h_fin_2016a_2016-03-09t13:36:21z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/09/2016

02:12 PM -- HB16-1297



Representative Court, sponsor, introduced House Bill 16-1297. The bill expands the number of voluntary contribution designations (or income tax check-offs) that may appear on a state individual income tax form from 15 to 20 check-offs. The bill also lowers the minimum amount of contributions that a checkoff program must receive in order to remain on the tax form from $75,000 to $50,000. Finally, the bill reestablishes the income tax check-offs that were excluded from the 2015 individual income tax form because they did not receive the minimum contribution in tax year 2014. The six programs that will be reestablished are:

• The Colorado Healthy Rivers check-off program;

• The Alzheimer's Association check-off program;

• The Colorado Multiple Sclerosis check-off program;

• The Colorado Cancer check-off program;

• The Make-A-Wish Foundation check-off program, and

• The Unwanted Horse Fund.

These check-offs would appear on the 2016 income tax form. Under the bill, these programs would not be treated as "first time programs." Each check-off program would have to receive $50,000 contribution amount in the first year and every following year to remain on the form. Each check-off program contains a repealer clause, effective January 1, 2021, unless the program is continued by the General Assembly. Representative Court distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment C).



16HouseFin0309AttachC.pdf



02:16 PM -- Mr. Mark Turner, representing the Colorado Nonprofit Association, testified in support of the bill.



02:19 PM -- Ms. Coral Cosway, representing the Colorado Alzheimer's Association, testified in support of the bill.



02:20 PM -- Mr. Tim Bergman, representing the Colorado Wyoming Multiple Sclerosis Society, testified in support of the bill.



02:22 PM -- Mr. Duane Adams, representing the Colorado Unwanted Horse Alliance, testified in support of the bill.



02:24 PM -- Ms. Casey Davenhill, representing the Colorado Watershed Association and the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund, testified in support of the bill.



02:26 PM -- Mr. R J Ours, representing the American Cancer Society, testified in support of the bill.



02:28 PM -- Ms. Jen Boulton, representing Colorado Trout Unlimited, testified in support of the bill.