h_sa_2017a_2017-03-09t11:00:25z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/09/2017

Location: LSB A

11:25 AM -- HB17-1155



Representative Thurlow, prime bill sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1155. Upon receipt of a complaint alleging that a campaign finance disclosure report contains errors or omissions, the bill requires the Department of State to provide notice of the alleged deficiencies to the committee or party treasurer that submitted the report. The committee or party treasurer, upon receipt of this notice, may request the postponement of the hearing on the complaint and has 15 business days to file an addendum to the report to correct the deficiencies. No penalty is assessed if the addendum to correct the deficiencies is submitted within 15 days. Upon receipt of this addendum, a hearing by an administrative law judge must be set within 30 days to determine if all issues in the complaint have been resolved. The ability to postpone the hearing and to submit an addendum to fix errors or omissions applies only in cases of a good faith effort by a committee or party treasurer to make timely campaign finance disclosures or for disclosures that are in substantial compliance with statutory disclosure requirements. Representative Thurlow explained and distributed amendment L.002, which is a strike-below amendment, to the committee (Attachment B).



17HouseState0309AttachB.pdf



Representative Thurlow answered questions from the committee.



11:36 AM -- Suzanne Staiert, Colorado Department of State, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Staiert answered questions from the committee.





11:45 AM



Representative Thurlow and Ms. Staiert answered questions from the committee.



12:01 PM -- Matt Arnold, Campaign Integrity Watchdog, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Arnold answered questions from the committee.



12:29 PM -- Mario Nicolais, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Nicolais answered questions from the committee.



12:48 PM -- Peg Perl, Colorado Ethics Watch, testified in support of the bill with amendment L.002.





12:53 PM

12:53 PM



Representative Thurlow made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members made comments about the bill. Representative Thurlow made additional comments to the committee. Sam Gedge, Institute for Justice, submitted a letter to the committee concerning House Bill 17-1155 (Attachment C).



17HouseState0309AttachC.pdf



Representative Williams asked to be excused under the rule related to a member having a personal or financial interest in a bill (House Rule 25 (j)(6)).

12:59 PM



The committee adjourned.