed the House Health and Human Services committee amendments to House Bill 06-1100. (The bill, as amended by the House Health and Human Services Committee, establishes the Colorado Cares RX Program and the Colorado Cares RX Clearinghouse. The Colorado Cares RX Program is to provide eligible uninsured people with access to discounts on prescription drugs through a state-sponsored discount card program.) After a brief committee discussion, the Chairman took testimony.

The following persons testified:

12:50 PM -- Ms. Susan Cox, Kaiser Permanente, testified in opposition toward the bill. Ms. Cox commented that the primary concern about the legislation is the obligatory disclosure of drug rebate information to the state that is really proprietary information. This information, once disclosed, can give other health care providers a competitive edge.








12:52 PM -- Dr. John Obrien, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation, PhRMA, responded to committee questions and commented on the bill as amended. As amended, the bill creates a price control system for the purchase of prescription drugs. The legislation works against other voluntary programs that aid the medically uninsured.

01:09 PM -- Mr. Rob Hernandez, NAMI Colorado, testified in support of the legislation and commented that the benefit of the legislation is worth the cost. This program under the legislation will help the most needy segment of the indigent population.

01:15 PM -- Mr. Mark Kinney, RX Plus Pharmacies, testified in opposition toward the bill and commented that pharmacists would have to pick up a large percentage of the discounts that are offered through the program. Ultimately, the financial burden of the program will fall on pharmacists because the contribution by drug manufacturers will be insignificant.

01:30 PM -- Mr. Brad Young, RX Plus Pharmacies, testified in opposition toward the bill and commented that pharmacists would be bearing the financial burden under the bill.

01:31 PM -- Mr. Chris Howes, Colorado Retail Council, testified in opposition toward the bill.

After a brief committee discussion, Representative Vigil, Chairman, pulled the bill off the table.


01:36 PM

Adjourn.