H_LG_2016A 02/11/2016 Committee Summary

10:24 AM -- HB16-1118



Representative Court presented and summarized House Bill 16-1118 concerning repayments of local sales tax to the state. Under current law, local taxing jurisdictions are required to reimburse the state for prior overallocations of sales and use tax revenue. The bill allows the Department of Revenue (DOR) to deduct the amount owed by a local jurisdiction from future distributions of tax collections. A local jurisdiction and the DOR are authorized to enter into an intergovernmental agreement concerning the terms of repayment, not to exceed three years. The bill also clarifies that repayments by local jurisdictions are exempt from the Office of the State Controller's usual debt collection practices.



10:27 AM -- Ed DeCecco, Office of Legislative Legal Services, was called to the table to explain provisions of the bill. He answered questions on the bill regarding future distributions.



10:31 AM -- Eric Myers, representing the Department of Revenue (DOR), spoke in favor of the bill.



Mr. Myers answered questions regarding DORs work with local jurisdictions.



10:35 AM -- Richard Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill.



Mr. Orf answered questions on the frequency of incidents related to sales tax reimbursements.



















10:40 AM -- Sofia San Miguel, representing herself, spoke on her experiences with sales taxes in different jurisdictions.



Representative Court provided closing comments on the bill.



The committee members discussed the bill.

10:45 AM -- HB16-1040



Representative Singer presented and summarized House Bill 16-1040 concerning auxiliary communication. This bill, recommended by the Wildfire Matters Review Committee, creates the Auxiliary Emergency Communications Unit (unit) in the Office of Emergency Management in the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the Colorado Department of Public Safety (DPS). The unit has the power to: establish programs for the training and credentialing of auxiliary emergency or disaster communicators across the state; assume all the duties and responsibilities of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES); and ensure that auxiliary emergency communicators are authorized volunteers entitled to the appropriate protections and benefits of emergency volunteers when assisting local governments with the maintenance or demolition of communication facilities.



























In pursuance of this authority, the DPS may develop and issue photo identification cards to auxiliary communicators, conduct criminal background checks, and reimburse emergency communicators for necessary travel and other expenses incurred in performance of their duties. Finally, the bill increases from 23 to 24 the number of members serving on the Public Safety Communications Subcommittee of the Homeland Security and All-Hazards Senior Advisory Committee in the DPS. The additional member is the section emergency coordinator for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service of the Colorado section of the Amateur Radio Relay League.



Representative Singer distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment A).



16HouseLocal0211AttachA.pdf



10:48 AM -- Robert Wareham, representing the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, spoke in favor of the bill. He distributed a packed on informational documents (Attachment B). Mr. Wareham discussed amateur radio communication during disaster emergencies.



16HouseLocal0211AttachB.pdf



Mr. Wareham answered questions from the committee regarding workers compensation for amateur radio operators.



10:57 AM -- Jeff Ryan, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed his experience with organizing and managing amateur radio operators.



11:00 AM -- Dave Hard, representing the Department of Public Safety, spoke for questions only. He answered questions regarding the fiscal impact of the bill. Mr. Hard also answered questions regarding workers compensation for amateur radio operators.



11:09 AM -- Jack Ciaccia, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed his experience with amateur radios and disaster emergency communication.



11:16 AM -- Peg Ackerman, representing the County Sheriffs of Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill.



11:16 AM -- Richard Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill.

Representative Singer distributed and discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment C).



16HouseLocal0211AttachC.pdf

Representative Singer provided closing comments on the bill.



The committee members discussed the bill.

11:26 AM



The committee adjourned.