Date: 01/21/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1095

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (the amendment sunsets the r
Moved to postpone House Bill 09-1095 indefinitely.
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1095 as amended, to t		PASS
FAIL
FAIL



11:40 AM -- House Bill 09-1095 - Concerning Measures to Encourage Live Greyhound Racing

Representative Baumgardner, prime sponsor, explained that House Bill 09-1095 reduces the state tax on pari-mutuel wagering on greyhound racing from 4.5 percent to 0.75 percent. The bill also increases the allowable number of greyhound simulcast days per state fiscal year when live racing occurs from 250 to 360.

The following persons testified:

11:42 AM -- Ms. Charmaine Settle, Grey2K USA, testified in opposition toward the bill and distributed a handout entitled Cages of Confinement (Attachment C).Ms. Settle discussed the warehouse style kennels that greyhound racing dogs are kept in for up to 20 hours per day. She commented on photos that were taken at the Cloverleaf Racetrack Park Auction in 2008 that show pictures of greyhounds in confinement. Ms. Settle closed by talking about the serious injuries that greyhounds suffer every year and stated that these dog tracks should be shut down to curb the further abuse of these animals. She urged the committee to table the bill.

09HouseFin0121AttachC.pdf

11:51 AM -- Mr. William Alexander, testified in opposition of the bill and distributed a handout showing the declining tax revenue from greyhound racing in Colorado (Attachment D).

09HouseFin0121AttachD.pdf


11:59 AM

Recess.


01:41 PM -- (Resume testimony)

Mr. Alexander closed his testimony that he began before the recess by saying that if greyhound racing continues, the state will see a net tax decline as taxes were down 10 percent per year from 2002 through 2007. Dog tracks are shutting down in other states as racing revenue continues to decline.

01:48 PM -- Mr. Bruce Seymour, Mile High Racing and Entertainment, testified in opposition toward the bill. He commented that this bill cannot bring back racing to the state. Mr. Seymour closed by saying that the industry needs flexibility to create broadcasting circuits to bring racing events to more locations in Colorado.

01:53 PM -- Mr. Chad Hills, Focus on the Family, testified in opposition toward the bill and distributed a packet of materials to the committee from the organization (Attachment E). Mr. Hills noted that gambling addiction is harmful to families and this bill has the potential to expand gambling. He closed by noting that racing events have been on the decline for years and urged the committee to vote against the bill.

09HouseFin0121AttachE.pdf
(There is a DVD that goes with this attachment and it can be viewed at Archives.)


02:01 PM -- Mr. Mike Stabler, Rocky Mountain Animal Defense, testified in opposition toward the bill and distributed a letter of opposition from the Colorado Humane Voters League (Attachment F).

09HouseFin0121AttachF.pdf

02:03 PM -- Ms. Holly Tarry, Humane Society of the United States, testified in opposition toward the bill. She closed by saying that the dog racing industry is inherently dangerous to the health of greyhounds and should be shut down.

02:04 PM -- Mr. Eric Morgan, Colorado Greyhound Kennel Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Morgan closed by saying that the greyhound industry is taxed at a rate that is six times as much as other racing events. This bill will help keep the racing industry in Colorado. The committee engaged in a brief discussion about racing events in Colorado and Mr. Morgan responded to technical questions about the industry.

02:25 PM -- Ms. Judith Lutsky, testified in support of the bill and discussed the good care that greyhounds receive in Colorado from the racing industry. She closed by talking about the excellent care that her personal greyhounds receive and reiterated that the industry does care about the health and welfare of its racing dogs.

02:29 PM -- Mr. Stephen Johnson, representing himself, testified in support of the bill and noted that the racing industry have been a part of Colorado's history for the past 60 years. He closed by urging the committee to support the bill as it would keep the industry alive.

02:36 PM -- Mr. Gary Bryan, Colorado Greyhound Kennel Association, testified in support of the bill.


02:41 PM

As testimony concluded, the Chair placed the bill on the table and distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment G). Representative Judd noted that the amendment places a sunset provision in the bill of July 1, 2019. He noted that the provision will allow the General Assembly to look at whether the rate reduction in the bill is achieving its desired effect. After the following votes were taken, the bill was pulled off the table and rescheduled in the House Finance Committee for Monday, January 26, 2009, upon adjournment.

09HouseFin0121AttachG.pdf
BILL:HB09-1095
TIME: 02:41:28 PM
MOVED:Judd
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (the amendment sunsets the rate change July 1, 2019). The motion passed on a 10-1 vote.
SECONDED:Frangas
VOTE
Apuan
Yes
Benefield
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Kefalas
No
Kerr A.
Yes
Lambert
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Summers
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Frangas
Yes
Judd
Yes
Not Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:HB09-1095
TIME: 02:44:36 PM
MOVED:Frangas
MOTION:Moved to postpone House Bill 09-1095 indefinitely. The motion failed on a 5-6 vote.
SECONDED:Kefalas
VOTE
Apuan
No
Benefield
No
Gerou
No
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr A.
Yes
Lambert
Yes
Roberts
No
Summers
Yes
Swalm
No
Frangas
Yes
Judd
No
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB09-1095
TIME: 02:49:41 PM
MOVED:Roberts
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1095 as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a 4-7 vote.
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
Apuan
No
Benefield
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Kefalas
No
Kerr A.
No
Lambert
No
Roberts
Yes
Summers
No
Swalm
No
Frangas
No
Judd
Yes
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL



02:51 PM

Adjourn.