Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy (02/19/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Date:	02/19/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:12 AM to 12:08 PM	Cadman	*
		Hodge	X
Place:	SCR 353	Kester	E
		Lundberg	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Newell	*
	Senator Schwartz	Foster	X
		Schwartz	X
This Report was prepared by
	Kori Donaldson
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1037 SB09-171 HB09-1024		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole

11:12 AM -- House Bill 09-1037

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Senator Jim Isgar, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1037, which changes the classification of Montrose County from a Class C county to a Class B county for organizational and administrative purposes concerning county courts. County court judges in Class B counties work full time and are paid accordingly, and county court judges in Class C counties work part time and are paid based on the size and complexity of their workload. Committee members received an explanation of the bill's impact on Montrose County, distributed by Senator Isgar (Attachment A). Senator Isgar made some introductory remarks about the bill.

The following person testified on the bill:

11:14 AM -- Ms. Sherry Stwalley, representing the Judicial Department, made herself available to answer questions from the committee.


BILL:	HB09-1037
TIME:	11:14:47 AM
MOVED:	Cadman
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1037 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Kester	Excused
	Lundberg	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Foster	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:15 AM -- Senate Bill 09-171

Senator Gail Schwartz, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-171, which expands the allowable uses of funds from the Colorado Customized Job Training program to include employee training efforts focused on Colorado's new energy economy. The Colorado Customized Job training program is a collaborative effort to provide grants to employees to receive customized job training conducted at community colleges or at private enterprises. Senator Schwartz made some introductory remarks about the bill, and distributed and spoke to amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

The following people testified on the bill:

11:18 AM -- Dr. Nancy McCallin, representing the Colorado Community Colleges System, spoke in support of the bill. Dr. McCallin talked about the distribution of grants under the existing program and answered questions from the committee. Discussion ensued about the bill's use of the phrase "new energy economy."

11:29 AM -- Mr. Matt Cheroutes, representing the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Cheroutes said the bill will address a need for workforce training in energy-related jobs. He spoke to the definition of the new-energy economy and said that it incorporates renewable or sustainable energy technologies. Discussion ensued about the scope of the definition of "new energy economy." Senator Schwartz told the committee that the intent of the bill is to help put people in the state back to work. Senator Lundberg expressed his concerns about the definition of new energy. Discussion ensued.

11:48 AM -- Ms. Jennifer Freeman, representing the Colorado Youth Corps Association, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Freeman described some energy efficiency and land conservation projects completed by youth in her organization. She added that community colleges are the appropriate venue for retraining adults to find jobs.

11:52 AM

Senator Schwartz made some concluding remarks about the bill.


BILL:	SB09-171
TIME:	11:54:45 AM
MOVED:	Schwartz
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-171, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 5-1-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	No
	Hodge	Yes
	Kester	Excused
	Lundberg	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Foster	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	SB09-171
TIME:	11:55:00 AM
MOVED:	Schwartz
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection by those members present.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman
	Hodge
	Kester	Excused
	Lundberg
	Newell
	Foster
	Schwartz

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

Prior to the vote, Senator Schwartz briefly explained amendment L.002.

11:59 AM -- House Bill 09-1024

Senator Lois Tochtrop, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1024, which requires that certain local entities, such as the Fire and Police Pension Association and the Colorado Horse Development Authority, submit financial audit reports to the State Auditor on the same submission schedule required of other local governments. Committee members received a description of the bill from Senator Tochtrop (Attachment C). Senator Tochtrop made some introductory remarks about the bill.

12:02 PM -- Ms. Crystal Dorsey, representing the Office of the State Auditor, made herself available to address questions from the committee. Ms. Dorsey answered questions about page 2 of the reengrossed bill and current state audit deadlines.


BILL:	HB09-1024
TIME:	12:07:32 PM
MOVED:	Newell
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1024 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on a vote of 6-0-1.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Cadman	Yes
	Hodge	Yes
	Kester	Excused
	Lundberg	Yes
	Newell	Yes
	Foster	Yes
	Schwartz	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:08 PM

The committee adjourned.