B48B9D5B0BD657F987258282005FF4D8 Hearing Summary

The committee recessed. 

The committee was called back to order.

Senator Kefalas, co-prime sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1380, concerning property-related expense assistance grants for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.  He emphasized that the bill updates the rebate with inflation and ties it to the index rate going forward.  He provided a history of the grant program and noted that these rebates are part of the long bill as a General Fund expenditure.  Senator Kefalas emphasized that these rebates primarily serve low-income renters. 

Senator Martinez Humenik, co-prime sponsor, discussed how the rebates assist seniors.

Kathleen Flynn, representing AARP, spoke in support of the bill.  She discussed senior-specific issues and the positive impact of rent and heat grants. 

Elizabeth Cheever, representing the Colorado Fiscal Institute, spoke in support of the bill. She noted that the rebate has not increased since 2014, and housing costs are rising disproportionately. 

Andrew Bennett, representing Energy Outreach Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.  He specifically addressed heating costs.

Kristopher Grant, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the positive impacts of indexing benefits to inflation.

Ed Shackleford, representing the Colorado Senior Lobby, spoke in favor of the bill.  He distributed three handouts that covered the financial impacts of an aging population, related program funding, and demographics (Attachments C, D, and E).

Jeanette Hensley, representing the Colorado Senior Lobby, spoke in support of the bill.  She discussed housing costs.

Fran Maes, representing the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in favor of the measure. 

Shari Foreman-Tizeno, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.  She discussed how the grants have personally helped her.  

Senators Martinez Humenik and Kefalas made closing remarks and emphasized the merits of the legislation.  Senator Kefalas read into the record demographic information provided by Disability Law Colorado.