Date: 04/02/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-124

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-124 to the CommitteePASS


01:32 PM

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


01:32 PM -- Senate Bill 12-124

Representative Nikkel, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-124, concerning the elimination of the limit on the number of regional tourism projects that the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC) may approve. Representative Nikkel, explained that current law limits the number of regional tourism projects that the EDC may approve to two initial projects in 2012, plus two additional projects in calendar years 2013 and 2014. The bill eliminates the limit and specifies that any pending applications must be approved or disapproved before the commission may consider new applications.


01:35 PM

Patricia Silverstein, representing the Economic Development Council of Colorado and the Douglas County Regional Tourism Authority, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of tourism in Colorado. Ms. Silverstein discussed the importance of new tourism projects in Colorado and responded to questions from the committee concerning the benefits of regional tourism in the state and the current statutory limits on regional tourism projects. Committee discussion ensued concerning the EDC's selection process for regional tourism projects, which were established by Senate Bill 09-173.


01:54 PM

Linda Cassaday, Deputy City Manager for the City of Glendale, testified in support of the bill and talked about a pending tourism project submitted to the EDC by the City of Glendale. Ms. Cassaday discussed the importance of local tourism dollars, responded to questions from the committee, and explained how regional tourism projects would implement tax incremental financing (TIF).


01:58 PM

Michael Gifford, President of the Colorado Association of General Contractors, testified in support of the bill and discussed the relationship between tourism and the overall economic health of the state. Mr. Gifford responded to questions from the committee.


02:04 PM

Michael Dunafon, Mayor of the City of Glendale, testified in support of the bill and talked about the importance of economic development in the City of Glendale.


02:10 PM

R.J. Hicks, representing the Jefferson County Business Lobby, testified in support of the bill and discussed the economic importance of regional tourism projects in the state.


02:12 PM

Terence Quinn, representing Douglas County, testified in support of the bill and discussed pending tourism projects in Douglas County that were submitted to the EDC to receive regional tourism funding and for inclusion in the state TIF calculation.


02:19 PM

Mark Latimer, representing the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., testified in support of the bill and discussed the need to increase the amount of state funding and the number of regional tourism projects submitted to the EDC. Mr. Latimer addressed questions from the committee concerning the long-term benefits of successful regional economic tourism projects.


02:23 PM

Tony Milo, representing the Colorado Contractors' Association, testified in support of the bill and talked about the importance of future economic development in the state.


02:25 PM

Carol Hedges, representing the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, testified against the bill and discussed the history of regional tourism projects and the limits placed in law under Senate Bill 09-173. Ms. Hedges talked about the loss of state revenue that will be allocated for regional tourism projects funded through TIF if the bill passes. Ms. Hedges talked about the current $50,000 limit for regional tourism projects and the loss of state revenue for tourism projects approved for TIF.


02:34 PM

Discussion ensued among Ms. Hedges, Representative Nikkel, and the committee concerning the importance of regional tourism projects and the impact to state revenue by tourism projects funded by TIF. Ms. Hedges responded to questions from the committee concerning the current statutory limits on regional tourism projects and how TIF would be implemented by the EDC for future regional tourism projects.


02:52 PM

Representative Nikkel made closing comments on the bill.
BILL:SB12-124
TIME: 02:54:37 PM
MOVED:Balmer
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 12-124 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