Date: 03/01/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB12-1259

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to postpone indefinitely House Bill 12-1259.
Moved to refer House Bill 12-1259 to the Committee		TIE
FAIL



10:44 AM -- House Bill 12-1259

Representative Miklosi, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1259, concerning the right of person, including a veteran, to waive confidentiality requirements protecting personal work information obtained by the Department of Labor and Employment for unemployment benefit claims to permit the department to forward certain information to potential employers. Representative Miklosi provided background on veteran unemployment in Colorado, and explained the effect of the bill. Representative Miklosi responded to questions regarding the sharing of contact information under the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the bill's fiscal impact, and the frequency with which the Department of Labor and Employment updates its unemployment data. Representative Miklosi responded to questions regarding personal information disclosures by job seekers under current law.


10:54 AM

Representative Miklosi responded to questions regarding the functions of the Department of Labor and Employment in the area of assisting the unemployed with job searches. Representative Miklosi responded to further questions regarding the scope of the bill, and the need to retrain veterans who have just exited the military.


11:00 AM

The following persons testified regarding House Bill 12-1259:

11:00 AM -- Dr. William Doe, representing Veterans Green Jobs, testified in support of the bill. He discussed his organization's work in the area of veteran employment, and ways to address veteran unemployment. Dr. Doe explained how the bill would help to curb veteran unemployment by connecting job seekers with those seeking to train and employ people. Dr. Doe responded to questions regarding how his organization uses information gathered by the Department of Labor and Employment, and how organizations interact in their efforts to employ veterans. Dr. Doe responded to further questions regarding how state work force centers refer job seekers to organizations such as Veterans Green Jobs, and explained how younger veterans go about seeking employment.


11:11 AM

Discussion continued regarding how to connect younger veterans to jobs. Dr. Doe responded to questions about the potential for providing military service member contact information to the Department of Labor and Employment and to employers at the time of discharge from the service.

11:17 AM -- Mr. James Bobick, representing the United Veterans Committee, testified in support of House Bill 12-1259. Mr. Bobick explained how the bill will facilitate connections between potential employers and employees. Mr. Bobick responded to questions regarding the role of the Department of Labor and Employment in assisting veterans with job searches under the bill. Mr. Bobick responded to further questions regarding the bill's function in connecting potential employers and employees. Discussion returned to the role of the Department of Labor and Employment under the bill. Discussion followed regarding the fiscal impact of the bill.


11:27 AM

Representative Miklosi responded to questions regarding the position of the Department of Labor and Employment on the bill. Representative Todd discussed ways to streamline the process of connecting employers with qualified employees, and explained how House Bill 12-1259 will assist in this streamlining. Discussion ensued regarding avenues currently available to job seekers for finding employment, and the importance of ensuring the welfare of employees. Various committee members expressed their positions on the bill.
BILL:HB12-1259
TIME: 11:28:31 AM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 12-1259 to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. The motion failed on a vote of 3-5.
SECONDED:Court
VOTE
Baumgardner
No
Casso
Excused
Court
Yes
Duran
Yes
Joshi
No
Liston
No
Todd
Yes
Coram
No
Kerr J.
No
YES: 3 NO: 5 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB12-1259
TIME: 11:44:16 AM
MOVED:Baumgardner
MOTION:Moved to postpone indefinitely House Bill 12-1259. The motion failed on a 4-4 vote.
SECONDED:Kerr J.
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Casso
Excused
Court
No
Duran
No
Joshi
Yes
Liston
No
Todd
No
Coram
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
YES: 4 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE