Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON
STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS
Date:
03/22/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:
02:33 PM
to
04:43 PM
Cadman
X
Carroll T.
*
Place:
HCR 0109
Coleman
X
Crane
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Gallegos
X
Representative
Weissmann
Liston
X
Lundberg
X
This Report was prepared by
Schultheis
X
Brad Denning
Todd
X
Ragsdale
X
Weissmann
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed:
Action Taken:
SB05-031
SB05-040
SB05-193
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Laid Over
2:00 PM
Betsy Boudreau, Executive Director of the Recording for the Blind and the Dyslexic (RFB&D), introduced her organization to the committee. She introduced Priscilla Jones, a client of RFB&D. Ms. Boudreau noted that RFB&D is a school-based educational outreach project with appropriated funding of $300,000 for fiscal year 2006. She provided a packet of information on the educational opportunities of her organization's project (Attachment A). The project reaches students in 3rd through 12th grade who can not read standard print because of visual impairment, learning disability including dyslexia, or physical disability.
2:06 PM
Ms. Boudreau indicated that she believes in the program. She recounted her personal experience with the project and indicated that she has benefitted from this educational experience.
2:10 PM
Ms. Boudreau responded to committee questions.
2:14 PM
Jerry Owens, representing the U.S. Army Western Regional Environmental Office, introduced himself and his office. He provided Attachment B, Colorado State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, 22 March 2005. He provided the following information on regional environmental offices. The purpose of the briefing was to explain how the Army Regional Environmental Office (REO) provides support to the Army/Department of Defense (DOD) on a broad range of environmental and related efforts. The Army REO focus is to coordinate, communicate, and facilitate resolution of regional, state, and local environmental issues of important to the Army/DOD installations with federal, state, and local officials, the business community, and the public. Mr. Owens stated that his office promotes compatible land use around military installations, monitors state legislation and rule making, and collaborates with other organizations on partnering initiatives.
2:21 PM
Mr. Owens responded to committee questions.
02:33 PM -- Senate Bill 05-031
Representative Merrifield, prime sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 05-031. The bill expands the existing election offense governing false statements, which under current law states that it is illegal to "knowingly" make false statements related to a candidate. The bill would increase the penalty, from a class 2 to a class 1 misdemeanor, for knowingly making a false statement. He responded to committee questions.
02:45 PM
Committee members discussed their views on the bill's intent. Some of the members believe that this bill does not fix the problem, but will invite the political strategists to make such false statements. Committee discussion continued.
03:02 PM
Representative Liston stated that he believes the false claims a politician experiences is part of the political territory. He noted that he has never heard of anyone being prosecuted for making such false claims. Rep. Merrifield responded that he believes people are "fed up" with such claims. Committee discussion continued on what a "lie" is and the "perceptions" of lies.
There was no testimony.
BILL:
SB05-031
TIME:
03:21:50 PM
MOVED:
Schultheis
MOTION:
Moved Amendment L.003 (Attachment C). Rep. Schultheis explained that his amendment would remove the bill's safety clause. The motion passed on a 7 - 4 vote.
SECONDED:
Cadman
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Carroll T.
No
Coleman
Yes
Crane
Yes
Gallegos
No
Liston
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Schultheis
Yes
Todd
No
Ragsdale
No
Weissmann
Yes
Not Final YES:
7
NO:
4
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
BILL:
SB05-031
TIME:
03:24:14 PM
MOVED:
Carroll T.
MOTION:
Referred Senate Bill 05-031, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 7 - 4 vote.
SECONDED:
Coleman
VOTE
Cadman
No
Carroll T.
Yes
Coleman
Yes
Crane
No
Gallegos
Yes
Liston
Yes
Lundberg
No
Schultheis
No
Todd
Yes
Ragsdale
Yes
Weissmann
Yes
Final YES:
7
NO:
4
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
03:25 PM -- Senate Bill 05-040
Representative Merrifield, prime sponsor, explained Senate Bill 05-040 concerning benefits that may be accepted by certain public officials and the prohibition of certain public officials from accepting monetary gifts. The bill also addresses treating specified gift tax contributions for campaign finance law purposes. Rep. Merrifield responded to committee members about various provisions of the bill.
03:35 PM
Members discussed various provisions of the bill related to incumbent or candidates elected to statewide offices and their receipt or acceptance of gifts.
The following people testified:
03:41 PM --
Christine Watson, representing the League of Women Voters, testified in support of the bill. She explained that the $10,000 limit related to what members of the House of Representatives can accept in aggregate donations for any calendar year, mentioned in the bill as a threshold, was in previous similar legislation brought before the state legislature a year or so ago. She responded to committee questions.
BILL:
SB05-040
TIME:
03:56:55 PM
MOVED:
Lundberg
MOTION:
Moved a conceptual amendment to add, page 3, after line 18, before the period "OR FROM RECEIVING GIFTS OR COMPENSATION FOR PURPOSES NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH HIS OR HER OFFICIAL DUTIES AS AN INCUMBENT OR ELECTED CANDIDATE." The motion passed without objection
SECONDED:
Coleman
VOTE
Cadman
Carroll T.
Coleman
Crane
Gallegos
Liston
Lundberg
Schultheis
Todd
Ragsdale
Weissmann
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
BILL:
SB05-040
TIME:
04:00:00 PM
MOVED:
Cadman
MOTION:
Moved a conceptual amendment on page 7, line 7, to strike the word "TEN" and substitute "THIRTY" and strike "TWENTY" on line 10 and substitute "FORTY-EIGHT." Also, that this should replace areas throughout the bill that pertain to these figures. The motion passed on a 8 to 3 vote.
SECONDED:
Schultheis
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Carroll T.
No
Coleman
Yes
Crane
Yes
Gallegos
Yes
Liston
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Schultheis
Yes
Todd
Yes
Ragsdale
No
Weissmann
No
Not Final YES:
8
NO:
3
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
BILL:
SB05-040
TIME:
04:11:28 PM
MOVED:
Coleman
MOTION:
Referred Senate Bill 05-040 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended, with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 6-5 vote.
SECONDED:
Gallegos
VOTE
Cadman
No
Carroll T.
Yes
Coleman
Yes
Crane
No
Gallegos
Yes
Liston
No
Lundberg
No
Schultheis
No
Todd
Yes
Ragsdale
Yes
Weissmann
Yes
Final YES:
6
NO:
5
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
04:18 PM -- Senate Bill 05-193
Representative Weissmann indicated that Rep. Stengel had informed him that he may not be able to return in time for the introduction of this bill. Rep. Weissmann indicated that testimony on the bill would be heard and action would likely take place at a meeting at the microphone on March 23, upon adjournment.
The following people testified:
04:20 PM --
Pete Mang and Robert Cantwell, representing the Colorado Department of Public Safety and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, testified in support of the bill. They responded to committee questions.
04:42 PM
Due to the discussion on the bill, Rep. Weissmann stated that the bill would not be heard at the microphone on March 23. He indicated that the bill is being laid over and the sponsor would seek late bill status to hear the bill at a later date.
Rep. Weissmann indicated that next week there would be a field trip for the committee. He adjourned the meeting.