Date: 05/02/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-139

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to postpone indefinitely Senate Bill 12-139.
Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-139 to the Committee		PASS
FAIL



01:40 PM -- Senate Bill 12-139

Representatives Fields and Summers, prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 12-139, concerning the "Colorado Job Support Act." Representative Fields provided background on the so-called "cliff effect," which is defined in the amended bill as the paradox that discourages persons who are receiving public assistance or services from accepting increases in wages or income because they may lose considerably more in public assistance or services than the increase in wages or income. She also spoke to the merits of the bill. Representative Summers discussed recent efforts to ameliorate poverty in Colorado, and explained the effect of the bill. He also discussed the merits of passing the legislation. Representative Summers responded to questions regarding the relationship between Senate Bill 12-139 and Senate Bill 12-022. Representative Fields responded to questions regarding the administration of the pilot program created by the bill at the county level.


01:50 PM

Discussion ensued regarding the ability to create the program considered in the bill without passing legislation, and the fiscal impact of the bill on counties. Representative Summers responded to questions regarding county input in crafting Senate Bill 12-139.


01:56 PM

The following persons testified regarding Senate Bill 12-139:

01:57 PM -- Ms. Becky Treece, representing the Women's Lobby of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Treece discussed her experience with serving clients who have encountered the cliff effect, and explained how the bill would help families overcome the cliff effect. Ms. Treece provided an anecdotal example of the cliff effect, and further discussed the merits of the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the element of the bill that favors grant applications for grantees that teach financial literacy. Ms. Treece responded to questions regarding the process by which grants are awarded under the bill, and the ability to create such a grant-making process without passing statewide legislation. Discussion ensued regarding sources of funding from outside Colorado that are, or may become, available to Colorado counties for poverty programs. Committee members received a handout about potential poverty-related grant sources (Attachment A).

HseState0502AttachA.pdf

02:08 PM -- Ms. Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI), testified regarding the bill from the neutral position. Ms. Pingenot discussed county input into the crafting of Senate Bill 12-139. Ms. Pingenot responded to questions regarding the neutral position of CCI on the bill, and how the bill will operate at the county level, considering the demographic disparities among the counties. Ms. Pingenot responded to further questions regarding current efforts at the county level to assist families in overcoming the cliff effect.

02:16 PM -- Ms. Sarah Erhlich, representing Denver Human Services, testified in support of Senate Bill 12-139. Ms. Erhlich provided background on the state's Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) caseload, and explained how the bill would help families transition to self-sufficiency. Ms. Erhlich also listed the additional merits of the bill. Ms. Erhlich responded to questions regarding the ability of Denver County to secure poverty-related grants without passing statewide legislation. Representative Fields provided clarification regarding how the bill would improve the ability of counties to secure funding for poverty programs. Ms. Ehrlich further explained how certain sources of funding would be secured under Senate Bill 12-139, as compared to current law.

02:25 PM -- Bridget Kaminetsky, representing 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Kaminetsky provided an example of one of her organization's clients who benefitted from the type of program that would be supported by the bill. Discussion ensued regarding support that is needed by those in poverty as they seek self-sufficiency.


02:30 PM

No amendments were offered to Senate Bill 12-139. Representatives Summers provided closing remarks in support of the bill, and responded to questions regarding how the bill would change the provision of services to those seeking to transition from poverty to self-sufficiency.


02:40 PM

Representative Fields provided closing remarks in support of Senate Bill 12-139.
BILL:SB12-139
TIME: 02:42:35 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-139 to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The motion failed on a vote of 4-5.
SECONDED:Duran
VOTE
Baumgardner
No
Becker
No
Casso
Yes
Court
Yes
Duran
Yes
Joshi
No
Todd
Yes
Coram
No
Kerr J.
No
YES: 4 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:SB12-139
TIME: 02:52:44 PM
MOVED:Joshi
MOTION:Moved to postpone indefinitely Senate Bill 12-139. The motion passed on a vote of 5-4.
SECONDED:Baumgardner
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Becker
Yes
Casso
No
Court
No
Duran
No
Joshi
Yes
Todd
No
Coram
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:53 PM

The committee recessed.