h_fin_2017a_2017-02-27t13:30:40z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/27/2017

Location: LSB A

02:27 PM -- HB17-1187



The committee returned to order. Representative Thurlow, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1187, which refers a proposition to voters at the statewide election on November 7, 2017. Conditional on voter approval of the proposition, the bill changes the computation of the excess state revenues cap (Referendum C cap) for FY 2017-18 and all subsequent fiscal years. Under current law, the cap is grown annually by changes in the state's population and the Denver-Boulder-Greeley consumer price index. Beginning in FY 2017-18, the bill instead grows the cap annually by the average rate of annual change in state personal income for the five previous calendar years.



Committee members received a memorandum about TABOR, Revenue Changes, and the State Budget Situation, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment B) and a list of organizations that support HB 17-1187, provided by Representative Thurlow (Attachment C).



17HouseFin0227AttachB.pdf 17HouseFin0227AttachC.pdf



02:35 PM -- Mr. Ed DeCecco, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained the bill and why the change proposed under the bill can be made in statute rather than the constitution. He responded to questions from the committee.



02:44 PM -- Mr. Greg Sobetski, representing Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions from the committee. Committee members received a report on Referendum C Revenue and Spending: FY 2005-06 through FY 2016-17, prepared by Legislative Council Staff (Attachment D). Representative Thurlow, Mr. DeCecco, and Mr. Sobetski responded to questions from the committee.



17HouseFin0227AttachD.pdf



02:53 PM



Mr. Sobetski explained the prepared fiscal note and answered more questions from the committee. Mr. DeCecco responded to additional questions from the committee.





03:13 PM



Committee discussion with Mr. DeCecco and Mr. Sobetski continued.



03:32 PM -- Ms. Carol Hedges, representing the Colorado Fiscal Institute, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Chris Stiffler, also representing the Colorado Fiscal Institute, responded to a question from the committee.



03:37 PM -- Ms. Garin Vorthmann, representing the Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.



03:40 PM -- Mr. Jon Caldara, representing the Independence Institute, testified in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



03:49 PM -- Ms. Andrea Wilkins, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



03:52 PM -- Mr. Penn Pfiffner, representing himself as a taxpayer, testified in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



04:07 PM -- Mr. Matt Cook, representing Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in support of of the bill.



04:08 PM -- Ms. Natalie Menten, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee. Representative Thurlow made comments to the committee.



04:15 PM -- Ms. Mary Kreutzer, representing AARP, testified in support of the bill.



04:17 PM -- Ms. Olivia Tritts, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.





04:18 PM



Ms. Kreutzer continued her comments about the bill.



04:20 PM -- Mr. Russ Haas, representing the Colorado Union of Taxpayers, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:23 PM -- Mr. Mizraim Cordero, representing the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill.



04:27 PM -- Mr. Nick Colglazier, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in support of the bill.



04:29 PM -- Ms. Angela Dougan, representing Americans for Prosperity, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:32 PM -- Senator Evie Hudak, representing Colorado PTA, testified in support of the bill.



04:33 PM -- Mr. Ian Roy, representing Americans for Prosperity, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:37 PM -- Ms. Dianne Criswell, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill and responded to a question about the bill.



04:42 PM -- Mr. Ken Witt, representing himself as a taxpayer, testified in opposition to the bill.



04:47 PM -- Mr. Brian Tanner, representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.



04:49 PM -- Mr. Brad Young, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



04:55 PM -- Mr. Scott Wasserman, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill.



04:58 PM -- Ms. Katherine Mulready, representing the Colorado Hospital Association, testified in support of the bill.



05:02 PM -- Mr. Todd Saliman, representing the University of Colorado System, testified in support of the bill. Committee members received a graph illustrating a history of state funding for the University of Colorado System since FY 1990-1991 (Attachment E).



17HouseFin0227AttachE.pdf



05:06 PM



Representative Thulow made closing remarks on the bill. Members of the committee commented on the merits of the bill.