Colorado Legislative Council Staff Fiscal Note
               STATE and STATUTORY PUBLIC ENTITY
                     REVISED FISCAL IMPACT
         (replaces fiscal note dated January 13, 2015)

Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsor(s):
LLS 15-0025
Sen. Crowder
Rep. Keyser
Date:
Bill Status:

Fiscal Analyst:
February 19, 2015
House Health, Insurance and
Environment
Bill Zepernick (303-866-4777)


BILL TOPIC:    HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE REVIEW COMMITTEE APPROVAL


Fiscal Impact Summary*
FY 2015-2016
FY 2016-2017


State Revenue




State Expenditures
                       Minimal increase. 
                                
                                
                      FTE Position Change
                                
                                
                                
                                
                 Appropriation Required:  None.
                                
          *    This summary shows changes from current law under the bill for each fiscal year. 


Summary of Legislation

     The reengrossed bill requires that the Legislative Health Benefit Exchange Implementation
Review Committee (review committee) approve all bonuses for employees of the state's health
benefit exchange (Connect for Health Colorado).  Approval must be given in advance of the
employee receiving the bonus.


Background

     Connect for Health Colorado is the state's health benefit exchange established in response 
to federal health care reform.  Through Connect for Health Colorado, consumers can shop for
health insurance and determine eligibility for federal tax subsidies for the purchase of health
insurance or other public health insurance programs.  The review committee is a statutorily created
year-round legislative committee that oversees Connect for Health Colorado.  The review
committee must meet between two and five times each calendar year and is responsible for,
among other things, reviewing and approving operational and financial plans, grant applications,
and the hiring of the executive director for Connect for Health Colorado. 


State Expenditures

     The bill will increase workload in the Legislative Department by expanding the scope of the
review committee.  However, this increase can be absorbed within the current appropriations to
Legislative Council Staff and the Office of Legislative Legal Services to support the review
committee.  It is assumed that all employee bonuses can be reviewed within the current number
of meetings held by the review committee each year.


Statutory Public Entity Impact

     The bill increases workload for Connect for Health Colorado to prepare reports for the
review committee that summarize and justify any employee bonuses.  While subjecting employee
bonuses to legislative approval may discourage some workers from pursuing employment at
Connect for Health Colorado, this is not expected to significantly affect employee recruitment and
retention costs for the organization.


Effective Date

     The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his
signature.


State and Local Government Contacts

     Legislature    Health Benefit Exchange