Date: 03/10/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1015

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved prepared amendment L.014 (Attachment A), as
Moved prepared amendment L.016 (Attachment B). Th
Moved prepared amendment L.018 (Attachment C). Th
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1015, as amended, to 		Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



03:02 PM -- House Bill 09-1015

Representative Murray, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1015, concerning certain actions taken by the designated election official in conducting primary elections. The committee heard testimony on the bill at its January 22nd meeting. Representative Murray explained her reasons for sponsoring the legislation and discussed the effect of the bill. Representative Murray confined her remarks to prepared amendment L.014 (Attachment A), a strike-below amendment. Representative Murray explained the changes made by the amendment, compared to the introduced version of the bill, and discussed the process by which the amendment was crafted. Representative Murray responded to questions regarding the opinion of certain county clerks on amendment L.014.

090310AttachA.pdf


03:13 PM

The following persons testified regarding House Bill 09-1015:


03:13 PM -- Mr. Dan Willis, representing the Colorado Democratic Party, testified regarding the bill. Discussion ensued regarding the ability to drop off mail ballots at polling places under amendment L.014, and notification for voters of drop-off opportunities. Discussion followed regarding the position of the Colorado Democratic Party on the bill, as amended, and the focus of House Bill 09-1015. Discussion turned to the types of ballots that unaffiliated voters would use in primary elections under the bill.


03:22 PM -- Ms. Jenny Flanagan, representing Common Cause, testified regarding House Bill 09-1015. Ms. Flanagan clarified that Common Cause is now neutral on the bill, provided amendment L.014 passes.


03:24 PM -- Clerks Pam Anderson and Hillary Hall, representing the Colorado County Clerks Association, testified regarding the bill. Clerk Anderson addressed the issue of accommodating unaffiliated voters during primaries, and the costs associated with permanent mail balloting for primary elections under the bill. Clerk Hall discussed the prevalence of mail balloting during the most recent round of elections, and the optional nature of House Bill 09-1015. Clerk Anderson discussed voter turnout for coordinated elections. Discussion ensued regarding the placing of voters on inactive status after failing to vote in one election.


03:29 PM -- Mr. Phil Hayes, representing the Colorado AFL-CIO, testified regarding House Bill 09-1015. Mr. Hayes clarified his organization's position on the bill, and discussed the diversity in voting methods between counties. Mr. Hayes stated that the AFL-CIO is opposed to employing "county option" during a general election. Discussion ensued regarding the compromise and collaboration process involved in drafting amendment L.014.


03:33 PM -- Ms. Faith Gross, representing the Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People, testified in favor of the forthcoming amendments.


03:34 PM

Discussion ensued regarding the process by which the committee should allow amendments to prepared amendment L.014, the strike-below amendment.
BILL:HB09-1015
TIME: 03:34:24 PM
MOVED:Murray
MOTION:Moved prepared amendment L.014 (Attachment A), as amended. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Court
VOTE
Casso
Court
Hullinghorst
Lambert
Massey
Excused
McCann
Miklosi
Excused
Murray
Nikkel
Labuda
Todd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection



03:35 PM

Representative Hullinghorst explained the effect of prepared amendment L.016 (Attachment B), which amends amendment L.014, and discussed her reason for sponsoring the amendment. Representative Murray clarified that the phrase "forwardable mail" contained in the amendment does not reference the forwarding of mail ballots. Discussion ensued regarding the voter threshold for requiring at least one voter service center in a county for a primary election, as amended by amendment L.016.
BILL:HB09-1015
TIME: 03:35:08 PM
MOVED:Hullinghorst
MOTION:Moved prepared amendment L.016 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Casso
Court
Hullinghorst
Lambert
Massey
Excused
McCann
Miklosi
Excused
Murray
Nikkel
Labuda
Todd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

090310AttachB.pdf

03:42 PM

Representative Murray explained the effect of prepared amendment L.018 (Attachment C).

BILL:HB09-1015
TIME: 03:42:25 PM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Moved prepared amendment L.018 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Casso
Court
Hullinghorst
Lambert
Massey
Excused
McCann
Miklosi
Excused
Murray
Nikkel
Labuda
Todd
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

090310AttachC.pdf

03:44 PM

Representative Murray provided closing remarks in favor of House Bill 09-1015, and discussed the primary election process going forward.


BILL:HB09-1015
TIME: 03:46:00 PM
MOVED:Murray
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1015, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a 9-0-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Casso
Yes
Court
Yes
Hullinghorst
Yes
Lambert
Yes
Massey
Excused
McCann
Yes
Miklosi
Excused
Murray
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Todd
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




03:47 PM

The committee adjourned.