S_BLT_2016A 01/04/2017 09:00:00 AM Committee Summary

09:02 AM -- Office of the State Auditor



Kerri Hunter, Deputy State Auditor, introduced herself and discussed the role of the State Auditor and the issues the office has been studying related to SMART Act oversight.

















09:04 AM -- Nina Frant, Office of the State Auditor, discussed the audits related to the departments under the purview of the House and Senate Business Committees. The audit found that statutory criteria to authorize the use of a take-home vehicle are unclear and may not align with business needs; DPA's policies and rules do not align with IRS regulations regarding how much vehicle fringe benefit income should be added to an employees pay; and that the Department does not carry out all statutory functions for the use of take-home vehicles or provide central oversight or support across state government. Ms. Frant provided a handout to the committee (Attachment A).



170104 AttachA.pdf



09:09 AM -- Jenny Page, Office of the State Auditor, discussed the audit related to the conservation easement tax credit program. The audit found that the Division of Real Estate should improve its administration to review applications faster, improve management of fees and resources, and reduce the incidence of problems in conservation easement appraisals. Ms. Page provided a handout to the committee (Attachment B).



170104 AttachB.pdf



09:16 AM -- Marisa Neff, Office of the State Auditor, presented the Annual Report of the Status of Outstanding Audit Recommendations and discussed the departments over which the committees have oversight. A full copy of the report is Attachment C.



170104 AttachC.pdf





09:26 AM -- Presentation Department of Labor and Employment



Ellen Golumbek, Executive Director, provided an overview of the role of the Department and discussed their performance goals for the coming year. She provided a handout to the committee (Attachment D).



170104 AttachD.pdf



09:37 AM



Ms. Golumbek responded to questions from the committee regarding increases in FTE in the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics.





09:49 AM



Ms. Golumbek discussed an ongoing project to update and modernize the unemployment insurance database.













09:51 AM



Ms. Golumbek discussed the legislative and regulatory agenda for the year. Priorities include allowing greater administrative flexibility to negotiate fines/penalties to employers who fail to carry workers' compensation coverage; providing financial relief to injured workers whose employers did not provide coverage; changing the statute of limitations on making a knowingly false statement from date of commission to date of discovery; and increasing administrative flexibility to allow unemployment insurance claimants to change tax withholding status as necessary.



09:55 AM -- Paul Taurielo, Division of Workers' Compensation, responded to questions from the committee.



09:58 AM



Ms. Golumbek continued to discuss the Department's regulatory agenda and implementation of 2016 legislation.



10:06 AM -- Alexandra Hall, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, responded to questions from the committee.



10:12 AM



Ms. Golumbek discussed the state's workforce development initiatives including the Governor's Workforce and Education Cabinet, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Business Experiential Learning Commission, CareerWise Colorado and Denver Opportunity Youth Initiative, and the Colorado Apprenticeship Expansion Grant. She responded to questions from the committee.



10:19 AM -- Matthew Blackman, Department of Labor and Employment, responded to questions from the committee.



10:21 AM



Ms. Golumbek made closing comments.





10:22 AM -- Presentation Department of Personnel and Administration



June Taylor, Executive Director, Department of Personnel and Administration, discussed the role of the department and current programs. She provided three handouts to the committee (Attachments E, F).



170104 AttachE.pdf170104 AttachF.pdf



10:47 AM



The committee took a recess.

















11:21 AM -- Presentation Department of Regulatory Agencies



Joe Neguse, Executive Director, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), discussed the role of the department and DORA's performance plan, strategic policy initiatives, and proposed legislation. He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment

G).



170104 AttachG.pdf



11:33 AM



Mr. Neguse responded to questions from the committee regarding utilization of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.



11:38 AM



Mr. Neguse continued his overview of the activities of the Department including the regulatory and legislative agenda.



11:49 AM



The committee took a recess.



12:30 PM -- Presentation Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade



Anna Ewing, Chief Operating Office, Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), provided an overview of the mission of the office. She provided three handouts to the committee (Attachments H, I, and J).



170104 AttachH.pdf



12:42 PM



Michelle Hadwiger, Deputy Director, OEDIT, discussed strategic policy initiatives.



12:55 PM



Ms. Hadwiger responded to questions from the committee.



01:02 PM



The committee adjourned.