S_FIN_2016A 04/21/2016 12:24:46 PM Committee Summary

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present.



12:24 PM -- SCR16-002



Senator Baumgardner, prime sponsor, presented Senate Concurrent Resolution 16-002, which submits a measure to the voters at the 2016 general election. The resolution proposes amending the constitution to create an exemption from property taxation for possessory interests in real property.



12:26 PM -- Ms. Emily Ibach, representing the Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the resolution.















































12:27 PM



Senator Baumgardner made closing remarks on the bill and addressed questions from the committee.

12:29 PM -- HB16-1281



Senator Tate, prime sponsor, returned to continue his presentation of House Bill 16-1281. The committee heard witness testimony on the bill on March 24. The bill modifies the implementation of the state's twice monthly payroll system authorized through House Bill 15-1392. The bill allows the State Personnel Director within the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) to determine when to begin paying salaries twice a month, if it is determined that it is necessary to delay until after July 1, 2017, due to the implementation of the Human Resources Information System (HRIS).



12:32 PM -- Mr. Jack Wylie, Legislative Liaison, Department of Personnel and Administration and Mr. Michael Shea, Legislative Liaison, Office of Information Technology, addressed questions from the committee about the progress towards implementation of the HRIS. Committee discussion ensued.





12:49 PM



The committee took a brief recess.





12:51 PM



The committee returned to order. Discussion continued on the money spent to date on the project and the progress towards implementation. Senator Tate addressed a question from the committee.





















12:54 PM



The bill was laid over to Thursday, April 28.





12:54 PM -- HB16-1009



Senator Cooke, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 16-1009. The bill, as amended by the House Transportation and Energy Committee, allows the current Fallen Heroes group special license plate to be issued to a local government. A local government that opts to use Fallen Heroes license plates on its vehicles must pay material fees and the required donation to the Colorado Chapter of the Concerns of Police Survivors, but is not required to pay the one-time special license plate fee of $50, nor the specific ownership tax or registration fees from which local governments are already exempt.



12:56 PM -- Ms. Heather Tharp, representing herself, and Lieutenant Robert Cook, representing the Larimer County Sheriffs Office and the Colorado Chapter of the Concerns of Police Survivors, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Tharp shared her experience as the wife of a fallen hero. Lieutenant Cook spoke about police officers that have been killed in the line of duty.





01:07 PM



Senator Cooke made some closing remarks on the bill. He addressed questions form the committee. Lieutenant Cook also addressed committee questions.

01:13 PM -- HB16-1160



Senator Tate next presented House Bill 16-1160, which continues the regulation of surgical assistants and surgical technologists until September 1, 2021. These health professions are regulated by the Division of Professions and Occupations in the Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA). The bill also requires that surgical assistants and technologists have a fingerprint-based background check prior to being registered. Employers of surgical assistants and technicians must report positive drug tests involving these employees to DORA. Committee members received information about press coverage regarding House Bill 16-1160 (Attachment A.)



16SenateFinance0421AttachA.pdf



01:14 PM -- Ms. Catherine Sparkman, Ms. Holly Falco, and Mr. Jeff Brown, all representing surgical assistants in Colorado, testified in support of the bill.





01:24 PM



Members of the committee and Senator Tate commented on the merits of the bill.

01:30 PM



The meeting adjourned.