Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON
FINANCE
Date:
03/10/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:
12:35 PM
to
01:26 PM
Benefield
X
Cloer
X
Place:
HCR 0107
Crane
X
Frangas
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Garcia
X
Representative
Vigil
Jahn
*
Marshall
X
This Report was prepared by
Massey
*
Ron Kirk
May M.
X
McCluskey
X
Witwer
X
Judd
X
Vigil
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed:
Action Taken:
SB05-052
Amended, Referred to Committee on Appropriations
12:36 PM -- Senate Bill 05-052 - Concerning the Creation of the Military Family Relief Fund
Representative Morgan Carroll, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the bill and distributed three news articles supporting Senate Bill 05-052 (Attachments A, B, and C), a fact sheet on the legislation (Attachment D), and amendment L.002 (Attachment E).
Representative Carroll explained that Senate Bill 05-052 creates the Military Family Relief Fund in the State Treasury. She explained that the bill would be effective for income tax years 2005 through 2008 and authorizes the adjutant general of the state to accept gifts, grants, and donations to the fund. All money in the fund at the end of each fiscal year would be transferred to the Colorado National Guard Foundation. Representative Carroll commented that the bill authorizes the foundation to make grants from the fund to members of the Colorado National Guard, reservists, or their families. The foundation would establish criteria for awarding the grants.
The following persons testified:
12:39 PM --
Mr. William Robinson, Denver Military Veterans Association, testified in support of the legislation.
12:41 PM --
Ms. Debbie Blackburn, Colorado National Guard, testified in support of the legislation and commented on her experiences with the National Guard Foundation. She commented on the grant process that gives moneys to National Guard families to assist members with expenses that result from their change from civilian status to military duty. Ms. Blackburn explained that most of the foundation's money comes from donations and fund raising efforts.
12:48 PM --
Mr. Ben Stein, Deputy Treasurer, distributed a handout on the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund (Attachment F) and clarified the provisions of the bill. He pointed out that the bill does not address any benefits for active duty military personnel and commented that any contributions made can be deducted from state income taxes because the foundation is registered as a 501 (C) (3).
01:02 PM --
Ms. Lisa Graf, spouse of a National Guardsmen, commented on the many difficulties military families face when a spouse is deployed to military duty. She testified in support of the legislation and closed by saying that the legislation will provide a way for people in Colorado to support the military.
01:04 PM --
Chaplain Andrew C. Meverden, Denver National Guard, testified in support of the legislation and commented on the difficulties that families of military personnel have. Mr. Meverden discussed the many veterans who serve and return to the United States with posttraumatic stress disorder and stated that the bill would provide the foundation with an additional funding stream for veterans and military families who need financial assistance.
01:09 PM --
Mr. George Thomas, United Veterans Committee of Colorado, testified in support of the legislation.
BILL:
SB05-052
TIME:
01:10:11 PM
MOVED:
Cloer
MOTION:
Moved amendment L.002. (The amendment restores an original provision in the bill that would allow excess funds to revert from the Military Family Relief Fund to the Western Slope Military Veterans' Cemetery Fund.) After amendment L.002 was amended, this motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:
Frangas
VOTE
Benefield
Cloer
Crane
Frangas
Garcia
Jahn
Marshall
Massey
May M.
McCluskey
Witwer
Judd
Vigil
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
BILL:
SB05-052
TIME:
01:17:57 PM
MOVED:
Garcia
MOTION:
Moved a conceptual amendment to amendment L.002 that would allow excess moneys from the Military Family Relief Fund to be transferred to the Western Slope Military Veterans' Cemetery Fund only if the Military Family Relief Fund is terminated or becomes inactive. The motion passed on a 10-3-0 vote.
SECONDED:
May M.
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
No
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
May M.
Yes
McCluskey
No
Witwer
No
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Not Final YES:
10
NO:
3
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
BILL:
SB05-052
TIME:
01:19:02 PM
MOVED:
Vigil
MOTION:
Moved a conceptual amendment that would make the state income tax checkoff available for income tax years 2005, 2006, and 2007. The motion passed on a 7-6-0 vote.
SECONDED:
Garcia
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
No
Crane
No
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
No
May M.
No
McCluskey
No
Witwer
No
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Not Final YES:
7
NO:
6
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
BILL:
SB05-052
TIME:
01:22:26 PM
MOVED:
Vigil
MOTION:
Moved a conceptual amendment that would remove the reporting requirements to the finance committees prior to the bill's sunset. The motion passed on a 11-2-0 vote.
SECONDED:
Garcia
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
No
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
Yes
Jahn
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
May M.
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Witwer
No
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Not Final YES:
11
NO:
2
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
BILL:
SB05-052
TIME:
01:23:43 PM
MOVED:
Cloer
MOTION:
Refer SB 05-052, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-1-0 vote.
SECONDED:
McCluskey
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Cloer
Yes
Crane
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Garcia
No
Jahn
Yes
Marshall
Yes
Massey
Yes
May M.
Yes
McCluskey
Yes
Witwer
Yes
Judd
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES:
12
NO:
1
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
01:26 PM
Adjourn.