H_TLG_2019A 03/06/2019 01:37:52 PM Committee Summary

Representative Galindo introduced House Bill 19-1210 concerning the repeal of the prohibitions on a local government establishing minimum wage laws within its jurisdiction. Local governments may enact laws to establish minimum wage. The amendment L.001 (Attachment A) will allow intergovernmental agreements for this purpose.

Representative Melton made introductory remarks about the bill.

The committee questioned the sponsors about stakeholders, including county government organizations and employers, costs for businesses, the option to lower the wage, and differences in minimum wage amount across jurisdictions.

The committee continued to question the sponsors about the bill.

Michael Hancock, representing the city and county of Denver testified in support of the bill.

Kevin Bommer, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill.

Jarod Make, representing A Better Balance, testified in support of the bill.

Debra Brown, representing Good Business Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Anita Seitz, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  She provided a handout (Attachment B).

The committee questioned the witnesses about wages across jurisdictions, working for employers who may be dealing with different wages for workers in the same day or over several days, as well as the change of a wage through ordinance or an election.

Judy Amabile, representing Polar Bottle, testified in support of the bill.

Jenny Willford, representing the Northglenn City Council, testified in support of the bill.

Adam Alleman, representing the Denver Game League, testified in support of the bill.

Claire Levy, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill.  She provided a handout (Attachment C).

The committee questioned the witnesses about the wage for supporting a family and evidence of benefit reductions due to higher wages.

Michael Parrish, representing the Colorado People's Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Thomas Davidson, representing Summit County, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout (Attachment D).

Brenda Lozado, representing care providers in Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Reverend Tony Henderson, representing Together Colorado and the African American Methodist Church, testified in support of the bill.

Sarah Marcogliese, representing Native Earth Landscape, testified in support of the bill.

Fred Smith, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Harry Hempy, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

The committee questioned the witnesses about organizations supporting the bill.

Michael Valdez, representing the Special District Association of Colorado, testified neutral to the bill.

Tony Gagliardi, representing NFIB, testified in opposition to the bill.

Loren Furman, representing the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.

Chris Howes, representing the Colorado Retail Council, testified in opposition to the bill.

Don Knox, representing the Home Care Association of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.

The committee questioned the witnesses about home healthcare rates, wages, reimbursement amounts, how other state's home healthcare agencies handle multiple minimum wages, other state minimum wage amounts and the movement of business to those locations, as well as impacts on local businesses. A map of other state wages was shown (Attachment E).

Doug Farmer, representing the Colorado Health Care Association and the Center for Assisted Living, testified in opposition to the bill.

Corky Kyle, representing the Colorado Assisted Living Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Sonia Riggs, representing the Colorado Restaurant Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Nicholas Colglazier, representing the Denver Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill.

The committee questioned the witnesses about inclusion of stakeholders, the need for additional nursing facilities in rural areas, the pay for employees working in nursing facilities and assisted living homes, and the cost to employers and the state for wages.

Grier Bailey, representing the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketer's Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Representative Galindo talked about amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

The committee questioned the sponsors about the amendment.

The sponsors provided closing remarks about the bill.

The committee made closing remarks about the bill.