Senate Committee on Finance (03/31/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Date:	03/31/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:04 PM to 02:38 PM	Brophy	X
		Heath	X
Place:	SCR 354	Isgar	X
		King K.	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Scheffel	X
	Senator Sandoval	Hudak	*
		Sandoval	X
This Report was prepared by
	Elizabeth Hanson
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Conf 09-Confirmation to the Fire and Police Pension Association Board HB09-1222 HB09-1133 HB09-1301		Favorably Refer to the Full Senate Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar Referred to Appropriations Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar

02:05 PM -- Confirmation to the Fire and Police Pension Association (FPPA) Board of Directors

Ms. Susan R. Eaton, Mr. Clifford W. Stanton, and Mr. Kirk J. Miller, appointees to the Fire and Police Pension Association Board of Directors, discussed their background and interest in serving on the board.
Copies of the appointees' applications and resumes are included as Attachment A.

(Attachment A can be viewed at State Archives)

Ms. Eaton began by providing background about her career in human resources, and explained that she currently serves as the municipal appointee to the Board. Mr. Stanton provided background about his career as an investment professional and his work in securities. Mr. Miller testified about his career as an investigator in the police force and his past service on the board. Mr. Miller is currently serving as the board's chair. Mr. Miller also discussed the investments of the pension plan.


BILL:	Confirmation to the Fire and Police Pension Association (FPPA) Board of Directors
TIME:	02:11:45 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Refer the appointments of Ms. Susan R. Eaton, Mr. Clifford W. Stanton, and Mr. Kirk J. Miller to the Fire and Police Pension Association Board of Directors to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed 5-0, with 2 excused.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Isgar	Yes
	King K.	Excused
	Scheffel	Yes
	Hudak	Excused
	Sandoval	Yes

Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:13 PM -- House Bill 09-1222

Senator Keller, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1222. The bill was recommended by the Joint Budget Committee and extends the repeal date included in five sections of Colorado law that authorize the transfer of appropriations (or any overexpenditure of appropriations) in order to close Colorado's accounting books at the end of the fiscal year. The date is extended to September 1, 2014.

Senator Keller requested that the committee approve the legislation. She responded to questions from the committee about spending authority and the Joint Budget Committee.

02:15 PM

No witnesses signed up to testify on the bill. Senator Sandoval closed public testimony.


BILL:	HB09-1222
TIME:	02:15:16 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1222 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Isgar	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Scheffel	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	Sandoval	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:17 PM

The committee briefly recessed and reconvened.

02:18 PM -- House Bill 09-1133

Senator Kester, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1133. The bill removes the fee amounts for license plates, decals, and validating tabs that are currently set in Colorado law. It would authorize the Department of Corrections (with input from the Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting and the Department of Revenue) to instead set these fees in order to recover license plate production costs.

The following witness testified on the bill:

02:19 PM -- Mr. Gary Maas, representing the Colorado Department of Corrections, testified in support of the bill. He provided the committee with background information about the department's production activities. Mr. Maas stated that the bill would allow the department to be more cost effective and make more effective pricing decisions as costs increase. He also said the bill creates the authority to enter into contracts to allow for call centers for the inmates. He explained that the state would realize cost savings. Mr. Maas also said that the department would also be required to testify before the legislature about the changes to the fee. Mr. Maas responded to questions about the authority in the bill to authorize a call center. Discussion ensued about sections of the bill relating to ancillary services. Mr. Maas also responded to questions about the cost of the license plates, and the increase of the fee. He responded that the increasing price of aluminum has increased the cost of producing license plates.

02:27 PM

Senator Sandoval closed public testimony.


BILL:	HB09-1133
TIME:	02:27:30 PM
MOVED:	Brophy
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1133 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Isgar	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Scheffel	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	Sandoval	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:30 PM -- House Bill 09-1301

Senator Sandoval, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1301. This bill continuously appropriates monies from the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund to the Colorado state treasurer for the payment of contract auditor services. She explained that third party auditors are paid on contingency fee contracts and receive a percentage of what they collect. The claimants, she said, would still receive the value of the property they own. Senator Sandoval also explained that currently there is a cap on the amount that the auditors can collect, and that the bill is needed to address this issue.

The following persons testified on the bill:

02:32 PM -- Mr. Eric Rothaus, representing the Colorado Department of Treasury, responded to questions from the committee about the current level of appropriations, accounting, and reporting issues. He also responded to questions about individuals on the unclaimed property list and the percent that auditors receive from collections.

02:35 PM -- Ms. Patty White, representing the Colorado Department of Treasury, also responded to questions from the committee about third party auditing.

02:36 PM

Senator Heath closed public testimony.


BILL:	HB09-1301
TIME:	02:36:45 PM
MOVED:	Sandoval
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 09-1301 to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed 7-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Brophy	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Isgar	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Scheffel	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	Sandoval	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:37 PM

The committee recessed.