Date: 01/14/2009
Final
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
COMMITTEE ON JOINT BUSINESS AFFAIRS & LABOR
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02:34 PM -- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
Rico Munn, Director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) introduced his staff and distributed a handout that includes a list of those mentioned (Attachment A). He explained that he was presenting pursuant to Section 2-7-201 (1) (A), C.R.S. which requires the Executive Director to present a description and explanation of the department's priorities for the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the presentation is made (also included in Attachment A). Each presentation must begin with the programs or services of the greatest importance and end with those of the least importance to the preservation of the health, life, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the state, as prioritized by the department. In its description and explanation of priorities, each department may include the following:
- A statement listing any other state, federal, or local agencies that administer a similar or cooperating program or service and outlining the department's interaction with such agencies;
- A statement of the statutory authority for and the history and objectives of the program or service;
- An explanation of the need for the program or service;
- A description of how the department accomplishes the objectives of the program or service;
- A statement of the amount of funding and number of employees required to accomplish each program or service; and
- A statement detailing what aspects of the program or service the department could reduce in the event that the funding for the program or service is reduced.
Mr. Munn talked about the department's role in increasing consumer confidence.
02:41 PM
Director Munn explained the department's 2009-10 Strategic Plan and the strategic results of the programs offered by the department, including complaint resolution where he mentioned that the department resolved 20,000 complaints and recovered $35 million and $3.5 million in fines. He also talked about fee setting and explained that the legislature sets the appropriations and costs of program and the department determines fees.
02:47 PM
Mr. Munn responded to questions from the committee. Representative Balmer asked about the department's budget and how much of it is federal funds. He said a little over half a million comes to the Division of Civil Rights. Representative Balmer also asked about combining boards like he did in a bill a few years ago where he consolidated the regulation of engineering-related professions, and consolidated the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors and the State Board of Examiners of Architects into the State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors.
Senator Veiga asked about the restoration of the Civil Rights Regional Office in Northern Colorado that was provided in the Joint Budget Committee Briefing document. Representative Balmer asked how many vacant positions the department has due to hiring freeze. The director stated the department has 21 positions that are frozen. Representative Rice asked Director Munn how many vacancies he feels should be filled. Director Munn stated that they have made some exemption requests that were timely and needed to meet deadlines. He explained that most of the exemptions were for contract experts for rate cases with procedural deadlines. The director stated that the positions are cash funded and that the department has the money to hire those individuals, but are trying to follow guidelines of the hiring freeze.
02:57 PM
Senator Veiga discussed a recent bill that approved the increase in cabs and asked whether the staff is available and where are things going with the cab market. Doug Dean, Director of the Public Utilities Commission, talked about the impact of the bill. Mr. Dean explained that the investigator positions need to be filled, however, federal funding was cut in half.