I_ECR_TFER_2021A 11/08/2021 09:04:36 AM Committee Summary

Senator Moreno called the meeting to order.  Dr. Phyllis Resnick, Subpanel Chair, discussed the subpanel's draft report of recommendations on spending American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.  (Attachment A). She described the process for creating the draft report and reviewed the order of presentations.

Jason Schrock, subpanel member, reviewed the subpanel's baseline economic analysis and shared a copy of his presentation (Attachment B). He reviewed the state of Colorado's post-pandemic economy, noting that high wage jobs have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, however low-wage jobs are still reduced. He explained that significant labor shortages exist in the economy.

Alison Felix, subpanel member, shared her presentation on industry impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (Attachment C). She responded to questions from the task force regarding supply chain and labor shortages. She further responded to questions from the task force regarding the impact of the pandemic on individuals by gender, and the impact of childcare disruptions on the economic recovery. She noted that the pandemic has significantly impacted women without a college degree.

Dr. Phyllis Resnick began her presentation on the people and households most impacted by the COVID recession (Attachment D). She discussed the labor market prior to COVID, noting that thousands of households relied on employment in four industries most affected by the COVID pandemic. She noted that of these households, the majority have female workers, live in rental housing, and lack a college degree. She further noted that prior to COVID, over half of these households were cost-burdened.

Dr. Resnick continue by noting that cost-burdened households are distributed among all race and ethnicity cohorts.

Representative McKean discussed the relationship between higher education and income and how trade labor affects that relationship, and Dr. Resnick responded.

Mr. Meyers asked if the subpanel was evaluating whether proposals fit under the allowable ARPA uses. Mr. Sobanet reviewed the use of the framework to evaluate a proposal to repay the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund deficit with ARPA moneys. Daniel Chase, Department of Labor and Employment, responded to questions from the committee regarding the UI solvency surcharge. He further responded to questions from the task force regarding policy choices related to the UI solvency surcharge.

Ms. Meyer discussed the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, including a sweeping and sizeable workforce impact, affected industries, and minimizing an anticipated recession. She continued discussing how economic development activities can be supported by analytics. Ms. Meyer responded to questions from the task force about the data necessary to build a model to support the task force's efforts and how long the model would take to build.

The committee recessed briefly.

The task force reconvened.

The task force began the public testimony portion of the agenda.  Written testimony submitted to the task force can be found in Attachment G.  Mr. Mike Riley, representing himself, testified regarding his experience as a front-line health care worker.

Linda Zarei, representing herself, testified regarding her experience working as a pharmacist during the pandemic.

Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified regarding the affect of the pandemic on victims of sexual assault and the need for additional funding for services for victims.

Brie Franklin, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified regarding the importance of funding for victims' services.

Fran Lanzer, representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado, testified regarding the increase in impaired driving deaths in Colorado during the pandemic.

Ms. Franklin and Ms. Harris responded to questions from the task force regarding the pandemic's effect on crime victims.

Agustina Gordo, representing United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7, testified regarding her experience as an essential food worker during the pandemic.

Benjamin Arnold, representing UFCW Local 7, testified regarding his experience as an essential food worker during the pandemic.

Monique DiGiorgio, representing Table to Farm Compost/Recyling, encouraged the task force to invest in the recycling and composting industry.

Jonathan Greenspan, representing himself, testified regarding the impacts of increased tourism driven by COVID and urged the task force to focus funding on rural communities.

Wendell Fogland, representing himself, testified regarding his experience as an essential grocery store worker during the pandemic.

Dr. Resnick commented on the subpanel's comfort level with making funding recommendations. She stated that the final funding decisions should be made by the task force, but the subpanel is comfortable conducting evaluations of proposals. The task force discussed whether the task force's report should contain specific proposals for funding. The committee discussed the elements of the task force's report, and whether funding proposals could be included as an attachment to the final report. 

The task force moved its next meeting to 3:30 on December 7. It was decided that the subpanel would revise the draft report to make recommendations on broad areas of focus and flesh out the decision-making rubric. The task force decided to discuss at its December 7 meeting how to receive submissions of funding proposals.