S_BLT_2020A 02/12/2020 01:32:50 PM Committee Summary

Senator Holbert introduced Senate Bill 20-097, concerning unemployment insurance for marijuana-licensed businesses. The bill creates an exception for certain marijuana licensee-owned businesses to be considered an employing unit rather than a common paymaster for the purposes of the Colorado Employment Security Act.

Dean Heizer, LivWell, spoke in favor of the bill.

Senator Holbert introduced Senate Bill 20-140, concerning powersports and motor vehicle sales bonds. The bill specifies that violations of motor vehicle dealer statutes by a licensee must be related to fraud in order for a person to recover from a bond. He responded to questions from the committee.

Todd O'Connell, Colorado Independent Auto Dealers Association (CIADA), spoke in favor of the bill. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment A).

Mike McKinnon, CIADA, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. McKinnon responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. O'Connell responded to questions from the committee.

Senator Holbert made closing comments on the merits of the bill.

The committee took a recess.

The committee came back to order and laid over the bill for action later in the meeting.

Senator Donovan asked the committee to postpone indefinitely Senate Bill 20-154 concerning bringing wine into restaurants.

Senator Danielson introduced SB 20-120, concerning apprentice exams and professional licenses. The bill creates examination and reporting requirements for electrician and plumber apprenticeships. She responded to questions from the committee.

Ralph Lufen, National Electrical Contractors Association, spoke in favor of the bill.

Brandon Garcia, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 86, spoke in favor of the bill.

Jose Juarez-Vera, IBEW Local 68, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Garcia responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Lufen responded to questions from the committee.

Danny Garcia, IBEW Local 86, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mark Kirkham, IBEW Local 68, spoke in favor of the bill.

Daniel Hendricks, Denver Joint Electrical Apprenticeship Training Committee, spoke in favor of the bill.

Jeremy Ross, IBEW, spoke in favor of the bill. He provided two handouts to the committee (Attachments B and C).

Sean Wyatt, Plumbers Local 3, spoke in favor of the bill.

Joe Kocol, Plumbers Local 3, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Ross responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Wyatt responded to questions from the committee.

Committee discussion continued.

Jason Wardrip, Colorado Building and Construction Trades Council, spoke in favor of the bill.

Marilyn Stansbury, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), spoke in opposition to the bill.  She provided a handout to the committee (Attachment D).

Dave Van Stelle, Encore Electric and IEC, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Jeff Magee, Magee Electric and IED, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Van Stelle responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Stansbury responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Magee responded to questions from the committee.

Cori Girlitz, Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association of Colorado (PHCC), spoke in opposition to the bill.

Susan Frue, PHCC Association and Sunshine Plumbing, spoke in opposition to the bill.

David Miller, PHCC, spoke in opposition to the bill.

Senator Danielson distributed Amendments L.001, L.002, L.004, and L.005 (Attachments E, F, G, and H). She discussed the purposes of the amendments.

Senator Danielson made closing comments on the merits of the bill.

Senator Woodward made comments on the bill.

The committee came back to order. Senator Todd and Senator Ginal introduced Senate Bill 20-160, concerning requiring movie theaters to provide open captioning. The bill requires certain movie theaters to provide showings of movies with open movie captioning at least twice per week.

Wynne Whyman, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill.

Terri Shirley, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill.

Ken Keuhlen, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill.

Dan Shirley, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill.

Mr. Keuhlen responded to questions from the committee.

John Fithian, National Association of Theatre Owners, spoke in opposition to the bill.  He responded to questions from the committee.

Vickie Pacheco, representing herself, spoke in favor of the bill.

Patricia Yeager, Independent Center of Colorado Springs, spoke in favor of the bill.  She responded to questions from the committee.

Senator Todd made closing comments on the merits of the bill.  She asked the committee to postpone indefinitely the bill.

Senator Ginal made closing comments on the merits of the bill.