H_SA_2018A 01/31/2018 01:37:58 PM Committee Summary

Representative Ransom, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1039. Under current law, regular special district elections occur on the Tuesday after the first Monday of May in every even-numbered year.  The bill changes the years that special district elections are held to odd-numbered years, and changes the term for special district directors to three years for 2020 and 2022; director terms will reset to four year terms in 2023 and 2025.  Representative Ransom provided a handout to the committee [Attachment A].

Merlin Klotz, Parker Water and Sanitation District and Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Klotz answered questions from the committee.

Evan Goulding, Special District Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Goulding answered questions from the committee.

Matt Crane, Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder and Colorado County Clerks Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Crane answered questions from the committee.

Carol Tone, League of Women Voters, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Weissman, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1033. The bill allows voters to take two hours of leave from work to vote, register to vote, obtain a ballot or replacement ballot, or obtain an identification document required for voter registration.  For general, primary, and coordinated elections, voters may take this leave on any day that polling locations are open.  For all other elections, including municipal elections, voters may take this leave on any day within eight days prior to the election, or on election day.  Representative Weissman provided a handout to the committee [Attachment B].

Jason Legg, Strengthening Democracy Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Michael Westerberg, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Peg Perl, Women's Lobby of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Carol Tone, League of Women Voters, testified in support of the bill.

Elizabeth Steele, Colorado Common Cause, testified in support of the bill.

Mike Fulton, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Kayvan Khalatbari, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Matt Crane, Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support of the bill.

Bre Andrews, AFL-CIO, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Weissman explained amendment L.001 [Attachment C].

Representative Weissman explained amendment L.002 [Attachment D].

Representative Weissman made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members made comments about the bill.

Representative Lontine, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1047. The bill makes various technical changes to the Fair Campaign Practices Act.  This bill clarifies the definition of an independent expenditure committee and makes the following changes concerning reporting and campaign finance violations:

 

    Concerning reporting requirements, the bill:

    •    removes a reporting requirement for donations to another person for the purpose of independent expenditures;

    •    specifies that electioneering communication reports must include the name of the candidate;

    •    clarifies instances when certain issue and candidate committees do not need to file a report with the Secretary of State on any contribution over $1,000;

    •    clarifies procedures in connection with a person's failure to file a candidate affidavit or disclosure statement; and

    •    changes the amount of time candidate committees have to correct a deficient report form 15 to 30 days.

    

    Concerning campaign finance violations, the bill:

    •    allows attorney fees and costs awarded by an administrative law judge in a campaign finance enforcement action to be sent to the district court to convert an award of fees and costs into a district court judgment; and

    •    allows the Secretary of State discretion when deciding to forward collections of past-due debts resulting from campaign finance violations.

 

Representative Lontine explained amendments L.001 and L.002 [Attachments E and F] to the committee.

Michael Francisco, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Francisco answered questions from the committee.

Suzanne Staiert, Department of State, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Staiert answered questions from the committee.

Peg Perl, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Martha Tierney, America Votes and the Colorado Democratic Party, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Tierney answered questions from the committee.

Representative Lontine made remarks to the committee. Ms. Tierney made additional comments to the committee and discussed a potential conceptual amendment to amendment L.002. Representative Lontine made additional comments to the committee.

Ryan Call, Hale Westfall and Alliance for a Safe and Independent Woodmen Hills, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Call answered questions from the committee.

Chris Murray, Colorado Republican Committee, testified in support of the bill. He answered questions from the committee.

After some discussion with Representative Lontine, Representative Foote laid the bill over until a future meeting.