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H_LG_2017A 04/12/2017 Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Date: 04/12/2017
ATTENDANCE
Time: 01:31 PM to 03:56 PM
Coleman
X
Exum
X
Place: HCR 0107
Gray
X
Liston
X
This Meeting was called to order by
McKean
X
Representative Lebsock
Navarro
X
Ransom
X
This Report was prepared by
Singer
X
Juliann Jenson
Thurlow
X
Valdez
X
Wilson
X
Rosenthal
X
Lebsock
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB17-245

HB17-1026

HB17-1293

HB17-1297
Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole





01:32 PM -- SB17-245



Representative Pabon, sponsor, explained SB17-245 regarding short-term leases. Under current law, a residential tenancy of one month or more but less than six months may be terminated by either party with seven days notice. This bill extends the notice to 21 days. The bill also requires 21 days notice for a landlord to increase rent in tenancies of one month or longer, but less than one year, and where there is no written agreement between the landlord and tenant.



Representative Pabon answered questions from the committee and discussed the lack of affordable housing in Colorado, particularly Denver. He stressed that low income renters need protection and a 21-day eviction notice, while still not a very long time, is a step in the right direction. He stated that Colorado is only one of three states that allow for such a short eviction notice in no-lease situations. Discussion ensued about penalties and the tenant/landlord relationship.































01:45 PM --
Jack Regenbogen, representing the Colorado Center on Law & Policy, testified in support of the bill. He answered questions from the committee and emphasized that the bill only applies in cases where there is no written lease. He stated that some people may live in the same place for years on a month-to-month lease basis, and tenants are increasingly receiving eviction notices as the rental market has heated up in Colorado. The bill would assist in ending homelessness from quick evictions. He distributed the following hand-outs: a letter of support from Four Star Realty and Property Management, Inc. (Attachment A); a letter of support from the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (Attachment B); a statement of support from the Colorado Center on Law & Policy (Attachment C); and, a state-by-state comparison regarding required notice of rent increase (Attachment D).



17HouseLocal0412AttachA.pdf17HouseLocal0412AttachA.pdf 17HouseLocal0412AttachB.pdf17HouseLocal0412AttachB.pdf



17HouseLocal0412AttachC.pdf17HouseLocal0412AttachC.pdf 17HouseLocal0412AttachD.pdf17HouseLocal0412AttachD.pdf



02:02 PM --
Reg Gallegos, representing the Anti-Displacement Coalition, spoke in support of the measure. He answered questions from the committee and stressed that this bill impacts people who cannot pay the rent or can barely pay the rent. He discussed how disruptive an eviction can be, especially one with little turn-around time for a family.



02:11 PM --
Lydia Walagorski, representing the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, spoke in support of the bill. She testified that domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness in the state, and it helps for victims to have stable housing.



02:14 PM -- Aubrey Hazgold, representing the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, spoke in support of the bill. She said that a forced move has a domino effect.



02:18 PM --
Ed Shackleford, representing the Colorado Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill. He provided a senior perspective, and the physical problems associated with a forced move.



02:20 PM --
Jennifer Solms, representing the Denver Regional Council of Governments, spoke in support of the bill. She also provided a senior perspective and stated that many older adults are on a fixed income with limited flexibility.



02:25 PM --
Kathleen Flynn, representing the American Association of Retired Persons, testified in support of the bill. She answered questions from the committee and discussed the lack of housing inventory for seniors.



02:30 PM -- Representative Pabon made closing remarks.






















BILL: SB17-245
TIME: 02:32:11 PM
MOVED: Gray
MOTION: Refer Senate Bill 17-245 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 9-4.
SECONDED: Valdez
VOTE
Coleman
Yes
Exum
Yes
Gray
Yes
Liston
No
McKean
No
Navarro
No
Ransom
No
Singer
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Valdez
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





02:43 PM -- HB17-1026



Representative Singer recapped the testimony heard on January 18, 2017, in the House Local Government Committee on HB17-1026 concerning reverse mortgage repayment when a home is uninhabitable. Concerns were raised at that hearing about reverse mortgages and unintended consequences to the reverse mortgage industry. There was also discussion about federal requirements and how this bill would align with those.



Representative Singer proposed Amendment L.002 (Attachment E). The bill, as amended, requires that the Widfire Matters Review Committee more thoroughly review this issue during the interim.



17HouseLocal0412AttachE.pdf17HouseLocal0412AttachE.pdf






























BILL: HB17-1026
TIME: 02:46:48 PM
MOVED: Singer
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment E). The motion passed on a vote of 10-2, with 1 excused.
SECONDED: Rosenthal
VOTE
Coleman
Yes
Exum
Yes
Gray
Yes
Liston
Yes
McKean
Excused
Navarro
No
Ransom
No
Singer
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Valdez
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
YES: 10 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
























































BILL: HB17-1026
TIME: 02:54:29 PM
MOVED: Singer
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1026, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 8-4, with 1 excused.
SECONDED: Gray
VOTE
Coleman
Yes
Exum
Yes
Gray
Yes
Liston
No
McKean
Excused
Navarro
No
Ransom
No
Singer
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Valdez
Yes
Wilson
No
Rosenthal
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





02:56 PM -- HB17-1293



Representative Melton, sponsor, described HB17-1293. The bill specifies that it is neither a conflict of interest nor a breach of fiduciary duty or the public trust for a local government official to serve on the board of directors of a nonprofit entity. He explained that elected officials can offer a good perspective as well as oversight to non-profit boards. He answered questions from the committee.



Representative Melton presented Amendment L.001 (Attachment F).



17HouseLocal0412AttachF.pdf17HouseLocal0412AttachF.pdf



































03:08 PM



Yelana Love, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered technical questions from the committee and clarified language in the bill regarding recusing oneself.



03:11 PM
-- Nancy Sharp, representing the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners, spoke in support of the bill. She explained that the county works cooperatively with a number of nonprofit organizations, and that commissioners serving on their boards is an efficient mechanism to track resources. She answered questions from the committee about conflicts of interest and local government.



03:20 PM --
Mark Turner, representing the Colorado Nonprofit Association, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed that nonprofits greatly benefit from local officials serving on boards.



03:23 PM --
Richard Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill helps clarify gray area in existing law.





03:25 PM



Representative Melton made closing remarks and answered further questions from the committee regarding transparency and differences between for-profit and nonprofit boards.

BILL: HB17-1293
TIME: 03:25:52 PM
MOVED: Gray
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Liston
VOTE
Coleman
Exum
Gray
Liston
McKean
Navarro
Ransom
Singer
Thurlow
Valdez
Wilson
Rosenthal
Lebsock
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection












BILL: HB17-1293
TIME: 03:26:30 PM
MOVED: Gray
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1293, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-2, with 1 excused.
SECONDED: Thurlow
VOTE
Coleman
Yes
Exum
Yes
Gray
Yes
Liston
Yes
McKean
Excused
Navarro
No
Ransom
No
Singer
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Valdez
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





03:33 PM -- HB17-1297



Representative Gray, sponsor, presented HB17-1297 regarding special district meeting compensation. Current law caps the compensation that a special district board member may receive at $1,600 per year and $100 per meeting attended. The bill increases this amount to $2,400 per year and specifies that special meetings include study sessions in specified circumstances. He explained that the last increase for special district meeting compensation was in 2005. He answered questions from the committee.



Representative Gray distributed Amendments L.001(Attachment G) and L.002 (Attachment H).



17HouseLocal0412AttachG.pdf17HouseLocal0412AttachG.pdf 17HouseLocal0412AttachH.pdf17HouseLocal0412AttachH.pdf



03:44 PM -- Evan Goulding, representing the Special District Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He answered questions from the committee about compensation and rates.



03:49 PM -- Susan Staiert, representing the Colorado Secretary of State, held a neutral position on the bill and answered questions from the committee.
















BILL: HB17-1297
TIME: 03:53:43 PM
MOVED: Gray
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment G). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Valdez
VOTE
Coleman
Exum
Gray
Liston
McKean
Navarro
Ransom
Singer
Thurlow
Valdez
Wilson
Rosenthal
Lebsock
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


























































BILL: HB17-1297
TIME: 03:54:05 PM
MOVED: Gray
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment H). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED: Singer
VOTE
Coleman
Exum
Gray
Liston
McKean
Navarro
Ransom
Singer
Thurlow
Valdez
Wilson
Rosenthal
Lebsock
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


























































BILL: HB17-1297
TIME: 03:54:30 PM
MOVED: Gray
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1297, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0, with 1 excused.
SECONDED: Valdez
VOTE
Coleman
Yes
Exum
Yes
Gray
Yes
Liston
Yes
McKean
Excused
Navarro
Yes
Ransom
Yes
Singer
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Valdez
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS





03:56 PM




The committee adjourned.


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