H_TRA_2017A 04/12/2017 Committee Summary
Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY
| Date: | 04/12/2017 |
ATTENDANCE
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| Time: | 01:33 PM to 02:54 PM |
Becker J.
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E
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Bridges
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X
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| Place: | HCR 0112 |
Buck
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X
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Carver
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X
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| This Meeting was called to order by |
Esgar
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X
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| Representative Mitsch Bush |
Ginal
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X
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Hansen
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X
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| This Report was prepared by |
Jackson
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X
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| Katie Ruedebusch |
Lawrence
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X
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McLachlan
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X
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Nordberg
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*
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Winter
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X
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Mitsch Bush
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X
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X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
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| Bills Addressed: | Action Taken: | ||
| HB17-1296 SB17-153 SB17-105 |
Referred to House Finance Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole |
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01:34 PM -- HB 17-1296
Representatives Nordberg and Kraft-Tharp introduced House Bill 17-1296. The bill, recommended by the Legislative Audit Committee, clarifies the criteria and requirements for the assignment of state-owned vehicles to state agencies and employees. Under this bill, the assignment of a vehicle to a state agency is only authorized when the agency's use of the vehicle is likely to meet the minimum required mileage for the vehicle's intended work, or if the agency can justify the need for a permanent assignment of a vehicle for a unique use.
State agency refers mainly to Executive Branch agencies, and it does not include Judicial or Legislative Branch agencies, or institutions of higher education. However, the definition of agency does include the State Board of Stock Inspection Commissioners. A state agency may assign a vehicle to an officer or employee of the agency for business and commuting purposes for the following reasons:
• assignment of the vehicle is necessary to conduct official and legitimate state business;
• the assignment either meets the federal Internal Revenue Service definition of qualified nonpersonal use or is the most cost efficient means of transportation; and
• assignment of the vehicle complies with any additional criteria established in rules adopted by the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA).
The bill specifies that an officer or employee of an agency must pay income tax on the value of the fringe benefit of an assigned vehicle.
The authorization of a vehicle assignment must be submitted in writing to the Division of Central Services in DPA by the executive director of an agency or their designee. The director of the division must establish a program and adopt rules to annually to verify that the assignment of all state owned vehicles comply with state and federal law.
On or before September 1, 2019, the DPA is required to report to the Legislative Audit Committee on the implementation and enforcement of this bill.
01:42 PM -- Ms. Nina Frant, representing the Office of the State Auditor, testified in support of the bill. She answered several committee questions.
01:51 PM -- Mr. Bob Jaros, representing DPA, testified in support of the bill.
01:55 PM
Representatives Nordberg and Kraft-Tharp gave some closing remarks on the bill.
| BILL: | HB17-1296 | |
| TIME: | 01:56:29 PM | |
| MOVED: | Nordberg | |
| MOTION: | Refer House Bill 17-1296 to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0 with 2 excused. | |
| SECONDED: | Buck | |
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VOTE
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Becker J.
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Excused
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Bridges
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Excused
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Buck
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Yes
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Carver
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Yes
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Esgar
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Yes
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Ginal
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Yes
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Hansen
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Yes
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Jackson
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Yes
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Lawrence
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Yes
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McLachlan
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Yes
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Nordberg
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Yes
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Winter
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Yes
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Mitsch Bush
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Yes
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Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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01:59 PM -- SB 17-153
Representatives Esgar introduced Senate Bill 17-153. The bill replaces the Southwest Chief Rail Line Economic Development, Rural Tourism, and Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance Commission with the Southwest Chief and Front Range Passenger Rail Commission, also housed in the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The Southwest Chief and Front Range Passenger Rail Commission assumes the powers and duties of the old commission, which was set to repeal on July 1, 2017, as a Type 1 transfer. These duties include the coordination of efforts to ensure that track repairs and upgrades required for the continuation of existing Southwest Chief Rail service in Colorado are completed, extending rail service to Pueblo, and exploring the benefits of extending service to Walsenberg.
The Southwest Chief Rail Line Economic Development, Rural Tourism, and Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance Commission fund will continue, and the commission may expend money from the fund to cover administrative and staffing costs, as well as the costs of necessary studies. The commission is increased from 9 to 13 commissioners. Of the voting members, five are appointed by the Governor and will represent different stakeholders, five are appointed from metropolitan planning organizations, and one member is appointed by the Regional Transportation District. The commission also includes two non-voting members: an employee of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and an employee of Amtrak.
The commission is also tasked with developing draft legislation that facilitates the development of a passenger rail system that provides service in and along the I-25 corridor. The commission must present the draft legislation to the Local Government committees of the General Assembly no later than December 1, 2017.
Representative Esgar distributed a fact sheet to the committee (Attachment A). The committee received a letter of support from the City of Trinidad (Attachment B).
170412 AttachA.pdf170412 AttachB.pdf
02:02 PM -- Mr. Carl Smith, representing the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD), testified in support of the bill.
02:05 PM -- Mr. Jim Souby, representing the Colorado Rail Passenger Association and the Southwest Chief Commission, testified in support of the bill.
| BILL: | SB17-153 | |
| TIME: | 02:11:05 PM | |
| MOVED: | Esgar | |
| MOTION: | Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection. | |
| SECONDED: | Hansen | |
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VOTE
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Becker J.
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Excused
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Bridges
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Buck
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Carver
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Esgar
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Ginal
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Hansen
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Jackson
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Lawrence
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McLachlan
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Nordberg
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Winter
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Mitsch Bush
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YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
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170412 AttachC.pdf
02:12 PM
Representative Esgar gave some closing remarks on the bill.
| BILL: | SB17-153 | |
| TIME: | 02:12:22 PM | |
| MOVED: | Esgar | |
| MOTION: | Refer Senate Bill 17-153, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 8-4, with 1 excused. | |
| SECONDED: | Hansen | |
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VOTE
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Becker J.
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Excused
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Bridges
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Yes
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Buck
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No
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Carver
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No
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Esgar
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Yes
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Ginal
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Yes
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Hansen
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Yes
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Jackson
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Yes
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Lawrence
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No
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McLachlan
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Yes
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Nordberg
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No
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Winter
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Yes
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Mitsch Bush
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Yes
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Final YES: 8 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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02:15 PM -- SB 17-105
Representatives Becker, K. and Esgar introduced Senate Bill 17-105. The reengrossed bill requires investor-owned electric utilities (i.e. Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy) to provide comprehensive billing statements, as set forth in the bill, to their customers. Beginning January 1, 2018, on a schedule determined by the Public Utilities Commission, utilities must submit a new billing statement format for review by the commission, and again whenever a change is made. The commission must review a filing within 30 days and, if it determines the filing does not meet the criteria set forth in the bill, it may require a utility to resubmit a filing within 60 days. The commission may, however, extend this deadline upon request. Representative Esgar distributed a packet to the committee (Attachment D). The sponsors answered several committee questions.
170412 AttachD.pdf
02:22 PM -- Mr. Tommy Gallegos, representing Xcel Energy, testified in support of the bill with amendments. He answered several committee questions.
02:29 PM -- Ms. Theresa Conley, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
02:32 PM -- Ms. Heidi Morgan, representing Black Hills Energy, testified from a neutral position on the bill. She answered several committee questions.
| BILL: | SB17-105 | |
| TIME: | 02:42:50 PM | |
| MOVED: | Esgar | |
| MOTION: | Adopt amendment L.010 (Attachment E). The motion passed on a vote of 9-3. | |
| SECONDED: | Jackson | |
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VOTE
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Becker J.
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Excused
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Bridges
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Yes
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Buck
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No
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Carver
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No
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Esgar
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Yes
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Ginal
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Yes
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Hansen
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Yes
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Jackson
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Yes
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Lawrence
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Yes
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McLachlan
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Yes
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Nordberg
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No
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Winter
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Yes
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Mitsch Bush
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Yes
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YES: 9 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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| BILL: | SB17-105 | |
| TIME: | 02:45:28 PM | |
| MOVED: | Esgar | |
| MOTION: | Adopt amendment L.011 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection. | |
| SECONDED: | Hansen | |
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VOTE
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Becker J.
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Excused
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Bridges
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Buck
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Carver
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Esgar
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Ginal
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Hansen
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Jackson
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Lawrence
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McLachlan
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Nordberg
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Winter
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Mitsch Bush
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YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
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| BILL: | SB17-105 | |
| TIME: | 02:46:58 PM | |
| MOVED: | Esgar | |
| MOTION: | Adopt amendment L.012 (Attachment G) The motion passed on a vote of 10-2. | |
| SECONDED: | Winter | |
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VOTE
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Becker J.
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Excused
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Bridges
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Yes
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Buck
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No
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Carver
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Yes
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Esgar
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Yes
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Ginal
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Yes
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Hansen
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Yes
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Jackson
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Yes
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Lawrence
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Yes
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McLachlan
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Yes
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Nordberg
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No
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Winter
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Yes
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Mitsch Bush
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Yes
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YES: 10 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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| BILL: | SB17-105 | |
| TIME: | 02:48:03 PM | |
| MOVED: | Esgar | |
| MOTION: | Adopt amendment L.013 (Attachment H). The motion passed without objection. | |
| SECONDED: | Winter | |
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VOTE
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Becker J.
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Excused
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Bridges
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Buck
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Carver
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Esgar
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Ginal
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Hansen
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Jackson
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Lawrence
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McLachlan
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Nordberg
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Winter
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Mitsch Bush
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YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
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170412 AttachH.pdf
02:50 PM
Representatives Becker, K. and Esgar gave some closing remarks on the bill.
| BILL: | SB17-105 | |
| TIME: | 02:50:31 PM | |
| MOVED: | Esgar | |
| MOTION: | Refer Senate Bill 17-105, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 8-4, with 1 excused | |
| SECONDED: | Winter | |
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VOTE
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Becker J.
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Excused
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Bridges
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Yes
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Buck
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No
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Carver
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No
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Esgar
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Yes
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Ginal
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Yes
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Hansen
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Yes
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Jackson
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Yes
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Lawrence
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No
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McLachlan
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Yes
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Nordberg
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No
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Winter
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Yes
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Mitsch Bush
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Yes
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Final YES: 8 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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02:53 PM
The committee adjourned.