House Committee on Local Government (03/05/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date:	03/05/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:34 PM to 03:28 PM	Balmer	X
		Conti	*
Place:	HCR 0111	Fields	X
		Gardner B.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Labuda	X
	Representative Bradford	Lee	X
		Pace	X
This Report was prepared by		Soper	X
	Raegan Robb	Swerdfeger	X
		Szabo	X
		Bradford	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB12-072 SB12-079 SB12-030 SB12-146		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:35 PM

Representative Bradford, committee chair, called the meeting to order.

01:35 PM -- Senate Bill 12-072

Representative Stephens, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-072, concerning the Colorado Mounted Rangers. Representative Stephens explained that the Colorado Mounted Rangers are unpaid volunteers that are available to statewide and local law enforcement in the event of a disaster. She explained that the bill allows the Colorado Mounted Rangers to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a state agency, county sheriff, local government, or an emergency planning committee to provide assistance as required. The bill also adds a variety of events that may include assistance from the Colorado Mounted Rangers and extends governmental immunity to the rangers and to any other volunteer organizations lending assistance under an MOU.

01:38 PM

Ronald Abramson, representing the Colorado Mounted Rangers, testified in support of the bill and talked about the history of the Colorado Mounted Rangers. Mr. Abramson talked about the need to assist local law enforcement agencies with emergency disasters, parades, prisoner escapes, and search and rescue efforts. Mr. Abramson discussed the need for the Colorado Mounted Rangers to enter into MOUs with local law enforcement agencies and addressed questions from the committee concerning the need for the Mounted Rangers to be certified by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board.

01:45 PM

Colonel Robert DeVega, Statewide Commander, Colorado Mounted Rangers, testified in support of the bill and discussed the types of support that the rangers provide to local law enforcement agencies. Colonel DeVega addressed questions from the committee concerning the history of the rangers and the need to extend governmental immunity to the rangers and other volunteers currently covered by an MOU.

01:54 PM

Chief Jacob Shirk, Monument Police Department, testified in support in the bill and talked about the need for police chiefs to have assistance from the rangers and other volunteer organization during large community events. He responded to questions from the committee and discussed language in the bill concerning liability insurance for volunteer organizations lending assistance under an MOU.

01:58 PM

Chief Kieth Moreland, Palmer Lake Police Department, testified in support of the bill and discussed the need for assistance from volunteer organizations, like the rangers, for large community events like the Fourth of July.

02:01 PM

Mr. Abramson responded to questions from the committee concerning MOUs and liability insurance for the rangers.

02:03 PM

Representative Stephens made closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-072
TIME:	02:03:24 PM
MOVED:	Szabo
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-072 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Conti
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:04 PM -- Senate Bill 12-079

Representative Stephens, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-079, concerning revisions to the Safe2Tell Program relating to advances in communications technology. Representative Stephens explained that the program provides students, teachers, other school employees, and the community a means to anonymously relay information concerning dangerous, violent or criminal activities. She explained that the bill clarifies operating procedures of the Safe2Tell program and referred to a handout provided to the committee concerning the program (Attachment A).

02:10 PM

Susan Payne, representing the Colorado Attorney General's Office and the Safe2Tell Program, testified in support of the bill and discussed the history of the program. Ms. Payne talked about the success of the program and discussed the need for the bill in order to provide several communication methods for students, teachers, school employees, and members of the community to anonymously relay information concerning dangerous, violent, or criminal activities. Ms. Payne responded to questions from the committee concerning specific cases of the Safe2Tell Program and discussed outreach methods used to raise awareness of the program. Committee discussion ensued concerning the success of the Safe2Tell Program.

02:30 PM

John McDonald, representing Jefferson County School District, testified in support of the bill and talked about the importance of the Safe2Tell Program. Mr. McDonald discussed cases where the Safe2Tell Program saved a student's life and cases where the program could have prevented violence in schools.

02:33 PM

Representative Stephens entered closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-079
TIME:	02:35:17 PM
MOVED:	Szabo
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-079 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-0, with 1 excused.
SECONDED:	Fields
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Excused
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:36 PM -- Senate Bill 12-030

Representative Liston, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-030, concerning administrative matters related to a foreclosure sale. Representative Liston explained that the bill makes several clarifications and modifications to the administrative and notice requirements of a foreclosure sale. Members of the committee received prepared amendment L.004 (Attachment B).

02:43 PM

Bob Sagel and Tom Mowle, representing the Public Trustee Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill and explained the foreclosure process to the committee. Mr. Sagel and Mr. Mowle responded to questions from the committee and explained that the reengrossed version of the bill requires overbid amounts to be paid to the Great Colorado Payback program, under the State Treasurer's Office, instead of public trustees. They also explained the issue of excess proceeds from the sale of a foreclosed property, which is addressed by prepared amendment L.004 (Attachment B). Committee discussion ensued concerning the process of a foreclosure sale and the need for the modifications under the bill to the administrative and notice requirements of foreclosure sales.

03:02 PM

Representative Liston made closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-030
TIME:	03:03:58 PM
MOVED:	Szabo
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Gardner B.
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Conti
	Fields
	Gardner B.
	Labuda
	Lee
	Pace
	Soper
	Swerdfeger
	Szabo
	Bradford

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB12-030
TIME:	03:04:20 PM
MOVED:	Gardner B.
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-030, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Szabo
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:07 PM -- Senate Bill 12-146

Representative Peniston, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-146, concerning limitations on the acceptance of certain benefits by specified governmental actors who are in a position to reward persons offering such benefits with official action. Representative Peniston explained that the bill amends portions of current law governing the standards of conduct for certain public officials, officers, and employees. Representative Peniston addressed questions from the committee concerning the need for the bill and discussed cases where contracting options may be limited within a community.

03:15 PM

Evan Goulding, representing the Special District Association, testified in support of the bill and discussed the provisions in the bill that cover ethical conduct for local government officials and employees. Mr. Goulding responded to questions from the committee concerning prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment C).


BILL:	SB12-146
TIME:	03:21:36 PM
MOVED:	Soper
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Lee
		VOTE
	Balmer
	Conti
	Fields
	Gardner B.
	Labuda
	Lee
	Pace
	Soper
	Swerdfeger
	Szabo
	Bradford

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

03:24 PM

Representative Peniston and members of the committee made closing comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB12-146
TIME:	03:26:34 PM
MOVED:	Gardner B.
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-146, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Szabo
		VOTE
	Balmer	Yes
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Gardner B.	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Soper	Yes
	Swerdfeger	Yes
	Szabo	Yes
	Bradford	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:28 PM

The committee adjourned.