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s_sa_2017a_2017-05-04t10:40:16z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/04/2017

Location: SCR 352

Final

BILL SUMMARY for HB17-1323



SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS


Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.011 (Attachment D). The motion p

Adopt amendment L.012 (Attachment C). The motion p

Postpone House Bill 17-1323 indefinitely using a r

Refer House Bill 17-1323, as amended, to the Commi
Pass Without Objection

PASS

PASS

FAIL







10:59 AM -- HB17-1323



Senator Cooke and Senator Garcia presented House Bill 17-1323 to the committee. The reengrossed bill makes several requirements of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) related to ethics.



Commissioner ethics and rule requirements. Effective July 1, 2017, a commissioner:



• may not be eligible for appointment if he or she has served as an officer or director of any PUC-regulated entity within the immediately preceding four years;

• must not have any official relationship to, or active financial interest in, any PUC-regulated entity.



A commissioner's office becomes vacant if he or she acquires a financial interest in a person subject to PUC regulation unless he or she divests himself of the interest within a reasonable amount of time.



Additionally, the bill requires the PUC to adopt rules that set forth PUC policy on conflicts of interest, incompatible activities, and limitations on ex parte communications, and require the meetings, conferences, and programs that commissioners and staff may attend to be consistent with these rules.



Staff training. The PUC director may authorize PUC employees to undertake training and development opportunities. Specifically, the bill references training with agencies that undertake coordinated activities with the PUC, such as the Colorado Energy Office, the Air Quality Control Commission, the Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.



Recordings and audits. The bill requires the PUC director to keep a record of PUC proceedings, and to post audio recordings and other official records as required by law online for public access. DORA's executive director may periodically request a performance audit of the PUC and its staff and operations, to be conducted by the Office of the State Auditor.



Senator Cooke presented amendment L.012 (Attachment C) and amendment L.011 (Attachment D).



17SenateState0504AttachC.pdf17SenateState0504AttachC.pdf17SenateState0504AttachD.pdf17SenateState0504AttachD.pdf



Committee members discussed the bill with the sponsors.

BILL: HB17-1323
TIME: 11:19:24 AM
MOVED: Sonnenberg
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.011 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fenberg
Smallwood
Williams A.
Scott
Sonnenberg
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL: HB17-1323
TIME: 11:19:39 AM
MOVED: Sonnenberg
MOTION: Adopt amendment L.012 (Attachment C). The motion passed on a vote of 3-2.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fenberg
No
Smallwood
Yes
Williams A.
Yes
Scott
No
Sonnenberg
Yes
YES: 3 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL: HB17-1323
TIME: 11:20:13 AM
MOVED: Sonnenberg
MOTION: Refer House Bill 17-1323, as amended, to the Committee on Finance The motion failed on a vote of 1-4.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fenberg
No
Smallwood
No
Williams A.
Yes
Scott
No
Sonnenberg
No
YES: 1 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL: HB17-1323
TIME: 11:20:43 AM
MOVED: Scott
MOTION: Postpone House Bill 17-1323 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 4-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Fenberg
Yes
Smallwood
Yes
Williams A.
No
Scott
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS














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