Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:01/25/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:37 PM to 04:25 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:
HB06-1009
HB06-1074
HB06-1094
HB06-1019
HB06-1060		Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Laid Over
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Laid Over
Referred to Appropriations


01:38 PM -- House Bill 06-1009

Representative Liston, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 06-1009 allows county treasurers greater discretion in the collection of any penalty, interest, or costs for delinquent property tax payments.

The following persons testified:

01:43 PM -- Ms. Roxy Huber, Colorado County Treasurer's Association, testified in support of the legislation.

01:44 PM -- Ms. Sharon Jones, Colorado County Treasurer's Association, testified in support of the legislation and commented that the legislation would be a benefit to county treasurers because it would make the administration process more efficient.

01:46 PM -- Mr. John Lefebvre, Adams County, testified in support of the legislation and commented that the legislation would simplify the property tax payment process.







BILL:HB06-1009
TIME: 01:48:18 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1009 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 13-0-0 vote.
SECONDED:McCluskey
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


01:50 PM -- House Bill 06-1074

Representative Solano, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 06-1074 extends the statutory waste tire recycling fee.

The following persons testified:

01:53 PM -- Ms. Marjorie Griek, Colorado Association for Recycling, testified in support of the legislation and distributed a packet of materials on recycling to the committee members (Attachment A). Ms Griek commented that the tire fee is the only statutory fee for recycling in Colorado. The fee supports a statewide effort to limit illegal tire-dumping.

02:05 PM -- Mr. Jack DeBell, University of Colorado, commented on the reasons that tires are difficult to recycle. This is one of the greatest challenges for the university's recycling programs. Mr. DeBell commented on the uses for recycled tires. As examples, Mr. DeBell said that recycled tires can be used for interstate sound-walls and crumb-rubber for playground purposes.

02:11 PM -- Mr. Jeremy Jimenez, testified in support of the legislation.

02:14 PM -- Dr. Robert Amme, University of Denver, testified in support of the legislation and discussed uses for recycled tires.









02:23 PM -- Ms. Cornelia Snyder, representing Safe Tire, testified in support of the legislation. Ms. Snyder commented on the many uses for recycled tires. Ms. Snyder commented that one use is gravel replacement for septic systems and another use is mulch for landscaping purposes. Astro-turft can also be made from recycled tires. Tires are some of the most recycled products in the county.

02:42 PM -- Ms. Margaret Cozzens, Colorado Institute of Technology, and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, testified in support of the legislation and distributed a handout on recycling projects (Attachment B).

02:53 PM -- Mr. Dave Brown, Colorado Recycles, distributed a handout and testified in support of the legislation.

02:56 PM -- Mr. Rusty Cole, Snowy River Tire, testified in support of the legislation and talked about the bill's ability to clean up illegal tire dumping.

03:01 PM -- Ms. Ann Marie Jenson, Colorado Association for Recycling, testified in support of the bill.

After a brief committee discussion, Representative Solano distributed amendment L.002 to committee members (Attachment C). Representative Vigil, Chairman, placed the bill on the table for action. Representative Marshall moved amendment L.002 (the amendment removes the fiscal impact by deleting provisions that allow grants and incentives from the Waste Tire Cleanup Fund to be awarded to private enterprises or used for private projects). The motion passed without objection by those members present. The bill was taken off the table and placed on the calendar for Thursday, January 26, 2006, to allow time for a memorandum that addresses the passage of L.002 and the fiscal impact to be drafted.





























BILL:HB06-1074
TIME: 03:06:13 PM
MOVED:Marshall
MOTION:Moved amendment L.002 (the amendment removes the fiscal impact by deleting provisions that allow grants and incentives from the Waste Tire Cleanup Fund to be awarded to private enterprises or used for private projects). The motion passed without objection by those members present. The bill was taken off the table and placed on the calendar for Thursday, January 26, 2006, to allow time for a memorandum that addresses the passage of L.002 and the fiscal impact to be drafted.
SECONDED:Benefield
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


03:23 PM -- House Bill 06-1094

Representative White, prime sponsor, explained House Bill 06-1094 codifies in statute the existing practices regarding the notification of valuation for oil and gas personal property. It requires that county assessors send notices of valuation only to the operator, rather than the owner of the leasehold or land. The operator is required to accept the valuation, but reserves the right to appeal the valuation. Representative White closed saying because the bill does not change any existing practices, it is assessed as having no fiscal impact.

The following persons testified:

03:27 PM -- Mr. Patrick Boyle, Colorado Assessor's Office, testified in support of the legislation. The bill restores the long-standing assessor's practice by codifying the process.

Representative Vigil, Chairman, placed the bill on the table for action and Representative White distributed amendment L.001 to committee members (Attachment D). Representative White commented that the amendment requires operators who have no ownership interests in personal property to provide certain information to assessors and treasurers on persons who have ownership interests.







BILL:HB06-1094
TIME: 03:31:25 PM
MOVED:Cloer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (requires operators who have no ownership interests in personal property to provide certain information to assessors and treasurers on persons who have ownership interests). The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:Garcia
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:HB06-1094
TIME: 03:31:53 PM
MOVED:McCluskey
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1094, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 13-0-0 vote.
SECONDED:Frangas
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS






03:35 PM -- House Bill 06-1019

Representative Soper, prime sponsor, explained House Bill 06-1019 creates the Colorado Easter Seals Fund in the State Treasury. For income tax years commencing on or after January 1, 2006, but prior to January 1, 2009, a voluntary contribution designation line for the fund would appear on state individual income tax return forms. The committee engaged in a brief discussion regarding the programming costs tied to adding another line on the state income tax form.

The following persons testified:

03:42 PM -- Mr. Rick Mack, CEO for Easter Seals Southern Colorado, distributed a packet of materials on Colorado Easter Seals to committee members (Attachment E) and discussed the organization's mission statement. Easter Seals strengthens the community one life at a time by partnering with people with disabilities. Mr. Mack commented that Easter Seals provides programs for people of all ages with all disabilities. Mr. Mack talked about the community impact of the organization and said that Easter Seals serves over 7,300 people with direct services and another 36,000 through education in Colorado. He commented that Worth magazine has recognized Easter Seals as one of the top 100 charities in the United States in which people can expect a good return for their donation. In Colorado, over 80 percent of every dollar raised is spent on direct services and education.

Prior to testimony, the committee briefly discussed the benefits that the organization provides to disabled individuals in Colorado. Mr. Mack commented that all of the following persons have benefited from the organization. (In the packet of materials, Attachment E, each of the following persons has included a written draft of their testimony for the committee to review. Each individual commented on the programs that best served their need and said that in many ways, the organization has enabled them to live a more qualitative life and become active members of society.)

03:44 PM -- Ms. Glenda Syling and son Garrison Syling, commented on the Easter Seals programs that have enabled Garrison to enhance his hearing and communicate with others.

03:48 PM -- Ms. Lynn Robinson, Easter Seals Colorado (administrator), commented that there are 690,000 people in Colorado that live with a disability. Easter Seals Colorado utilizes 80 percent of its donations for services which are provided to people will all types of disabilities. Mr. Robinson said that all funds from the checkoff would remain in Colorado despite the fact that the organization is national.

03:52 PM -- Mr. Tony Ratcliff, representing himself, asked committee members to support the legislation and discussed the programs that have enable him to live a more active life.

03:57 PM -- Ms. Rebecca Dannithorne, representing self, commented on some of the Easter Seals programs that have enabled her to be with others and live a more-enhanced life. She said that many of the programs have enabled her to see and enjoy the mountains of Colorado. Ms. Dannithorne said that she was 25 years of age and am able to speak to the committee today because of the therapy she receives at Easter Seals.

04:00 PM -- Ms. Lauren Blakely, representing self, said that she is 23 years old and commented on the Easter Seals Rocky Mountain Village Camp in Empire Colorado. She said that the program has enabled her to make life-long friendships with peers and counselors form all over the world. She closed by saying that the program has allowed her to experience the true meaning of belonging to society.








Representative Vigil, Chairman, thanked everyone for their testimony and commented on their effort to come to the Capitol and address the legislature on this important issue. After a brief committee discussion, Representative Vigil said that the committee will be hearing several more income tax checkoff bills in the next few weeks. He said that once the committee hears testimony on all of these bills, the committee will take final action on the legislation during one meeting. Representative Vigil laid over the bill for action only on Wednesday, February 22, 2006.


04:06 PM -- House Bill 06-1060

Representative Rose, prime sponsor, explained House Bill 06-1060 modifies the definition of a "farm operation" in the statutes that govern agriculture and livestock sales and use tax exemptions to include horticultural and floricultural activities. The bill expands the number of businesses that are exempt from sales and use taxes. Representative Rose discussed the fiscal note. Extending these exemptions to horticultural and floricultural industries creates a revenue reduction from these industries. Based on the 2002 Census of Agriculture, roughly 550 businesses would gain a sales and use tax exemption on some additional machinery, equipment, and supplies. The extension of this exemption is estimated to reduce state General Fund revenue by $72,500 in FY 2006-07 for the second half of the fiscal year. For FY 2007-08, the first full fiscal year the exemption would be in place, the expected revenue reduction would total $149,000.

The following persons testified:

04:09 PM -- Mr. Mike Gilsdorf, Arapahoe Acres Nursery, testified in support of the legislation.

04:14 PM -- Mr. Matt Edmunson, Arbor Valley, testified in support of the legislation.

The committee briefly discussed the cost of the exemption in the fiscal note and commented on supply-side economics.

























BILL:HB06-1060
TIME: 04:23:52 PM
MOVED:Harvey
MOTION:Refer House Bill 06-1060 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 10-3-0 vote.
SECONDED:McCluskey
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
No
Harvey
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Marshall
No
Massey
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Judd
No
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


04:25 PM

The meeting adjourned.