SIXTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
STATE OF COLORADO
Second Regular Session
First Legislative
Day Wednesday, January 7, 1998
Prayer by the Reverend Bill Haan,
Englewood Bible Church.
The Speaker called the House to order at 10:00 a.m.
The Speaker appointed Judith Rodrigue, Temporary Chief Clerk and Mike Mawhinney, Temporary Reading Clerk.
The roll was called with the following result:
Present--65.
The Speaker declared a quorum present.
On motion of Representative Anderson, a committee of three was appointed to notify the Senate that the House was ready for business. The Speaker appointed Representative Grampsas, Owen, and Romero
_______________
Senators Ament, Hopper and Rizzuto reported that the Senate was ready for business.
House reconvened.
_______________
Representatives Grampsas and Owen reported that the Senate has been notified that the House was ready for business.
INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION
The following resolution was read by title and given
immediate consideration:
HJR98-1001 by Representatives
Anderson, C. Berry and Snyder; also Senators Wells, Norton and
Feeley--Concerning a joint session of the House of Representatives
and the Senate, for the purpose of hearing a message from his
Excellency, Governor Roy Romer, and appointing a committee to
escort the Governor.
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives
of the Sixty-first General Assembly of the State of Colorado,
the Senate concurring herein:
That a Joint Session of the House of Representatives
and the Senate of the Second Regular Session of the Sixty-first
General Assembly shall be held in the House Chambers at 11:00
a.m., on January 8, 1998, for the purpose of hearing a message
from His Excellency, Governor Roy Romer, and that a committee
of three members of the House of Representatives and two members
of the Senate be appointed by the Speaker of the House and the
President of the Senate, respectively, to escort the Governor
to the Joint Session.
MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE
Mr. Speaker:
The Senate has adopted and transmits herewith: SJR98-001.
The President appointed Senators Bishop and Schroeder pursuant to the resolution.
_________
The Senate has adopted and transmits herewith: SJR98-002.
_______________
The following resolution was read by title and given
immediate consideration:
SJR98-1 by Senators
Well, Norton, and Feeley; also Repre-sentatives Anderson, C. Berry,
and Snyder--Appointing a joint committee to notify the Governor
that the Second Regular session of the Sixty-first General Assembly
is now organized and ready for the transaction of business.
On motion of Representative Anderson, the rules were
suspended and the resolution given immediate consideration and
adopted by viva voce vote.
The Speaker appointed Representatives Faatz, Tucker and Dyer pursuant to the resolution.
House in recess. House reconvened.
_______________
Representatives Faatz, Tucker and Dyer reported that the governor had been notified that the House was ready for business.
Speaker Berry and Representative Snyder addressed
the membership.
On motion of Representative Anderson, the remarks
of the Speaker and Representative Snyder were ordered printed
in the House Journal.
OPENING DAY REMARKS BY SPEAKER BERRY
Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, Majority Leader Anderson, Minority
Leader Snyder, other distinguished members of this House, family,
friends, guests and fellow Coloradans.
This morning we convene the second regular session
of the SixtyFirst General Assembly with much the same spirit
and challenge as we've convened in recent years, determined that
our work over the next onehundred and twenty days will make
Colorado a better place to live, to work and to raise a family.
Today we have a state that is in many ways the envy
of the nation. Our citizens are working, our budget is balanced,
our natural wonders attract visitors and new residents from across
the country.
-- Since 1990, 433,000 new jobs have been created
in Colorado, and in the last couple of years, we've been creating
more high skill jobs that pay high wages -- in the financial services
industry, in advanced technology and in many other sectors of
the manufacturing industry;
-- We have the lowest unemployment rate in Colorado
since we've been keeping records, an average of 3.3% over the
last year.
-- Building construction in Colorado, both residential
and commercial is at the highest level in over ten years;
Today is surely a time of optimism and hope in Colorado.
But leave it to the irresponsible and naive to believe
that we are free from many serious and nagging challenges that
must be dealt with in the here and now.
It is sometimes easy to fall prey to the political
maneuverings and minutia of much of the work that gets done here
in this magnificent building, wrestling over issues that ultimately
mean little to the everyday lives of Colorado families.
As we begin this session, I challenge us to remember
our singular purpose for being here: to represent our constituents
and their families to try to the best of our ability
to give them the greatest opportunities possible to build their
businesses, raise their families and live their own Colorado dreams.
I challenge each of us to put a simple test to every bill that we will consider here this session: will this legislation help or hurt Colorado families?
Let us begin by putting this "family test"
to taxes and spending:
When the Governor comes to address us tomorrow, he
will want to talk to us about how to spend more, but today I want
to talk about how we can cut taxes and help Colorado's
working families keep more of their own hardearned money.
This Sunday's New York Times featured a frontpage
article on the many states across the country who are cutting
their citizens'
taxes as a result of the strong national economy. According
to the National Conference of State Legislatures, more than half
of all the states authorized some form of income tax cuts for
1998. Colorado needs to join the ranks of a majority of states
and recognize that cutting taxes is good public policy.
Now some including some who work in
this Capitol building will say that cutting taxes
is irresponsible that government has many funding
needs and that we in government somehow have a better understanding
of how the people's money should be spent.
But I say that cutting taxes and letting families
keep more of their own money returns economic power to the people,
allowing greater individual choice and economic freedom. Families
can use that money to buy clothes for their children. A new television.
A set of encyclopedias. A downpayment on a family computer.
Whatever they choose. Whatever they decide will help them build
a better life for themselves and their children.
It should be their choice because it is their
money.
This year, the House will again consider a bill to
cut Colorado's income tax rate from 5% to 4.75%. We've
passed it before, and I say let's
pass it again. The Senate this year will hopefully do the same.
This bill provides for a voter referendum on the
tax-cut because the Governor has vowed to veto the bill. Colorado
voters can cut the state's income tax rate onequarter of
one percent, and the state will still have a substantial TABOR
excess.
Our Legislative Council's economic forecast shows
a TABOR excess at the end of this year of over $324 million, next
year $286 million, and $276 million the following year. A total
excess of just under $1.4 billion over the next five years. These
excesses are in addition to the $9.5 billion dollars we're already
spending on state government.
In order to prevent future special sessions on TABOR
excesses, I will introduce a bill to provide that the Department
of Revenue will temporarily reduce the income tax rate and show
that lower rate on the state's tax forms which are sent out the
following year. This approach is simple, straight-forward and
fair, and it costs the least from an administrative point of view.
This is what I've called the default mechanism (as on your computer)
to deal with TABOR excesses. It wouldn't prevent a legislature
and a governor working together to give voters a specific proposal
to retain some of the TABOR excess for a specific purpose.
And continuing with tax cuts, for the past two years
this General Assembly has passed bills to reduce the personal
property taxes Coloradans pay. Both times the bills found their
way to the Governor's desk and both times they were vetoed. This
year we should try again.
In recent months, there has been a great deal of
talk about tax reform. True Colorado tax reform must mean lower
taxes for everyone, not shifting taxes and robbing Peter to pay
Paul by raising some taxes to lower others. For me, the only
reform worth discussing is how to keep more of the people's money
in their pockets not in some government coffer.
As I said a year ago, I don't believe we must spend every cent
we can collect. Economic prosperity is a time when taxpayers
should enjoy some tax relief. We cannot forget the bottom line:
It is the people's money. They can best decide how best it should
be spent.
This past November, the voters spoke loudly and clearly
to this point when they bluntly rejected pleas to raise taxes
to build roads and transit.
Now we all agree that a high quality highway infrastructure
is absolutely critical to Colorado's economy and to the longterm
quality of life for our communities across the state. Most Coloradans'
greatest frustration with growth is the traffic congestion they
experience daily on our roads and highways. With this in mind,
I am particularly proud of this legislature's effort to provide
an additional stream of highway revenues in the bills we've
passed in recent years. Last year's
Senate Bill 1 will provide additional highway funds totaling nearly
$860 million over these next five years. But, while we're beginning
to see the results of adding surplus money to the highway system,
we clearly have a great deal of work left to do.
It is too simplistic to believe that a single bill
in a single legislative session is going to solve the awesome
challenge of road and infrastructure construction into the future.
The solution instead will be a achieved by sustained, prudent
stewardship of statewide highway construction initiatives for
many years to come, by a legislature and Colorado's
governor working together.
Another effort we can make to help improve Colorado's
roads is to put more pressure on Washington to guarantee fairness
in national highway funding. Currently, for every dollar of
gas tax Colorado sends to Washington we get only sixtytwo
cents back in federal highway funds. This has to change. We
should redouble our work through our congressional delegation
to get more of our money back from Washington.
There is more we can do here at home as well. Through
the Joint Budget Committee and the transportation committees in
the House and Senate, we must continue to work for a more efficient
Colorado Department of Transportation. We must find ways to
streamline the planning and construction costs of these projects
by cutting bureaucratic waste and employing private solutions
to these public problems when it makes good fiscal sense.
With a sustained and coordinated effort on all these
fronts, I believe we can and must accomplish
what Colorado needs without raising our fuel tax one penny.
Just as we must continually invest in the physical
infrastructure of our state's roads and highways, so must we keep
focused on the longterm investment of providing the very
best possible education for all of Colorado's children.
Nothing is more important to the future of Colorado's
families than the quality of our children's education. Education
is the ladder from poverty to prosperity. Education makes equal
opportunity possible. Education is the key to the American dream.
And it is the lack of education, or poor quality education, that
too often makes welfare and prisons necessary.
We can do better. Our children deserve better.
But contrary to what many believe, increased educational
spending, in and of itself, is not the panacea of all our educational
woes. Were that the case, the Washington, DC public school system,
which spends more money per child than almost any other system
in America, wouldn't be plagued with some of the lowest standardized
test scores in the country.
In many ways, the public school system of today is
not all that different from the public educational system of the
19th century. It's long past time to look beyond the old model
and let new ideas, new teachers, and new schools have a chance
to lead the way into the 21st century.
We must empower parents to choose the most appropriate
school for their kids. Every Colorado family should have that
choice and educational freedom to choose for themselves the best
school for their kids. We must begin to further expand this school
choice option in Colorado.
Last May nearly all of Colorado's public school fourth
graders took reading and writing tests as part of the Colorado
Statewide Assessment Program. When the results of these tests
were released in November, all of us were certainly disappointed.
69 percent of our fourth graders were below proficient in writing
and 43 were below proficient in reading.
It was interesting to note that on average the test
scores were higher for fourth graders in our charter schools.
Last year the General Assembly passed a bill to move closer
to equity in funding for charter schools but the Governor vetoed
the bill. We hope that this year's legislative efforts to improve
our Charter School Act will meet with a better fate in the Governor's
office.
We must also continue to improve the quality of basic
education in Colorado by increasing opportunities, seeking out
and employing even more qualified instructors and administrators
and making sure that when our kids leave our schools they are
wellprepared to compete in an everincreasingly competitive
world market.
And, while our schools must continue to teach the
traditional three "r's" reading, writing
and arithmetic, I believe that we should add a couple of other
"r's" to our kid's training: respect and responsibility.
If we are to ask our hard working classroom teachers to take on the task of educating our state's children, we must absolutely require that they be afforded the respect they deserve from government, from parents, and most importantly from the children they're charged with educating.
Through respect our children can begin to understand
the critical attribute of responsibility that is required to be
a fullfledged citizen of our state and society. And while
we know that much of a child's formal education occurs in the
classroom, we cannot overlook the primary importance of a parent's
involvement in their children's education and development. We
must continue to demand personal responsibility from our parents
in the way they raise their kids and teach them to be contributing
citizens to our democracy and to our society.
Just a year ago, you'll remember that the greatest challenge facing us was welfare reform. We proved that asking for more personal responsibility from our citizens can and does work.
From a program that was once signified by lost hope,
despair and dependency, we're empowering our local governments
and communities to create a welfare program that offers real hope
and real opportunity.
Last year's skeptics have been proven wrong. These
programs are beginning to work. All across Colorado, we are
doing what it takes to break the cycle of dependency and are forming
a model that is being studied and replicated across America.
Throughout Colorado, counties are reporting many
tremendous success stories. In Fremont County, one woman who
is now working as a nursing assistant, needed help to obtain car
insurance and uniforms which were required to begin her new job.
She received a onetime payment of $1200 to meet these needs.
And now she is selfsufficient and no longer needs help.
Under the old system, Fremont County would not have had this
flexibility, and she would have ended up in the endless welfare
cycle. Our counties are creating better ways to help people.
Colorado is experiencing a steady decline in the
welfare rolls because the emphasis has shifted from recipients
asking for a handout to the local community providing a
handup. We're helping recipients to become selfsufficient
by saying to them, we are going to help you get back on your feet,
but you have a responsibility to us to work.
While all the residual problems of years of a broken
system of dependency can't be cured in a few short months, the
early returns are encouraging. And the path has been laid that
in the future will return fabulous dividends to Colorado
and more importantly to former welfare recipients
in the months and years to come.
And just as we have a duty to provide temporary assistance
to those down on their luck, so too do we have an obligation to
fight for the safest streets and neighborhoods for all of our
citizens.
To those who say that the cost of protecting individuals
and incarcerating dangerous felons and criminals is too high,
I would respond that there is no higher bond between the people
and their government than the duty of the state to maintain public
safety and civil peace and tranquility.
We must do whatever possible to reduce juvenile crime
and the sale of illegal drugs with earlier intervention and tough
penalties.
I will oppose any efforts by the Governor to reduce
Colorado's
criminal sentencing laws. Talk to the prosecutors in our state,
both Democrats and Republicans, and you'll hear the criminals
in our prison system deserve to be there. Some people say why
should nonviolent offenders take up space in our prisons.
If a person pleads guilty to mere possession of an illegal narcotic
drug, why make them go to prison? But if you talk to prosecutors
you'll learn that the person who pleads guilty to possession of
a narcotic drug was usually doing a lot more, like selling drugs
to high school age students, and I consider selling drugs to our
students to be a violent crime.
All of this means that enforcement of our criminal
laws will require us to build new prisons for both adult and juvenile
offenders. Yes, housing and reforming criminal offenders is an
expensive pursuit. But the alternative is even more potentially
expensive and damaging to our streets, our cities and communities.
There is simply not enough time to fully discuss
many of the other important issues we will face this session.
In the coming weeks and months these chambers will be full of
discussion and debate on how we meet Colorado's
challenges in areas like water and public lands, automobile insurance,
better health care for all of our citizens, and protecting Colorado's
environment and special quality of life.
As it is for many of you, today is my last, first
day of the session. And, if I may, I would like to say a few
words of thanks to the many people who have helped over the years
I have served as Speaker. There is a an old saying: If you come
across a turtle perched on a fence post, you can be reasonably
certain the turtle didn't get there by itself.
So it is with where I am today. I have been blessed
with a skilled and loyal staff, a loving and supportive family,
and a wonderful group of fellow legislators, with whom, on the
whole, it has been a pleasure to work. To you all, thank you
for this opportunity to serve as Speaker of this great House and
this great State.
I also want to mention a special word of thanks to someone who isn't with us today. Chuck Henning left us shortly after we adjourned our regular session in May. Chuck -- as we go forward in this session, we will all miss you very much, but I know you'll be looking down on us, with that unforgettable smile on your face and that twinkle in your eye, hoping that we will never take ourselves too seriously, but will always use humor in our work.
Let me say a word to those of you who will be running
again for the House, those of you who will likely be taking the
oath of office in these chambers a year from now. In many ways
you face the greatest challenges. A good deal of wisdom and experience
won't be with you next session. You will have an awesome responsibility
after the November elections when you select a new speaker, a
new majority leader, a new minority leader, and a new assistant
majority leader. Three new members of the Joint Budget Committee
will need to be chosen and begin to struggle with the Long Appropriations
Bill. And your new speaker will have many vacant committee chairmanships
to fill.
Some say term limits will cause the power to shift
away from the Legislature, to go to the lobbyists, to the bureaucrats
and to the staff. My message to you is: Don't let it happen!
Work hard this session to prepare yourselves for the responsibility
you will assume next year. The work that you do in this building
for the people you represent is too important to do otherwise.
Finally, I would like to close my remarks today by
reflecting upon some words that we see everyday in this Capitol
and yet too frequently overlook. Within the Seal of Colorado
is our motto, "Nil Sine Numine" "Nothing
without Providence." Our state founders interpreted this
to mean that everything we achieve is through the benevolent guidance
of God. I agree.
But according to Webster's there is a second definition
of "providence" to mean "skill and wisdom in the
preparation for the future." I think it well worth considering
this definition as well as we embark on this session.
For we have an absolute obligation to fight for a
brighter Colorado future for a government that serves
people better because it's smaller, less expensive and more efficient
than it's ever been;
... for a Colorado with safer streets, and better
schools; where fewer citizens are trapped in the deadend
straits of welfare;
... for a future filled with new opportunities, new
achievements, and a new sense of confidence;
... and for a Colorado that will do whatever she
can to help those who have children to raise, families to support
and dreams to pursue.
For there is Nothing without providence.
Thank you, good luck, and God bless you.
OPENING DAY REMARKS BY REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER
Good morning -- Mr. Speaker, Representative Anderson,
Members and Guests --
Today, as I contemplate this Session, I'd
like to talk with you about CHANGES. Changes that have
occurred in our State and in the legislature over the last several
years require us to be more adept at balancing needs and resources.
I was first elected as a Representative in 1990 and
began my service here in January of 1991. At that time, Colorado
was a different state than it is today - different economically,
environmentally, educationally, socially and politically.
Our economy in 1990 was not vibrant like it is today.
We were just coming out of the decade of the 1980's, which saw
great economic declines in the oil and gas industry and the banking
industry. Our 1990 unemployment rate was at 5 percent and it's
3.1 percent today. Coloradan's
average annual income was $19,300, compared to today's
$25,700 per capita income. In the last decade, our statewide
personal income has doubled -- from $52.8 billion to $104.6 billion;
job growth has increased at an annualized pace of 3.6 percent.
Our improved economic conditions certainly have
resulted from a variety of factors - national, regional and local
- and some of the credit can be given to people in this building,
and in this room, for innovative programs and policy changes.
Now, when we are enjoying one of the best economies
in our nation, is not the time to sit back and bask in our success.
It is a time to recognize that we are still subject to recessionary
trends and we still have a great many unmet needs in Colorado.
We should take this opportunity to plan ahead, to establish a
savings account for future, less fortunate times, and to ask our
citizens if they'd
like to make investments in our infrastructure to assure Colorado
of the bright future which it deserves and which our residents
expect.
We should be able to provide our citizens with
some tax relief and still make necessary investments in our State,
but we'll
need to be very thoughtful about how that's
done. This is not the time to be talking about decreasing our
investment in the future -- it's
time to step up to the plate and make tough, sometimes politically
controversial, decisions to help us remain one of the shining
stars in our nation.
Colorado's
growth has had a dramatic impact on our environment. Our population
has increased by one million since 1980. We were the fifth most
rapidly growing state in the country last year and Colorado's
current population of 3.9 million is expected to increase to more
than 4.1 million by the year 2000 - just 2 short years from now.
Population growth brings both positives and negatives to our
state. Additional income earners improve our economic condition
but DEMANDS on our governmental and private systems have sometimes
increased disproportionately. We've
paid a high price for rapid growth --
Our cities and towns are under constant pressure
to better manage growth, while producing the necessary revenues
to accommodate budget demands. I would hope that we, in state
government, will do all we can to foster more regional cooperation
and coordination among our local governments.
Responsible growth management must also address our
critical transportation needs. Our state and local highways are
in disrepair and inadequate to handle increased numbers of vehicles.
For example, the total average traffic count in the
AMouse
Trap@
increased 9 percent from 1995 to 1996-- almost 342,000 vehicles
travel that area each day. The I-25 corridor has become nearly
impassable almost any time of day.
Our mass transit systems, where they exist at all,
do not provide necessary relief from gridlock.
This is the time to continue our efforts to assure good air quality, and to make necessary investments in our roadways and transit systems to meet the ever-growing demands. We should also remember local transportation funding needs when we make those investment decisions.
Colorado has undergone many changes in the area of education. We can be proud of our accomplishments -- which are many in number --
Colorado's
1997 senior class scored higher on the ACT college entrance exams
than any other class in this decade;
Many of our schools have received national Awards
of Excellence for their innovative programs;
AND we were one of the first states in our nation
to adopt the concepts of school choice and charter schools; but
we cannot and should not be pleased with indications
that we've
fallen short in some of our results.
In 1993, the Legislature established statewide education
standards and assessments because we recognized the need to have
a beginning point from which to measure our students'
performance and skills. Recent 4th grade assessment results showed
that many of our fourth graders did not meet those proficiency
standards. We should not, however, rush to judgment and over-react
in a negative fashion.
We should take a positive approach and work to build
strong partnerships with parents, educators and our business community
to assure that our students have the resources to learn and show
improved test results over the next couple of years.
An estimated 450,000 of Colorado's
adults are classified as functionally illiterate -- 18% are unable
to read a bus schedule or a simple newspaper article. By improving
adult literacy we will help our younger students -- when parents
honor and value education, their children will do the same.
Many of our school districts are financially unable
to repair existing buildings or build new schools to accommodate
the influx of new students - which averaged over 14,000 for each
of the last 5 years. Two competing constitutional provisions
have stymied their ability to raise sufficient funds to make capital
improvements. One of the issues we'll
consider this session may help -- perhaps we should invest
some of our excess revenues into school capital construction to
assist those districts with the most critical needs.
Although our economy has grown over the past decade,
per pupil funding has not kept up with inflation. Colorado ranks
in the lower 1/3rd of the 50 states in K-12 funding. It seems
incredibly unfair to me to raise our expectations of teachers
and students and then let funding levels lag behind as thousands
of new students enter our state's
schools each year. I realize money isn't
the only answer. But this is one area where the Legislature can
directly affect Colorado's
educational success through our K-12 budget appropriations. We
must continue to do all we can to adequately equip our schools
for success and give our young people the opportunities they deserve.
We should not expect excellence in education if OUR
commitment to education is less than excellent!
Social changes during the past decade have seemed
overwhelming. We met in special session in 1993 to address the
issue of juvenile violence and, while we've
made some great strides on this issue, we have just learned that
juvenile delinquency rates are increasing at the phenomenal rate
of 22%, while other crime rates are declining. Yes, it may be
true that people are more willing to file juvenile charges now
than they were a decade ago, but we cannot deny the fact that
our young people are at peril and are living in times like most
of us have never known. Are they safe at home? Or at school?
Or at play? For too many of our young people, the answer is
No.
We CAN put more and more people in prison -- and
violent criminals and repeat offenders certainly belong there
-- but we also need to expand our crime prevention efforts and
our mental health and substance abuse treatment efforts.
Our families are struggling -- especially those in
lower income brackets -- to provide the necessities for their
children. Welfare reform was supported by many of us last year.
But we're
not done - job services and child care remain, for many areas
of our state, a real challenge. I recently heard on the radio
that several counties in eastern Colorado are experiencing a shortage
of child care services and are soliciting new child care providers
through business startup grants. We need to do all we can to
support innovative programs. Welfare reform will fail
unless sustainable, meaningful employment and child care are available.
We will see significant changes on the political
front this year. Term limits will take effect for the first time
- affecting 18 of us here in the House. The implications of campaign
finance reform will be felt for the first time in the 1998 election
cycle. There is a trend to move more and more decisions outside
of the legislative process and directly onto the ballot through
referred measures.
These changes will necessitate a response from the
General Assembly. Our primary concern should be to focus on how
best to uphold and improve the system of government and the political
process that have served our country well for over 200 years.
We must show a willingness to resolve tough issues and take the
time to understand those issues and make informed decisions.
There will be temptations for each of us to leave a lasting legacy
- just try to make sure that your lasting legacy is one of which
you'll
be proud in the future and not one which is viewed as political
expediency at its worst.
CHANGES - they are inevitable and generally good
for all of us. Our citizens will measure our success by how well
we respond to those changes, how well we plan for future changes,
and how well we balance the various interests we represent.
Since this is my last year in this assembly, please
allow me to share a few personal reflections --
I hope all of you come to love and respect this
place and this institution as much as I do.
This process certainly isn't
perfect, but reasonable people can and should disagree and reach
compromise through this process -- one which provides an abundance
of scrutiny and accountability. Those of you who will be in leadership
in the future will have the task of preserving the integrity and
accountability of the process. We all share responsibility for
keeping Colorado's
system clean, open and honest and we can only do that by maintaining
and living up to the high standards that have been set by those
who preceded us.
My best advice is:
for you to be serious and responsible, but to take some enjoyment from your jobs -
respect and give high consideration to the people you represent - help to educate all of Colorado's citizens about government and how it can work for them -
honor the process, the staff members and volunteers who help you to perform your duties -
take an opportunity to thank the people who maintain this beautiful building in which you're privileged to work -
and spend as much time as possible with your loved ones.
It's a tough balancing act -- just like the balancing act we must do every day here at the Capitol. But the rewards -- for our wonderful State and in personal satisfaction -- are great.
Thank you.
INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION
The following resolution was read by title and given
immediate consideration:
HJR98-1002 by Representatives
Anderson, C. Berry, and Snyder; also Senators Wells, Norton,
and Feeley--Concerning the procedure for handling bills on introduction
deadlines.
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives
of the Sixtyfirst General Assembly of the State of Colorado,
the Senate concurring herein:
That Joint Rule No. 23 (a) of the Joint Rules of
the Senate and the House of Representatives is amended BY THE
ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH to read:
23. DEADLINE SCHEDULE
(a) (1.5) THE INTRODUCTION DEADLINES PROVIDED FOR IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION (a) SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE COMPLIED WITH IF THE BILL HAS BEEN DEPOSITED WITH THE CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OR THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE BEFORE 4:30 P.M. ON THE SPECIFIED DEADLINE. THE NUMBERING OF SUCH BILLS, THEIR ASSIGNMENT TO COMMITTEES OF REFERENCE, AND THEIR FORMAL READING AND INTRODUCTION NEED NOT BE CONDUCTED ON THE DAY OF THE SPECIFIED DEADLINE. HOWEVER, THE NUMBERING, ASSIGNMENT, AND FORMAL READING AND INTRODUCTION SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT OF THE RESPECTIVE HOUSE ON THE THIRD CALENDAR DAY FOLLOWING THE SPECIFIED DEADLINE.
On motion of Representative Anderson, the rules were suspended and the resolution given immediate consideration and adopted by viva voce vote.
INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS
The following resolutions were read by title and
given immediate consideration:
SJR98-2 by Senators
Wells, Norton, and Feeley; also Repre-sentatives Kreutz, June,
and Lamborn--Concerning employee grades and steps for the Second
Regular session of the sixty-first General Assembly.
On motion of Representative Kreutz, the rules were suspended and the resolution given immediate consideration and adopted by viva voce vote.
HR98-1001 by Representatives
Kreutz, June and Lamborn--Con-cerning Chaplain position of the
House of Representatives.
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives
of the Sixty-first General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
That the House Services Committee is hereby authorized
to appoint persons to serve as Chaplain for the House of Representatives
and to designate the number of days any one person may serve as
Chaplain. Compensation is to be paid as authorized in Senate
Joint Resolution 98-2.
On motion of Representative Kreutz, the rules were suspended and the resolution given immediate consideration and adopted by viva voce vote.
HR98-1002 by Representatives
Kreutz, June and Lamborn--Regarding employees and positions for
the House of Representatives convened in the Second Regular session
of the Sixty-first General Assembly.
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives
of the Sixty-first General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
That the following named persons be appointed as
officers and employees of the House of Representatives of the
Sixty-first General Assembly, convened in Second Regular Session
to the position set opposite their respective names.
Judith Rodrigue Chief Clerk
Vi Jones Asst. Chief Clerk/Docket Clerk
Marilyn Eddins Journal Clerk
Amendment Clerk
Ramey Johnson Front Desk Clerk
Kevin Smith Historian
Michael Mawhinney Reading Clerk
Bertha Rector Finance Clerk
Tom Suman Chief Sergeant-at-Arms
Jim Bauer Asst. Sergeant-at-Arms
William Darnell Asst. Sergeant-at-Arms
Robert Ford Asst. Sergeant-at-Arms
Elden (Tommy) Thompson Asst. Sergeant-at-Arms
Deanna J. Johnson Chief Enrolling Clerk
Ingrid R. Falkenstine Asst. Enrolling Clerk
Eileen D. Heltzel Asst. Enrolling Clerk
Judy Ford Information Center/Bill Room Supervisor
Tom Gross Bill Room Clerk
Dorothy Cardinale Information Clerk
Donna Acierno Secretary to the Speaker
Judie Koehler Secretary to the Majority Leader
Lily Nuñez Majority Caucus Secretary
Susan Quates Secretary to the Minority Leader
Carolyn Gard Minority Caucus Secretary
Marilyn Bloxham Chief Legislative Secretary
Barbara May Legislative Secretary
Geraldine K. Middlemist Legislative Secretary
Betty Schmidt Legislative Secretary
Jo Ann M. Whitehead Legislative Secretary
Legislative Secretary
Mark Dunham Computer Support
Patricia Blakey Telephone Receptionist
Julie Seely Telephone Receptionist
Jan Duckworth Chief Assignable Clerk
David Abel Assignable Clerk
Pamela Catlin Assignable Clerk
Mary Kittler Assignable Clerk
Lou E. Olnhausen Assignable Clerk
Carol Warner Assignable Clerk
Pat Worley Assignable Clerk
Mary Mathiesen Visitors' Aide
Elizabeth Krickbaum Visitors' Aide
Totsy Rees Majority House Communications
Diane Reimer Majority House Communications
Kathy Holland (PTE) Minority House Communications
Donnah Marx Minority House Communications
On motion of Representative Kreutz, the rules were suspended and the resolution given immediate consideration and adopted by viva voce vote.
HR98-1003 by Representatives
Kreutz, June and Lamborn--Regarding payment of employees for pre-session
work for the House of Representatives convened in the Second Regular
Session of the Sixty-first General Assembly.
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives
of the Sixty-first General Assembly of the State of Colorado :
That the following named individuals who received training or who performed pre-session work for the House of Representatives, be compensated for such pre-session work.
David Abel Grade 61 Step 1--2 Days
Patricia Blakey Grade 61 Step 1--2 Days
Pamela Catlin Grade 61 Step 1--2 Days
William Darnell Grade 61 Step 1--2 Days
Mark Dunham Grade 67 Step 1--2 Days
Ingrid R. Falkenstine Grade 67 Step 1--2 Days
Tom Gross Grade 61 Step 1--4 Days
Mary Kittler Grade 61 Step 1--2 Days
Elizabeth Krickbaum Grade 61 Step 1--2 Days
On motion of Representative Kreutz, the rules were suspended and the resolution given immediate consideration and adopted by viva voce vote.
House in recess. House reconvened.
______________
PRINTING REPORT
The Chief Clerk reports the following bills were ordered pre-printed and have been correctly printed: HB98-1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1027, 1028, 1029, 1030, 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034, 1035, 1036, 1037, 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045, 1046, 1047, 1048, 1049, 1050, 1051, 1052, 1053, 1054, 1055, 1056, 1057, 1058, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1064, 1065, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 1072, 1073, 1074, 1075, 1076, 1077, 1078, 1079, 1080, 1081, 1082, 1083, 1084, 1085, 1086, 1087, 1088, 1089, 1090, 1091, 1092, 1093, 1094, 1095, 1096, 1097, 1098, 1099, 1100, 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108, 1109, 1110, 1111, 1112, 1113, and 1114; also HCR98-1001.
______________
First Reading
The following bills have been read by title and referred
to the committees indicated:
HB98-1001 by Representative May; also Senator Mutzebaugh--Concerning transportation.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1002 by Representatives McPherson, Lamborn, Salaz, and Tool; also Senators Blickensderfer and Powers--Concerning the redistricting of house of representatives districts as required by the tenth circuit court of appeals.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1003 by Representatives Schauer, G. Berry, Paschall, and Tucker; also Senators Mutzebaugh, Chlouber, and Norton--Concerning the removal of provisions in the air quality state implementation plan that are more stringent than those required by federal law.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1004 by Representatives Epps, Hagedorn, Kreutz, and Leyba; also Senator Hopper--Concerning the regulation of domestic violence treatment providers who treat domestic violence perpetrators pursuant to court order, and, in connection therewith, placing such regulation in specified agencies within the division of registrations in the department of regulatory agencies at such time as the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety promulgates new standards for such regulation.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1005 by Representative Spradley--Concerning reduction of property taxes.
Committee on Finance.
HB98-1006 by Representatives Adkins, Smith, and S. Johnson; also Senators Bishop, Ament, and Dennis--Concerning the establishment of a fund to promote the conservation of native species, and making an appropriation in connection therewith.
Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1007 by Representatives Spradley and Taylor; also Senator Wattenberg--Concerning continuation of the public utilities commission in the department of regulatory agencies.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1008 by Representative McPherson; also Senator Mutzebaugh--Concerning requirements for the issuance of photographic documents by the division of motor vehicles in the department of revenue.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1009 by Representative Sullivant; also Senator Tebedo--Concerning the fire suppression program in the fire safety division of the Colorado department of public safety.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1010 by Representative G. Berry; also Senator Chlouber--Concerning the regulation of electricians, and, in connection therewith, repealing the state electrical board and providing for the regulation of electricians by the director of the division of registrations.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1011 by Representatives Entz and Miller; also Senators Dennis and J. Johnson--Concerning the replacement of depletions from new withdrawals of groundwater in water division 3 that will affect the rate or direction of movement of groundwater in the confined aquifer, and, in connection therewith, authorizing the state engineer to promulgate rules that optimize the use of the groundwater and provide alternative methods to prevent injury.
Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources.
HB98-1012 by Representative Reeser; also Senator Chlouber--Concerning continuation of the regulation of electricians by the division of registrations.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1013 by Representative Swenson; also Senator Thiebaut--Concerning the regulation of special fuel.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1014 by Representative Reeser; also Senator Wattenberg--Concerning continuation of the examining board of plumbers.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1015 by Representative Leyba; also Senator Wham--Concerning continuation of the authority of the department of public health and environment to regulate the administration and monitoring of medications in facilities by qualified unlicensed persons.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1016 by Representative T. Williams; also Senator Schroeder--Concerning regulation of architects by the state board of examiners of architects.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1017 by Representative Leyba; also Senator Powers--Concerning clarification of the Colorado racing commission's authority regarding regulation of participation in race meets.
Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources.
HB98-1018 by Representative Takis; also Senator Schroeder--Concerning continuation of the state board of examiners of architects.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1019 by Representative Morrison; also Senator Reeves--Concerning the terms of mandatory health care coverage provisions for newborn children and maternity, and, in connection therewith, requiring that such coverages include a minimum length of a hospital stay after childbirth.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1020 by Representatives Taylor, Clarke and Leyba; also Senators Reeves, Bishop, and Linkhart--Concerning the modification of requirements for the exemption of certain local governments from audits.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1021 by Representatives Pfiffner, Clarke, and Leyba; also Senators Bishop, Linkhart, Powers, and Reeves--Concerning the enterprise status of higher education auxiliary facilities, and, in connection therewith, extending the expiration date of the designation of auxiliary facilities as enterprises and modifying the list of auxiliary facilities that are designated as enterprises.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1022 by Representatives Tucker, K. Alexander, G. Berry, Dean, George, June, Miller, Nichol, and Saliman; also Senators Reeves, B. Alexander, Feeley, Powers, and Tebedo--Concerning revisions to the statutory provisions governing fire and police pension plans for purposes of compliance with the qualified plan requirements of the federal internal revenue code.
Committee on Local Government
HB98-1023 by Representatives Kreutz, Agler, Lawrence, Musgrave, and Pankey; also Senators Lacy and Weddig--Concerning the imposition of a residency requirement for eligibility for the old age pension.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1024 by Representatives Dean, K. Alexander, G. Berry, George, S. Johnson, June, Miller, Nichol, Saliman, and Tucker; also Senators Tebedo, B. Alexander, Feeley, Powers, and Reeves.--Concerning the taxability of survivor benefits payable to the survivors of a member of the statewide death and disability plan.
Committee on Finance.
HB98-1025 by Representatives Swenson, Arrington, Veiga, and T. Williams; also Senators J. Johnson, Lacy, Perlmutter, Powers, and Tebedo--Concerning requirements for personal injury protection coverage policies.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1026 by Representative June; also Senator Powers--Concerning the theft of public transportation services.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1027 by Representative Mace; also Senator Hernandez--Concerning prohibition of cruising.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1028 by Representative Young; also Senator Bishop--Concerning continuation of the function of licensing of bingo and other games of chance through the secretary of state.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1029 by Representative Takis; also Senator Martinez--Concerning the term of office for mayors in statutory council-manager cities.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1030 by Representative Agler; also Senator Schroeder--Concerning the elimination of the consideration of federal broadcast licenses by the property tax administrator when determining the actual value of a wireless carrier for property tax purposes.
Committee on Finance.
HB98-1031 by Representatives Allen, Dean, and Schauer; also Senators B. Alexander, Arnold, Chlouber, and Pascoe--Concerning the private occupational school division.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1032 by Representative Pfiffner--Concerning the role of parents.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1033 by Representative Miller--Concerning the category classification of certain counties for the purposes of increasing county officers' salaries.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1034 by Representative Snyder--Concerning information about a person convicted of an offense involving unlawful sexual behavior.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1035 by Representative Grampsas--Concerning the elimination of a maximum benefit amount for a retirement pension payable by the board to volunteer firefighters who have twenty years of active service and who are over the age of fifty years when an actuarial review indicates that a payment higher than one hundred dollars is actuarially sound.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1036 by Representative S. Johnson; also Senator Hopper--Concerning exempting the permanently disabled from having to provide proof of disability to renew their special license plates, and, in connection therewith, extending such exemption to the renewal of identifying placards.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1037 by Representative Entz; also Senator Wattenberg--Concerning mileage allowances for state officers and employees, and making an appropriation therefor.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1038 by Representative Reeser; also Senator Chlouber--Con-cerning payments to workers' compensation funds by insurers offering workers' compensation large deductible policies.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1039 by Representative Udall; also Senator Bishop--Concerning an increase in the penalties for poaching certain big game animals.
Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources.
HB98-1040 by Representatives Nichol, June, Kaufman, Swenson, and Zimmerman; also Senator Mutzebaugh--Concerning revocation of minor drivers' licenses for nonfelony marihuana convictions.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1041 by Representative Dean; also Senator Schroeder--Concerning the theft of cable services.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1042 by Representative Dyer--Concerning limits on the rule-making authority of the director of the division of workers' compensation, and, in connection therewith, denying the director authority to adopt or maintain medical impairment ratings or guidelines or to adopt rules that increase or decrease benefits or costs.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1043 by Representative Arrington; also Senator Congrove--Concerning the authentication of signatures, and, in connection therewith, continuing the functions of the secretary of state related to the commissioning of notaries public.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1044 by Representatives S. Williams and Dyer; also Senator B. Alexander--Concerning establishment of a voluntary credentialing system for child care professionals, and making an appropriation therefor.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1045 by Representative Sinclair--Concerning authorizing a court to consider whether a person has been convicted of an inchoate offense in furtherance of an attempt to kill that person's spouse in entering orders in domestic relations cases.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1046 by Representative Musgrave--Concerning limited pre-scriptive authority for chiropractors, and, in connection therewith, establishing qualification requirements and grounds for discipline.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1047 by Representative McPherson; also Senator Powers--Concerning regulation by the department of transportation of signs located on rights-of-way of interstate highways, and, in connection therewith, authorizing the placement of business signs for tourist-oriented attractions, authorizing the placement of business signs in urbanized areas, and allowing for the financing of such signage through public-private initiatives.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1048 by Representatives Hagedorn, Kaufman, Morrison, Reeser, and Takis; also Senator Ament--Concerning a daily time of quiet reflection in public schools.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1049 by Representative McPherson--Concerning the prohibition of certain transactions by gaming licensees or their employees involving checks that represent a payment of cash assistance to a participant under the Colorado works program.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1050 by Representative Tool; also Senator Wells--Concerning multiple-year employment contracts at institutions of higher education.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1051 by Representatives Takis, Allen, and Hagedorn; also Senator Coffman--Concerning a state veterans nursing home on the site of the former Fitzsimons army medical center, and making an appropriation therefor.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1052 by Representative Dyer--Concerning the addition of for-profit organizations to the list of student employers for purposes of higher education work-study programs.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1053 by Representative Kreutz; also Senator Wattenberg--Concerning exemption of short-term limited duration health insurance policies from the definition of a "health benefit plan" subject to regulation by the commissioner of insurance.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1054 by Representative McPherson--Concerning the use of inmate labor for disaster relief.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1055 by Representative T. Williams; also Senator Dennis--Concerning discovery in workers' compensation claims.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1056 by Representatives Grampsas, K. Alexander, G. Berry, Dean, Johnson, Miller, Nichol, Saliman, and Tucker; also Senators Rizzuto, B. Alexander, Powers, and Reeves--Concerning the specification of a period of active service required for the payment of an early retirement pension to a volunteer firefighter by the board of the trustees of a volunteer firefighter pension fund.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1057 by Representative Sullivant--Concerning funding for pupils who attend school in a school district other than the school district of residence under the provisions of article 36 of title 22, C.R.S.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1058 by Representative Lamborn; also Senator Norton--Concerning the creation of a voluntary environmental leadership program, and, in connection therewith, creating an environmental leadership pollution prevention revolving fund and enacting tax and financial incentives for pollution prevention, toxic use reduction, source reduction, resource recovery, energy efficiency, and innovative environmental technology activities for such environmental leaders.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1059 by Representative Gordon--Concerning the imposition of increased penalties for traffic violations committed in school zones.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1060 by Representatives Schauer and Taylor; also Senator Wattenberg--Concerning the regulation of public utilities by the public utilities commission.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1061 by Representative Arrington--Concerning discouraging the negligent use of mobile communication devices while driving.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1062 by Representative Paschall; also Senator Arnold--Concerning procedural requirements for the selection of an independent medical examiner in cases of disputes under the "Workers' Compensation Act of Colorado".
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1063 by Representatives Keller, Dyer, and Entz; also Senator Coffman--Concerning elimination of the requirement that a disabled veteran obtain the disability prior to May 7, 1975, in order to be eligible to receive special license plates without charge.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1064 by Representative Tool--Concerning an increase in the amount of fee retained when collecting motor vehicle registration fees.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1065 by Representative McElhany--Concerning the elimination of the state sales tax on telephone and telegraph services.
Committee on Finance.
HB98-1066 by Representative Mace--Concerning restricting the occupancy of the cargo area of a vehicle.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1067 by Representatives Tate and Reeser; also Senator Matsunaka--Concerning the conforming of certain provisions of the "Colorado Employment Security Act" to the scope of coverage of provisions of federal law.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1068 by Representative Anderson; also Senator Ament--Concerning improvements to the state radio communications network, and, in connection therewith, creating a public safety communications trust fund, and making an appropriation in connection therewith.
Committee on Judiciary.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1069 by Representative George--Concerning the establishment of the local government growth assistance program to provide financial assistance to growth-impacted local governmental entities, and making an appropriation in connection therewith.
Committee on Local Government.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1070 by Representative Taylor--Concerning extended temporary motor vehicle registration, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1071 by Representative Schauer--Concerning clarification of the definition of substitute teacher.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1072 by Representative Morrison; also Senator Wham--Concerning the regulation of the practice of psychotherapy, and, in connection therewith, continuing and expanding the authority of the Colorado state board of psychologist examiners, the state board of social work examiners, the state board of licensed professional counselor examiners, and the state board of marriage and family therapist examiners and continuing the authority of the state grievance board with jurisdiction limited to the regulation of unlicensed psychotherapists.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1073 by Representative McElhany; also Senator Mutzebaugh--Concerning the continuation of the minerals, energy, and geology policy advisory board in the department of natural resources.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1074 by Representatives McElhany and Tate; also Senator B. Alexander--Concerning continuation of the utility consumers' board in the department of regulatory agencies.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1075 by Representative May; also Senator Mutzebaugh--Concerning the registration of motor vehicles, and, in connection therewith, authorizing extended temporary registration of motor vehicles, requiring the periodic reissuance of all motor vehicle license plates, and making an appropriation.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1076 by Representative Paschall; also Senator Wham--Concerning the continuation of the compliance advisory panel to the air pollution control division in the department of public health and environment.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1077 by Representative Zimmerman--Concerning the authorization of a county clerk and recorder to impose fees for conducting motor vehicle inspections.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1078 by Representatives McElhany and Tate; also Senator B. Alexander--Concerning continuation of the office of consumer counsel in the department of regulatory agencies.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1079 by Representative Miller--Concerning prisoner lawsuits.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1080 by Representative Reeser; also Senator Wattenberg--Concerning continuation of the definition of medical treatment guidelines until July 1, 2003.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
House in recess. House reconvened.
_______________
HB98-1081 by Representative Bacon; also Senators Reeves and Hopper--Concerning reporting by motor vehicle owners in conjunction with the registration of such vehicles in the AIR program area.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1082 by Representatives Lawrence, K. Alexander, Epps, Hagedorn, Morrison, and Paschall; also Senators Coffman and Wham--Concerning charging a fee for a replacement electronic benefits transfer card.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1083 by Representative Adkins; also Senator Blickensderfer--Concerning the payment of legal fees in civil actions.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1084 by Representative Gotlieb; also Senator Wham--Concerning the continuation of the board of directors of the Auraria higher education center.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1085 by Representative G. Berry--Concerning the use of a direct payment permit number by a qualified purchaser to a vendor or retailer in connection with sales that are subject to sales and use tax.
Committee on Finance.
HB98-1086 by Representative May--Concerning the forms of evidence that may be presented to prove that a parcel of land is not "agricultural real estate" for foreclosure redemption purposes.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1087 by Representative Salaz--Concerning the regulation of unpaid orders for subscriptions to periodicals.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1088 by Representative Kaufman; also Senator Mutzebaugh--Concerning procedural changes for the strengthening of the criminal laws.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1089 by Representatives Allen, Dean, Tupa, and T. Williams; also Senators Arnold, B. Alexander, and Matsunaka--Concerning the performance evaluation system for certificated education personnel.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1090 by Representatives Dean and Allen; also Senators Arnold, B. Alexander, and Matsunaka--Concerning teacher dismissal.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1091 by Representative Epps--Concerning increased penalty for possession of a weapon by a felon, and making an appropriation therefor.
Committee on Judiciary.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1092 by Representatives Kreutz and Pankey; also Senators Coffman and Lacy--Concerning the creation of a self-sufficiency and employment program for certain public assistance recipients.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1093 by Representative Veiga--Concerning elections for members of the board of directors of the regional transportation district.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1094 by Representative Paschall; also Senator Norton--Concerning the continuation of the air quality science advisory board in the department of public health and environment.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1095 by Representative Chavez--Concerning a requirement that trustees who manage the assets of a benefit retirement system that is maintained for employees of a school district shall be governed by the standard for trustees contained in the Colorado "Uniform Prudent Investor Act".
Committee on Education.
HB98-1096 by Representative Smith; also Senator J. Johnson--Concerning the exclusion of certain scrap metals from regulation as solid waste.
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1097 by Representative Leyba; also Senator Matsunaka--Concerning the consistency of the definition of the term "employer" under the "Colorado Employment Security Act" with such term under the "Federal Unemployment Tax Act".
Committee on Finance.
HB98-1098 by Representative Clarke--Concerning authorizing the state board of veterinary medicine to issue a license to practice veterinary medicine in Colorado to persons who do not meet the requirements for licensure by examination but who have been licensed in another state for twenty-five years or longer.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1099 by Representatives Pfiffner, Leyba, and Owen; also Senators J. Johnson, Dennis, and Mutzebaugh--Con-cerning managed competition for personal services contracts entered into by state government.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1100 by Representatives Lamborn, Arrington, Epps, Lawrence, McElhany, Musgrave, Paschall, Sinclair, and T. Williams--Concerning the reduction of the state income tax rate.
Committee on Finance.
HB98-1101 by Representative Young; also Senator Wattenberg--Concerning regulation of the livestock industry by the division of brand inspection in the department of agriculture, and, in connection therewith, increasing fees for livestock inspection, providing for the public sale of abandoned brands, creating an annual transportation permit for cattle and alternative livestock, and authorizing the certification of feedlots by the state board of stock inspection commissioners.
Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources.
HB98-1102 by Representative Owen--Concerning enforcement of the Colorado instant criminal background check system, and, in connection therewith, changing the repeal date to coincide with federal law and clarifying certain provisions within the Colorado instant criminal background check system.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1103 by Representative Clarke; also Senators Bishop, Linkhart, and Reeves--Concerning payment for medically-related services to inmates in the department of corrections.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1104 by Representatives Veiga and Swenson; also Senator Tebedo--Concerning certain required automobile insurance coverage amounts.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1105 by Representative Anderson; also Senator Powers--Concerning reporting in local government elections pursuant to the "Fair Campaign Practices Act".
Committee on Local Government.
HB98-1106 by Representatives Tucker, G. Berry, Paschall, and Schauer; also Senators Mutzebaugh, Chlouber, and Norton--Concerning the authority of the air quality control commission to revise control regulations to utilize new or improved technology.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1107 by Representatives Grossman, Adkins, Clarke, Epps, and Morrison; also Senator Wham--Concerning sentencing of a juvenile who is adjudicated for commission of an act that would constitute a misdemeanor if committed by an adult.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1108 by Representative Grossman; also Senator Matsunaka--Concerning responsibility in K-12 education, and, in connection therewith, providing for parents to commit to participate in their children's education and allowing parents to take unpaid leave from work to attend school activities.
Committee on Education.
HB98-1109 by Representatives Taylor, G. Berry, Paschall, and Schauer; also Senators Ament, Chlouber, and Mutzebaugh--Concerning the responsibilities of federal officials in connection with visibility monitoring in class I areas.
Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources.
HB98-1110 by Representatives Tupa, Paschall, and Pfiffner--Concerning ballot access for minor political parties.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1111 by Representative Pankey; also Senator Blickensderfer--Concerning enhanced measures to prevent the fraudulent use of certain forms of identification issued by the department of revenue, and, in connection therewith, making appropriations.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1112 by Representative Swenson--Concerning assistance grants for elderly and disabled persons.
Committee on Finance.
HB98-1113 by Representative Lawrence--Concerning the authorization of the state lottery division to conduct instant scratch lotteries based upon the game of chance commonly known as bingo.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1114 by Representatives Pankey, Agler, and Lawrence; also Senators Wham, Lacy, and Weddig--Concerning implementation of constitutional changes to the old age pension program.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
HB98-1115 by Representatives Saliman, Gotlieb, Owen, Reeser, Tupa, and Zimmerman--Concerning the requirement of providing notice of certain provisions of the "Mobile Home Park Act" to a mobile home owner whose tenancy is being terminated.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1116 by Representative Pankey; also Senator Ament--Concerning the elimination of certain restrictions on the awarding of contracts to provide bus service within the regional transportation district.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1117 by Representative Spradley--Concerning procedures related to the execution of prisoners in the custody of the department of corrections, and, in connection therewith, eliminating the prohibition against the executive director of the department of corrections making the day and hour of executions public and increasing the number of witnesses who may attend executions.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1118 by Representative Dyer--Concerning compulsive gambling prevention, and making an appropriation in connection therewith.
Committee on Local Government.
Committee on Appropriations.
HB98-1119 by Representative Tate; also Senator Wattenberg--Concerning the repeal of provisions of the "Bank Electronic Funds Act" that may create disparities in the regulatory burdens imposed on banks with regard to their use of communication facilities.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1120 by Representative C. Berry--Concerning the reestablish-ment of the requirement that Colorado state individual income tax return forms contain a line whereby individual taxpayers may make voluntary contributions to the United States olympic committee.
Committee on Finance.
INTRODUCTION OF CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
The following resolution was read by title and referred
to the committee indicated:
HCR98-1001 by Representatives Pankey, Agler, and Lawrence; also Senators Wham, Lacy, and Weddig--Submitting to the registered electors of the state of Colorado an amendment to article XXIV of the constitution of the state of Colorado, concerning modifications to the old age pension program, and, in connection therewith, providing for a phased-in increase in the minimum age of eligibility from age sixty to coincide with the retirement age for social security, retaining the minimum age of sixty for persons who are disabled, authorizing the recovery of interim assistance reimbursement payments, providing that these constitutional changes shall apply to applicants on or after January 1, 1999, and that there shall be no interruption or change in benefits to recipients currently receiving the old age pension, and, increasing the cap on the state-only health and medical care program for old age pensioners.
Committee on Health, Environment, Welfare and Institutions.
INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION
The following resolution was read by title and referred
to the committee indicated:
HJR98-1003 by Representatives Grossman, Clarke, and Morrison; also Senator Wham--Concerning study of the racial and ethnic disparities in the child welfare and juvenile justice system.
Committee on Judiciary.
WHEREAS, Statistics indicate that racial and ethnic
disparities exist in the juvenile justice system, specifically
in the sentencing of adjudicated juveniles and in the treatment
and services that such adjudicated juveniles receive;
WHEREAS, The child welfare oversight committee created
pursuant to section 265105.7, Colorado Revised Statutes,
heard testimony on this subject during its meetings in the 1997
interim;
WHEREAS, The child welfare oversight committee recommended
that a task force be created to study these disparities and the
nature of any biases that contribute to the existence of such
disparities in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems;
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 a task force shall be created
to study the racial and ethnic disparities in the child welfare
and juvenile justice systems in the state of Colorado and the
nature of any biases that contribute to the existence of such
disparities.
(2) That such task force shall consist
of four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the
Speaker of the House, two members of the House of Representatives
appointed by the House minority leader, four members of the Senate
appointed by the President of the Senate, two members of the Senate
appointed by the Senate minority leader, two community representatives
with knowledge of the juvenile justice system appointed by the
Governor, and two county representatives with knowledge of the
juvenile justice system appointed by the statewide association
of counties.
(3) The task force study shall include,
but not be limited to:
(a) The extent to which racial or ethnic
disparities exist in the juvenile justice system, specifically
in the sentencing of adjudicated juveniles and in the treatment
services that such juveniles receive;
(b) The racial and ethnic composition
of the populations of adjudicated juveniles who are committed
to the department of human services;
(c) Methods for mitigating or eliminating
any racial or ethnic biases that are found to exist in sentencing
and treatment of adjudicated juveniles;
(d) Any suggested legislation necessary
to implement the recommendations set forth in the study.
(4) The task force study and recommendations
shall be submitted to the following committees of the general
assembly no later than January 1, 1999: The house and senate
health, environment, welfare, and institutions committees, the
house and senate judiciary committees, and the joint budget committee.
(5) The task force is authorized to accept
any gifts, grants, and donations that may be made to it for purposes
of the study of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
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MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE
Mr. Speaker:
The Senate has adopted and returns herewith: HJR98-1001.
The President appointed Senators Mutzebaugh and Johnson pursuant to the resolution.
_________
The Senate has adopted and returns herewith: HJR98-1002.
______________
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
First Reading
The following bills have read by title and referred
to the committees indicated:
HB98-1121 by Representatives Pfiffner, Hagedorn, Pankey, and Paschall; also Senator Powers--Concerning the continu-ation of the Colorado board of veterans affairs.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1122 by Representative Hagedorn; also Senator Mutzebaugh--Concerning mandatory arbitration of bodily injury claims that arise out of the operation of a motor vehicle.
Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs.
HB98-1123 by Representative May; also Senator Ament--Concerning functions of the executive director of the department of revenue regarding motor vehicle sales transactions.
Committee on Transportation and Energy.
HB98-1124 by Representative McElhany--Concerning the extension of the statutory limitation period for theft of trade secrets.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1125 by Representative June--Concerning the statute of limitations for actions involving construction of improvements to real property.
Committee on Judiciary.
HB98-1126 by Representatives Reeser, McPherson, Dyer, Mace, Tate, and Zimmerman; also Senator Schroeder--Concerning changes to obsolete provisions of the "Colorado Employment Security Act", and, in connection therewith, repealing obsolete statutory provisions and modifying waiting period and between-claim earnings requirements.
Committee on Business Affairs and Labor.
HB98-1127 by Representative Tucker; also Senator Schroeder--Concerning clarification of provisions regarding underage persons driving with alcohol content, and, in connection therewith, clarifying that driving a motor vehicle while under twenty-one years of age while having a blood or breath alcohol content of at least 0.02 but not more than 0.05 is a traffic infraction.
Committee on Local Government.
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On motion of Representative Pfiffner, the House adjourned
until 9:00 a.m., January 8, 1998.
Approved:
CHARLES E. BERRY,
Speaker
Attest:
JUDITH RODRIGUE,
Chief Clerk