S_BLT_2024A 01/23/2024 10:40:28 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT BUSINESS AFFAIRS & LABOR

Date

01/23/2024

Attendance
Armagost	E
Baisley	*
Coleman	*
English	*
Frizell	X
Ginal	X
Hartsook	E
Hinrichsen	*
Lieder	X
Lindstedt	X
Liston	X
Mabrey	X
Mauro	X
Ricks	E
Sullivan	*
Taggart	*
Danielson	*
Amabile	X

Time

10:40:28 AM to 02:38:04 PM

Place

Old State Library

This Meeting was called to order by

Amabile

This Report was prepared by

Matthu Beck

Hearing Items	Action Taken
hJoint Rule 25(d) discussion with Joint Budget Committee	Committee Discussion Only
hPresentation from the Office of the State Auditor	Committee Discussion Only
hSenate Bill 18-086 Presentations	Committee Discussion Only
hPresentation from the Department of Regulatory Agencies	Committee Discussion Only
hPresentation from the Department of Personnel and Administration	Committee Discussion Only
hPresentation from the Office of Economic Development and International Trade	Committee Discussion Only
hPresentation from the Department of Labor and Employment	Committee Discussion Only
hPublic Testimony	Committee Discussion Only
hCall to Order	Committee Discussion Only

Joint Rule 25(d) discussion with Joint Budget Committee - Committee Discussion Only


	10:42:17 AM	Representative Bird, Chair, Joint Budget Committee (JBC) began her remarks by explaining the various materials provided by the JBC. Materials for all agency presentations may be found at: https://leg.colorado.gov/content/hbus2024asmartact
	10:49:45 AM	Members of the JBC answered questions from the committee.
	10:58:41 AM	Representative Bird spoke about several bills passed during previous legislative sessions and their financial impacts.
	11:03:10 AM	Representative Bird gave a brief overview of the OEDIT budget request.

Presentation from the Office of the State Auditor - Committee Discussion Only


	11:08:39 AM	Jenny Page, Audit Manager, Office of the State Auditor (OSA) spoke about the performance audit conducted as required by the SMART Act related to the gas pipeline safety program.
	11:16:37 AM	Ms. Page spoke about recommendations from the audit for the Public Utilities Commission.
	11:23:49 AM	Ferminia Herbert, Audit Manager, OSA gave an overview of recommendations made to departments overseen by the committee.

Senate Bill 18-086 Presentations - Committee Discussion Only

11:29:36 AM

Jennifer Sobanet, Chancellor, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, spoke about Senate Bill18-086 and the impact it has had on the universities.

11:31:33 AM

Dr. Rachel Gardner, Director of Strategic Initiatives, National Cybersecurity Center (NCC), spoke about the role of the NCC with the cybersecurity field in the state.

11:42:14 AM

Lance Bolton, President, Pike's Peak State College, spoke about cyber security training programs at the college.

11:48:13 AM

Dr. Indrakshi Ray, Director of the Colorado Center for Cyber Security, spoke about the importance of digital devices and cyber security in society.

11:57:19 AM

Representative Amabile
asked the presenters if they could pause their presentation to vote on
continuing funding for the next three years of these programs.

11:57:54 AM	Motion	To recommend to the Joint Budget Committee that funding for Senate Bill 18-086 be continued.
	Moved	Amabile
	Seconded	Mauro

	Armagost	Excused
	Baisley
	Coleman
	English
	Frizell
	Ginal
	Hartsook	Excused
	Hinrichsen
	Lieder
	Lindstedt
	Liston
	Mabrey
	Mauro
	Ricks	Excused
	Sullivan
	Taggart
	Danielson
	Amabile
		YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

11:57:55 AM

Andrea Borrego, Metropolitan State University, spoke about the program at the University.

12:02:27 PM

Jess Young, Provost, Western Colorado University, spoke about the importance of the funding for developing their program.

12:05:51 PM

Cher Hendricks, Colorado Mesa University, spoke about the program and employment rates at the University.

Presentation from the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Committee Discussion Only


	12:09:03 PM	Patty Salazar, Executive Director, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), gave an overview of the presentation for the committee.
	12:15:33 PM	Director Salazar spoke about budget requests by the Department and went over their legislative agenda for the general assembly this year.
	12:18:21 PM	Director Salazar gave an update on the registry of conservation easements as required by statute.
	12:25:30 PM	Daryl Branson, Telecom Programs Section Chief, gave an update on the 9-1-1 program in the state. He spoke about investigations into outages. Mr. Branson answered questions from members of the committee.

Presentation from the Department of Personnel and Administration - Committee Discussion Only


	12:47:59 PM	Tony Gherardini, Executive Director, spoke about the services and programs through the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA). Heather Velasquez, Deputy Executive Director, went over the important goals for the Department in FY 23-24 and spoke about performance reviews within the department.
	01:00:02 PM	Director Gherardini went over budget requests and supplementals for the Department.
	01:02:19 PM	Tobin Follenweider spoke about stimulus funding implementation and different programs in the department.

Presentation from the Office of Economic Development and International Trade - Committee Discussion Only


	01:13:15 PM	Eve Liebermann, Executive Director, spoke about OEDIT and their organization chart as well as goals for FY23-24. She spoke about implementation of stimulus funds.
	01:26:27 PM	Director Liebermann gave an update on the Opportunity Now program. Staff gave updates on the small business program and the covid relief program.

Presentation from the Department of Labor and Employment - Committee Discussion Only


	01:43:03 PM	Joe Barela, Executive Director, gave an overview of the different office and divisions within the department.
	01:48:37 PM	Director Barela spoke about the difficulties with unemployment claims after the pandemic and changes being made to improve customer service. Members of the department answered questions from the committee related to unemployment insurance customer service.
	02:04:12 PM	Director Barela gave an overview of the department's regulatory and legislative agendas. He spoke about rural funding and partnerships.
	02:17:37 PM	Members of the committee asked the department questions related to guardrails in worker protections.

Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only


	02:22:01 PM	Ms. Ashley Troxell, representing themself, testified. Mr. Jimmy Smrz, representing themself, testified. Kiim Mosley, representing themself, testified. Ms. Abigail Blair, representing themself, testified. Mr. Eli Katz, representing Zwiski Foundation, testified.

Call to Order - Committee Discussion Only

02:38:04 PM

The committee adjourned.