05B5F9C8ECCC398E87258250007083E0 Hearing Summary

The committee came back to order.

Representative Liston, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-128.  The bill requires all state agency fee increases to start on July 1 of a given year.  To increase a fee, a state agency must submit a fee increase proposal to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) by February 1, and the proposed fee increase must be approved by a majority of the JBC members.  In a fee increase proposal, state agencies must include the following information:

•   the statutory authority for the fee;

•   the amount of the fee prior to the increase;

•   the proposed increase in the fee or actual increase of an emergency fee;

•   the reason for the fee increase;

•   a timeline for the fee and anticipated impacts on fee payers and the broader economy; and

•   anticipated outcomes if the fee is not increased. In each legislative session, the JBC will introduce a bill to grant authority to state agencies to increase specific fees.

Institutions of higher education are exempted from these requirements.  Agencies may adopt emergency fee increases that do not comply with these requirements if it is necessary to comply with state or federal law, or necessary to maintain the public's health, safety, or welfare.  If a state agency adopts an emergency fee increase, it must submit a fee increase proposal outlining the increase by the next February 1.  If an emergency fee increase is not included in the next bill introduced by the JBC, the agency must reduce the fee back to its previous level and refund the increased amount to the fee payer.  If a state agency adopts a fee increase between April 1, 2018, and September 1, 2018, the state agency must treat this fee increase as an emergency fee increase.

Representative Liston answered questions from the committee.

Justin Lippard, Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in opposition to the bill.

Jennifer Cassell, Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in opposition to the bill.

Randy Kuykendall, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Lippard and Mr. Kuykendall answered questions from the committee.

Representative Liston answered questions from the committee.

Ryan Long, Legislative Council Staff, answered questions from the committee.

Suzanne Staiert, Colorado Department of State, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Liston made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Representative Liston made additional comments to the commtitee.