H_FIN_2018A 04/23/2018 01:35:32 PM Committee Summary

Representative Gray, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1386, which authorizes a county treasurer to accept property tax payments before they are due.  He requested that the bill be postponed indefinitely.

Representative Danielson and Buckner, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1378, which modifies the policies related to gender-based pay discrimination in Colorado. It creates new standards for employers and requires the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to enforce these standards.

Committee members received a fact sheet about the bill, prepared by the Bell Policy Center [Attachment A].

Ms. Alison Friedman Phillips, representing the Women's Foundation of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Charlotte Sweeney, representing the Colorado Women's Bar Association (CWBA), testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sarah Parady, representing the CWBA, testified in support of the bill.  Committee members received  a publication titled: "Status of Women In the States" [Attachment B].

Ms. Appalenia Udell, representing Denver Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sonya Ulibarri, representing Girls, Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Tomas Manriquez Hernandez, representing the CWBA, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Annie Martinez, representing the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Samantha Saccomanno, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Kaitlin Altone, representing 9 to 5 Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Karla Gonzales Garcia, representing the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Melissa Jaure, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Lydia Waligorski, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Karen Hester, representing the Center for Legal Inclusiveness, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Loren Furman, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Nicholas Colglazier, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks on the bill and responded to committee questions. Members of the committee commented on the merits of the bill.

Representative Coleman, co-prime sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1377, which makes it a discriminatory or unfair employment practice for an employer to seek salary history information except in certain circumstances.  Committee members received two fact sheets about the bill [Attachments C and D].

Ms. Charlotte Sweeney, representing the CWBA, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Kaitlin Altone, representing 9 to 5 Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Karla Gonzales Garcia, representing COLOR, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Natalie Wood, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Loren Furman, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee.

Representatives Coleman and Pettersen made closing remarks on the bill. Members of the committee commented on the merits of the bill.

Representatives Kennedy and Rankin, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1392, which requires the Commissioner of Insurance to seek federal approval to establish a reinsurance program to lower health insurance premiums. Committee members received amendments L.004 and L.005 [Attachments E and F, respectively].

Mr. Mike Conway, representing the Colorado Division of Insurance, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. David Pinkert, representing Friday Health Plans, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Erin Miller, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sarah Vaine, representing Summit County Government, testified in support of the bill. Committee members received a fact sheet about the bill [Attachment G].

Mr. Conway responded to committee questions.

Mr. Marc Reece, representing AETNA, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Loren Furman, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing comments on the bill.  Members of the committee commented on the merits of the bill.

Representative Rankin, prime-sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1387, which eliminates interest paid by local governments for erroneously paid property taxes on oil and natural gas property due to an error in information provided by the taxpayer.  Committee members received a letter of support from Colorado Mountain College [Attachment H].

Mr. Jim Yellico, representing Garfield County, testified in support of the bill and responded to committee questions.

Mr. Irv Halter, representing the Departments of Local Affairs and Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Richard Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Committee members received a letter of support from Mr. Orf and an article about taxing districts [Attachments I and J, respectively].

Mr. David Blair, representing the Grand Valley Fire Protection District, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jim Cole, representing the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Angie Binder, representing the Colorado Petroleum Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Loren Furman, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Furman and Mr. Cole responded to committee questions.

Representative Rankin responded to a committee question.

Representatives K. Becker and McKean, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1400, which increases the statutory fee caps for stationary sources of air pollutants by 25 percent; actual fees will be set in rule at or below these caps by the Air Quality Control Commission. The bills sponsors responded to committee questions.

Mr. Michael Nicoletti, representing the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jim Cole, representing LaFarge Holcim, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Bill Skewes, representing the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Hooton, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1369, which removes statutory references to the Proposition AA Refund Account, which was repealed on July 1, 2017.

Representatives Lontine and Buckner, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1294, which continues the regulation of nursing home administrators by the Department of Regulatory Agencies, which is scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2018.  Representative Lontine distributed amendment L.002 [Attachment M].

Representatives Gray and Van Winkle, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1389, which creates a centralized marijuana distribution permit that allows a marijuana cultivation facility to temporarily store marijuana concentrate or marijuana products designated for transfer. Committee members received amendment L.002 [Attachment N].

The bill sponsors responded to committee questions.

Mr. Michael Dohr, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to respond to committee questions.

Ms. Saskia Young, representing LivWell Enlightened Health, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Shannon Fender, representing Native Roots, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Young responded to committee questions.

Mr. Jim Burack and Ms. Dominique Mendiola, representing the Marijuana Enforcement Division within the Department of Revenue, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks on the bill.