Bill Summary for Bill Number Bill 4

Date: 11/04/2009

Final
Bill 4

INTERIM COMMISSION TO STUDY FISCAL STABILITY

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Amend Bill 4 by striking Section 12 (PERA provisio Amend Bill 4 by striking sections 14 through 16. Amend Bill 4 by striking Sections 8 through 10. T Bill 4 (Higher Education Flexibility) Final Action Move Bill 4, as amended, to Legislative Council. Moved to pass bill as drafted (no safety clause) a	PASS PASS PASS TIE PASS PASS

09:16 AM -- Bill 4

Senator Morse, prime sponsor, began by discussing Bill 4 entitled Higher Education Flexibility. Senator Morse commented that the bill was drafted with assistance and input from college presidents from state institutions of higher education and representatives from community colleges. He stated that the ultimate goal of the bill is to save the state higher education and community college systems in Colorado. These institutions are economic drivers for Colorado's economy and are vital to the business community throughout the state.

Senator Morse continued to discuss the budgets that will need to be cut for institutions of higher education in Colorado. He commented that sections 14 through 16 need more work and should be struck from the bill. The commission engaged in a discussion on striking sections 14 through 16 to allow more changes to be made before the final bill is introduced in the upcoming 2010 session. The discussion continued and Senator Morse noted that there is no provision in the legislation that addresses tuition flexibility.

The commission discussed each section of the bill and questioned whether the bill would offer institutions of higher education budgetary flexibility to adjust to the recessionary effects of the economy. Senator Morse continued the discussion by commenting on section 12 and the provisions that would give flexibility to colleges to save money.

The discussion continued on whether there were any cost savings attached to sections 14 through 16. Senator Morse reiterated that any references toward "tuition flexibility" are off the table. The committee continued the discussion on the complexity and importance of provisions within sections 14 through 16. The motion to amend the draft bill by striking sections 14 through 16 passed on a 4-2 vote.

Representative Gerou asked that the bill be further amended by striking section 12 (PERA provisions) given the economy and the decline in value of the PERA portfolio. The motion passed 5-1. Representative Gerou continued by making a motion to strike sections 8 through 10. The motion passed 6-0.

The commission took final action on Bill 4 by moving it, as amended, to Legislative Council. The motion passed on a 6-0 vote.


BILL:	Bill 4
TIME:	09:29:11 AM
MOVED:	Morse
MOTION:	Amend Bill 4 by striking sections 14 through 16. The motion passed 4-2.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	No
	Court	Yes
	Gerou	No
	Morse	Yes
	Boigon
	Conway
	Cooke
	Coors
	Fagan
	Hume
	Knox
	Lynne
	Neilson
	White
	Ferrandino	Yes
	Heath	Yes

Not Final YES: 4 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	Bill 4
TIME:	10:19:51 AM
MOVED:	Gerou
MOTION:	Amend Bill 4 by striking Section 12 (PERA provisions). The motion passed 5-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	No
	Court	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Boigon
	Conway
	Cooke
	Coors
	Fagan
	Hume
	Knox
	Lynne
	Neilson
	White
	Ferrandino	Yes
	Heath	Yes

Not Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	Bill 4
TIME:	10:40:54 AM
MOVED:	Gerou
MOTION:	Amend Bill 4 by striking Sections 8 through 10. The motion passed 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Court	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Boigon
	Conway
	Cooke
	Coors
	Fagan
	Hume
	Knox
	Lynne
	Neilson
	White
	Ferrandino	Yes
	Heath	Yes

Not Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	Bill 4
TIME:	10:49:01 AM
MOVED:	Morse
MOTION:	Move Bill 4, as amended, to Legislative Council. The motion passed 6-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Court	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Boigon
	Conway
	Cooke
	Coors
	Fagan
	Hume
	Knox
	Lynne
	Neilson
	White
	Ferrandino	Yes
	Heath	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	Bill 4
TIME:	11:00:49 AM
MOVED:	Morse
MOTION:	Moved to pass bill as drafted (no safety clause) and allow the Office of Legislative Legal Services to make technical changes as needed. The motion passed on a 6-0 vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Court	Yes
	Gerou	Yes
	Morse	Yes
	Boigon
	Conway
	Cooke
	Coors
	Fagan
	Hume
	Knox
	Lynne
	Neilson
	White
	Ferrandino	Yes
	Heath	Yes

Not Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Senator Morse said he would be the prime sponsor in the Senate and Representative Ferrandino would be the prime sponsor in the House. The remaining members agreed to be cosponsors.

11:02 AM

Recess.