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First Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. R97@0831.01 DFH

STATE OF COLORADO

BY REPRESENTATIVE Pankey;

also SENATOR Wham.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 97-1047

WHEREAS, The General Assembly authorized and funded an independent study of the Old Age Pension Program during fiscal year 1996­97; and

WHEREAS, The final report from such study recommends significant changes in the Old Age Pension Program in order to respond to the projected rapid growth of the elderly population; and

WHEREAS, Such demographic changes have potential implications for future state funding of the Old Age Pension Program; and

WHEREAS, An examination and public discussion of the study's recommendations is necessary; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty­first General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

(1)  That there shall be a committee to meet in the interim after the 1997 Regular Session of the General Assembly to study the Old Age Pension Program. Members of the interim committee shall be appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and they shall determine an appropriate number of members for the committee. The interim committee may consider, but need not be limited to, the following:

(a)  An examination of demographic trends and forecasts and their impacts on future state funding of the Old Age Pension Program;

(b)  An examination of the recommendations contained in the report on the Old Age Pension Program conducted by the Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado at Denver;

(c)  An investigation of whether the Old Age Pension Program should be continued for persons aged 60 to 64, and whether other more appropriate means of public assistance are available for such persons through other federal and state programs or whether other public or private programs should be developed to address the needs of such persons;

(d)  The consideration of measures needed to coordinate the Old Age Pension Program with federal and state public assistance programs in order to assure that federal programs are being appropriately utilized and state cost efficiencies are being maximized;

(e)  An examination of methods to enhance the flexibility of the Old Age Pension Program in the future so that the program can be modified to reflect changes in federal and state public assistance programs and keep pace with the state's changing demographics while maintaining the stability of the program;

(f)  Whether it is necessary to continue funding the old age pension stabilization fund;

(g)  Whether the ten­million­dollar cap on the amount of the state­only health and medical care program for old age pensioners should be eliminated so that the program can more adequately serve the health and medical care needs of persons receiving the pension.

(2)  That, in conducting such study, the committee may consult with appropriate local, state, and federal agencies and interested members of the public and may hold public hearings in locations of the state outside the Denver metropolitan area as deemed necessary for purposes of the study. The study shall not require additional staff for any state agency or any additional appropriation to any state agency.

(3)  That the committee shall report its findings and recommendations, including proposed constitutional and statutory amendments, to the Legislative Council not later than November 15, 1997.

(4)  That all expenditures incurred in the conduct of the study required by this Resolution shall be approved by the chairperson of the Legislative Council and paid by vouchers and warrants drawn as provided by law from funds allocated to the Legislative Council from appropriations made by the General Assembly.