Senate Committee on Business, Labor and Technology (02/07/2007)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Date:	02/07/2007	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:30 PM to 03:36 PM	Kester	X
		Schwartz	X
Place:	SCR 354	Takis	E
		Taylor	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Wiens	*
	Senator Veiga	Tochtrop	X
		Veiga	X
This Report was prepared by
	Jeanette Chapman
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB07-1175 Sunset Review - Motor Vehicle Dealer Board SB07-093		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Witness Testimony Only

01:31 PM -- House Bill 07-1175

Senator Fitz-Gerald introduced her bill that would clarify state law prohibiting mixing of banking and commerce by specifying what type of business may take place at specific locations. She provided an amendment to the committee (Attachment A).

01:34 PM -- Don Childears, Colorado Bankers Association, spoke in support of the legislation.

01:35 PM

Senator Fitz-Gerald made closing comments on the merits of the bill. She described the amendment.


BILL:	HB07-1175
TIME:	01:36:15 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kester
	Schwartz
	Takis	Excused
	Taylor
	Wiens
	Tochtrop
	Veiga
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB07-1175
TIME:	01:36:28 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Refer HB 1175 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended, with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed 6-0-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Kester	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes
	Takis	Excused
	Taylor	Yes
	Wiens	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Veiga	Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:38 PM

Brian Tobias, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), introduced himself and Bob Holden, to present the Department's recommendations regarding the continuation of the motor vehicle dealer board.

01:38 PM

Bob Holden, DORA, discussed the report and the recommendations of the agency to continue the regulation of car dealerships. A copy of the draft bill and the report were provided to the committee (Attachments B & C). He responded to questions from the committee.

01:56 PM -- Jeff Carlson, Colorado Motor Vehicle Dealer Board, discussed the areas of agreement and disagreement between the board and the department. He discussed the board's recommendations presented in a letter to the members of the committee (Attachment D). He responded to questions from the committee.

02:09 PM -- Lee Payne, Colorado Automotive Dealers Association, discussed the points upon which the association disagreed with the recommendation of the department.

02:19 PM

Senator Veiga discussed the options available to the committee to move forward. Committee discussion ensued regarding the process for making changes to the draft legislation. The committee determined to not vote on whether to have a bill drafted and determined to reschedule further discussion on the report to another meeting.

02:30 PM -- Senate Bill 07-093

Senator Harvey introduced his bill that would prohibit employers from requiring employees to join or pay dues to a labor union. This would change state law which currently requires employees in workplaces that have entered into an all-union agreement either join the union or pay administrative fees to the union as a condition of employment.

02:33 PM -- Christian Lefer, Colorado Citizens for Right to Work, spoke in support of the legislation. He gave his opinions on the benefits of states having right to work laws. He responded to questions and comments from the committee.

02:43 PM -- Ernesto Duran, United Food and Commercial Workers, spoke in opposition to the legislation. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the uses of union dues. Senator Wiens discussed the costs of health care and how it is associated with union requirements.

03:00 PM

Senator Harvey commented on the preceding testimony.

03:03 PM

Senator Schwartz continued questions to the witness, Mr. Duran. Mr. Duran responded to questions from the committee. Committee discussion regarding the merits or not of unions.

03:10 PM -- Ed Bagwell, Teamsters, spoke in opposition to the legislation. He discussed his experience as a union organizer.

03:16 PM -- Steve Adams, Colorado AFL-CIO, spoke in opposition to the legislation.

03:19 PM -- Tony Gagliardi, National Federation of Independent Business, spoke in support of the legislation. He indicated that the members of the association are focused more on health care than on unionization. He responded to questions from the committee.

03:26 PM -- Mark Latimer, Rocky Mountain Chapter - Associated Builders and Contractors, spoke in support of the legislation. Mr. Latimer responded to Senator Veiga's comments regarding the applicability of the Labor Peace Act to members of the building trades.

03:35 PM

Senator Veiga pulled the bill off the table for action on Monday. Senator Harvey indicated his desire to make his closing comments at that time. The committee recessed.