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S_FIN_2020A 03/12/2020 10:20:50 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Date 03/12/2020
Attendance
Hansen X
Lundeen *
Tate X
Todd X
Woodward X
Lee *
Gonzales X
Time 10:20:50 AM to 01:05:06 PM
Place SCR 357
This Meeting was called to order by Senator Gonzales
This Report was prepared by Elizabeth Burger
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB20-135 Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
HB20-1127 Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar
SB20-168 Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations

X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

SB20-135 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations

10:21:43 AM  
Senators Sonnenberg and Donovan introduced
Senate Bill 20-135.  The committee previously considered the bill
on February 27, 2020.  At that time, the committee adopted amendments
L.003 and L.004 (Attachments A and B).  Senator Sonnenberg distributed
and explained amendment L.005 (Attachment C).
10:38:41 AM  
Greg Fraser, Office of Legislative Legal
Services, responded to committee questions regarding amendments to the
bill. The committee discussed
the amendments.


10:39:46 AM
Motion Adopt amendment L.005
Moved Lundeen
Seconded
Hansen
Lundeen
Tate
Todd
Woodward
Lee
Gonzales
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


10:40:34 AM
Motion Adopt a conceptual amendment to remove L.004
Moved Lundeen
Seconded
Hansen
Lundeen
Tate
Todd
Woodward
Lee
Gonzales
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
10:41:56 AM  
The committee members commented on the bill.
10:46:18 AM  
The bill sponsors gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.


10:50:12 AM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 20-135, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Lundeen
Seconded
Hansen No
Lundeen Yes
Tate Yes
Todd No
Woodward Yes
Lee Yes
Gonzales No
Final YES: 4   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB20-1127 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar


10:51:02 AM  
Senators Todd and Sonnenberg introduced House Bill 20-1127. The bill allows a Board of Cooperative Educational Services to employ retired special education teachers in rural school districts in excess of the state pension work-after-retirement limit.
10:54:08 AM  
Dale McCall, Colorado Boards of Cooperative Educational Servcies (BOCES), testified in support of the bill. Tamara Durbin, Northeast BOCES, testified in support of the bill. Bret Miles, Northeast BOCES, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.


11:05:59 AM
Motion Refer House Bill 20-1127 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Todd
Seconded
Hansen Yes
Lundeen Yes
Tate Yes
Todd Yes
Woodward Yes
Lee Yes
Gonzales Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB20-168 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations

11:06:33 AM  

Senators Hansen and Pettersen introduced Senate Bill 20-168.  The bill extends and expands a property tax exemption for community solar gardens and increases coal severance tax collections to reimburse local governments for the reduction in local property tax revenue under the bill and for transfer to the Just Transition Fund.  The reimbursement is a new TABOR refund mechanism.  The bill sponsors distributed amendment L.004 (Attachment D).

11:14:51 AM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
11:33:05 AM  
Kevin Cray, Coalition for Community Solar Access, testified in support of the bill. Daniel Merkle, Pivot Energy, testified in support of the bill. Kyle Sundman, Namaste Solar, testified in support of the bill.
11:48:54 AM  

Suzann Kuhns, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 111, testified in opposition to the bill.

11:52:41 AM  
Phil Hayes, IBEW 111, testified in opposition to the bill.
11:56:42 AM  
Richard Orf, Associated Governments of Northern Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.
11:59:35 AM  
Patrick Boyle, Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
12:10:07 PM  

Carl Smith, SMART Transportation, testified in opposition to the bill. Pat Sollars, Peabody Energy, testified in opposition to the bill. Dianna Orf, Colorado Mining Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Stan Dempsey, Colorado Mining Association, testified in opposition to the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee. A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment E).

12:34:25 PM  
Eliza Schultz, Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified in support of the bill. Mike Kruger, Colorado Solar and Storage Association, testified in support of the bill. Brett Moore, EDP Renewables and the Interwest Energy Alliance, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
12:51:09 PM  

Senator Hansen distributed amendment L.008 (Attachment F). He explained the amendment and noted it was a replacement for amendment L.004.



12:52:06 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.008
Moved Hansen
Seconded
Hansen
Lundeen
Tate
Todd
Woodward
Lee
Gonzales
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
12:52:15 PM  
Senator Hansen gave concluding remarks regarding the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.


01:04:49 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 20-168, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Hansen
Seconded
Hansen Yes
Lundeen No
Tate Excused
Todd Yes
Woodward No
Lee Yes
Gonzales Yes
Final YES: 4   NO: 2   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


01:05:06 PM   The committee adjourned.






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