Bill Summary for Bill Number SB12-123

Date: 02/13/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB12-123

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 12-123 to the Committee on Appro	PASS

02:06 PM -- Senate Bill 12-123

Senator Renfroe, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 12-123 to the committee. The bill would enable the Secretary of State to develop and implement enhancements to the state's business filing system, including more streamlined processes for multiple filings. Senator Renfroe noted that business groups and business owners have expressed support for the bill.

02:09 PM -- Secretary of State Scott Gessler testified in support of the bill. He noted that the Department of State is not subject to consolidation under the Office of Information Technology, so it is responsible for its own information technology (IT) solutions. He called the package proposed in the bill the Business Efficiency Suite, and he described the limitations of the current business filing system. He stated that the new system would especially benefit bulk filers who complete the filings for multiple businesses. He noted that the improvements would also help registrations for non-profit organizations and bingo and raffle enterprises. He stated that the department aims to complete all the IT projects in the suite within the next 2-3 years, and that the project would save customers statewide $1 million a year. Secretary Gessler noted that the department will not need to raise filing fees to complete this project.

02:16 PM -- James B. Dean, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He described his interactions with the Secretary of State's office as an attorney, including sitting on the advisory committee to the Department of State's Business and Licensing Division, and he noted that while the existing filing system is very good, it does have limitations. He stated that the improvements proposed in the bill would make the business filing system more user-friendly.

02:19 PM -- Daniel Denham, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. He noted that he owns a small business and sits on the advisory committee to the Business and Licensing Division. He stated that the bill would improve efficiency for his office.

02:22 PM -- Garth Jacobson, representing CT Corporation, testified in support of the bill. He distributed a written copy of his testimony (Attachment A) to the committee. He noted that the proposed improvements are modeled after existing uniform laws that he has worked on. He explained his company's work representing other companies, and he noted ways in which the bill would increase efficiency for his company.

02:26 PM

Senator Renfroe summarized the efficiencies to be gained from the bill and noted that the Secretary of State already has the funds to implement the bill. He discussed the challenges he faces as a business owner in filing for multiple LLCs. Committee members discussed the bill.


BILL:	SB12-123
TIME:	02:29:44 PM
MOVED:	Grantham
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 12-123 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Boyd	Yes
	Grantham	Yes
	Neville	Yes
	Bacon	Yes
	Heath	Yes


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