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H_SA_2016A 01/25/2016 Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



COMMITTEE ON JOINT STATE VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Date: 01/25/2016
ATTENDANCE
Time: 01:37 PM to 03:35 PM
Foote
X
Hill
X
Place: RM 271
Humphrey
X
Jones
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Lontine
*
Senator Scott
Neville P.
X
Primavera
X
This Report was prepared by
Sonnenberg
X
Julia Jackson
Thurlow
X
Tyler
X
Ulibarri
X
Wist
X
Ryden
X
Scott
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Briefing from the Joint Budget Committee Pursuant to Joint Rule 25

Briefing from the Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws

Briefing from the Office of the State Auditor on the Department of State Pe

Report on the Comprehensive Military Value and Economic Impact of Departmen

Military and Overseas Voting: Federal, State, County, and Technical Perspec
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only



01:37 PM -- Briefing from the Joint Budget Committee Pursuant to Joint Rule 25



Representative Hamner introduced the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) members.



Senator Lambert discussed the budget for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA).



Senator Lambert went over the budget for the Department of State. Representative Rankin noted issues raised by the JBC over the Business Intelligence Center.





01:49 PM -- Briefing from the Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws



Thomas Morris, Office of Legislative Legal Services, introduced the work of the Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws (CCUSL). He provided a handout on the commission (Attachment A).



16JtStateVets0125AttachA.pdf16JtStateVets0125AttachA.pdf











Anne McGihon, CCUSL Chair, continued to describe CCUSL and discussed bills the commission would be introducing in 2016.





02:11 PM -- Briefing from the Office of the State Auditor on the Department of State Performance Audit



Kerri Hunter, Deputy State Auditor, provided information about the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) and introduced the 2015 performance audit of the Department of State. Committee members received a briefing document on this audit (Attachment B).



16JtStateVets0125AttachB.pdf16JtStateVets0125AttachB.pdf



Pooja Tulsian, Office of the State Auditor, discussed the audit of the Department of State.





02:22 PM -- Report on the Comprehensive Military Value and Economic Impact of Department of Defense Activities in Colorado



Major General H. Michael Edwards, Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard, presented the recently completed Report on the Comprehensive Military Value and Economic Impact of Department of Defense Activities in Colorado. Committee members received a copy of Gen. Edwards' slides (Attachment C) and the abridged version of the report (Attachment D).



16JtStateVets0125AttachC.pdf16JtStateVets0125AttachC.pdf Attachment D can be viewed at Legislative Council



02:34 PM



Committee members discussed the report with Gen. Edwards.





02:49 PM -- Military and Overseas Voting: Federal, State, County, and Technical Perspectives



Secretary of State Wayne Williams introduced a panel of county clerks: Debra Johnson, Denver; Chuck Broerman, El Paso County; and Matt Crane, Arapahoe County. The panel discussed voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Committee members received a handout about UOCAVA voters (Attachment E).



16JtStateVets0125AttachE.pdf16JtStateVets0125AttachE.pdf



A video presentation was shown from Matt Boehmer, Director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP).















03:10 PM



Secretary Williams continued to discuss UOCAVA voters.



Mr. Crane, Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder and President of the Colorado County Clerks Association (CCCA), discussed the CCCA's role in addressing UOCAVA issues.



Mr. Broerman discussed the large number of military voters in El Paso County and his office's UOCAVA work.



Ms. Johnson noted ways clerks can best address UOCAVA issues.





03:18 PM



Amber McReynolds, Denver County Director of Elections, discussed the state of UOCAVA voting in Colorado and the Council of State Governments' Overseas Voting Initiative.



Derek Knuffke, a veteran from El Paso County, described his work in the U.S. military supporting elections in Afghanistan.



Jennifer Morrell, Arapahoe County Director of Elections, described her background as a military member, military spouse, and candidate for elected office. She provided examples of the challenges faced by UOCAVA voters.





03:30 PM



Committee members discussed UOCAVA issues with the presenters.





03:35 PM



The committee adjourned.


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