S_FIN_2018A 02/13/2018 02:05:34 PM Committee Summary

Senators Zenzinger and Coram, co-prime sponsors presented Senate Bill 18-147, which modifies the existing teacher loan forgiveness program to target hard-to-fill educator positions.

Tom Brinegar, representing the Public Education and Business Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Dale McCall, representing the Colorado BOCES Association, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Rob Reinsvold, representing the Colorado Center for Rural Education, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Brinegar responded to committee questions.

Senator Zenzinger responded to committee questions.

Mr. McCall responded to committee questions.

Kerrie Dallman, representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Matt Cook, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in support of the bill.

Dan Schaller, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Cook responded to committee questions.

Mr. Schaller responded to committee questions.

Ms. Dallman responded to committee questions.

Senator Zenzinger responded to committee questions.

Mr. Cook responded to committee questions.

Ms. Dallman responded to committee questions.

Senator Zenzinger commented on how teacher salaries compare in Colorado.

Michelle Murphy, representing the Colorado Rural Schools Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Leslie Colwell, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Murphy responded to committee questions.

Senator Zenzinger discussed amendments L.001, L.002, and L.003, as well as a preamended version of the bill including amendments L.001 and L.002 [Attachmenets A through D, respectively].

Senator Zenzinger responded to committee questions regarding the amendments.

Senators Zenzinger and Court provided closing remarks on the bill.

Senator Cooke, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-116, which creates a capitol identification card that allows members of the public to bypass security if they pay a fee and submit to a background check. Senator Cooke distributed amendments L.001 and L.002 [Attachments E and F, respectively].

Major Steve Garcia, representing the Colorado State Patrol, testified in opposition to the bill.

Major Garcia responded to committee questions.

Former Representative Amy Stephens, representing Dentons, testified in support of the bill.

Patrick Boyle, representing himself as a contract lobbyist, testified in support of the bill.

Tony Gagliardi, representing himself as a professional lobbyist, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Boyle responded to committee questions.

Loren Furman, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Larry Hudson, representing Hudson Government Affairs, testified in support of the bill.

Becky Brooks, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Brooks responded to committee questions.

Major Garcia responded to committee questions.

Senator Cooke provided closing comments about the bill.

Senators Neville and Todd, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-165, which increases the bond amount that must be maintained by public administrators and deputy public administrators and makes several other procedural changes.  The bill sponsors distributed a fact sheet about the bill  [Attachment G].

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Chris Ryan, State Court Administrator, representing the Judicial Department, testified in support of the bill. He also responded to committee questions.

Karen Kalavity, representing herself, testified about the bill.

Mr. Ryan responded to committee questions.

Senator Neville, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-136, which allows a health insurance producer or broker to charge a fee for advising a client on the purchase of an individual health benefit plan under certain conditions.

Senator Neville responded to committee questions.

Tim Hebert, representing the Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters (CSAHU), testified in support of the bill.

Christine Bogott, representing CSAHU, testified in support of the bill.

Carl Larson, representing the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Neville provided closing comments on the bill.

Senator Gardner, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-128, which requires fee increases to be approved by a majority of the Joint Budget Committee and enacted in legislation.

Senator Gardner responded to committee questions.

Gabby Reed, representing the Colorado Department of Public Safety, testified in opposition to the bill.

Jennifer Cassell, representing the Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Reed and Senator Gardner responded to committee questions.

Suzanne Staiert, representing the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, testified in support of the bill.

Senators Fenberg and Coram, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-143, which increases fees for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for certain hunting and fishing licenses and park passes.

Senator Fenberg discussed amendment L.001 [Attachment H].

Bob Broscheid, representing CPW, testified in support of the bill.

Jerry Abboud, representing the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Stewart Leach, representing the Boulder Rifle Club and the Colorado State Muzzle Loading Association, testified in support of the bill.

Richard Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Mr. Orf distributed a letter of support from the Town of Palisade [Attachment I].

Andy Neinas, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

John Howard, representing the Parks and Wildlife Commission, testified in support of the bill.

Jim Vigil, representing the Parks and Wildlife Commission, testified in support of the bill.

Alan Robinson, representing the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association, testified in support of the bill.

Dan Schwartz, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Vigil responded to committee questions.

David Nickum, representing Colorado Trout Unlimited, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Nickum distributed an article supporting the bill to the committee [Attachment J].

Terry Fankhauser, representing the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill.

Gary Burton, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Ryan Goodenow, representing the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society, testified in support of the bill.

Doug Vilsack, representing the Department of Natural Resources, came to the table to respond to a committee question regarding the fees for bighorn sheep hunting licenses.

Bob Falcone, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Josette Mastra, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Vickers Myers, representing herself as a volunteer of Roxborough State Park, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Myers distributed a list of supporters of the bill [Attachment K].

Michaleen Richer, representing herself as a volunteer of Roxborough State Park, testified in support of the bill.

Matt Gray, representing the Friends of Colorado State Parks, testified in support of the bill.

Ivan James, representing Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, testified in support of the bill.

Marty Holmes, representing the Mule Deer Foundation, testified in support of the bill.

Ken Ingram, representing the Colorado Wildlife Federation, testified in support of the bill.

Allen Kirby, representing the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, testified in support of the bill.

Don Biesecker, representing the Colorado Bowhunters Association, testified in support of the bill.

Jim Remley, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Michael Findlay, representing Ducks Unlimited, testified in support of the bill.

Ian Steyn, representing the Colorado Tourism Office, testified in support of the bill.