S_FIN_2018A 04/24/2018 02:04:58 PM Committee Summary

Michael Hartman, Executive Director, Department of Revenue, introduced himself to the committee.

Chris White, Executive Director, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, introduced Paul Washington, Jody Kole, Steven Hutt, Amber Hills, and Jennifer Lopez, appointees to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority Board of Directors. Mr. Washington, Ms. Kole, Mr. Hutt, Ms. Hills, and Ms. Lopez explained their qualifications to serve on the board.

Senators Baumgardner and Kefalas, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-267, which creates a maintenance fund for controlled maintenance of the Carr Justice Center and specifies how moneys will be appropriated to and from the account.

Senators Kefalas and Baumgardner, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1374, which eliminates the eligibility of certain buildings to receive state funding for controlled maintenance. It also creates a process to plan for and fund future controlled maintenance needs for these facilities.

Kori Donaldson, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to respond to committee questions.

Senators Kefalas and Baumgardner responded to committee questions.

Senator Kefalas distributed and explained amendment L.005 [Attachment A].

Senators Kefalas and Baumgardner, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1371, which adds spending and encumbrance guidelines for capital construction projects to the Colorado Revised Statutes.

Senator Gardner, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-262, which funds programs at the state's public higher education institutions to achieve Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) master plan goals. Senator Gardner distributed amendment L.001 [Attachment B].

Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, representing the Department of Higher Education, testified in support of the bill.

Peter Han, representing the Colorado School of Mines, testified in support of the bill.

Nancy McCallin, representing the Colorado Community College System, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members received a letter of support from several institutions of higher education [Attachment C].

Dr. Janine Davidson, representing Metropolitan State University of Denver, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Reed responded to additional committee questions.

Senator Kefalas, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 18-1372, which exempts an account in the Capital Construction Fund from current law set-aside and appropriations requirements.

Senator Gardner, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-247, which creates the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Continuation of Benefits Board to review submissions from participating employers for the continuation of medical and dental benefits for the dependents of any employee who dies in a work-related death and whose duties were directly involved with the provision of police or fire protection services. Senator Gardner distributed and explained amendment L.001 [Attachment D].

Senator Martinez Humenik, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-248, which authorizes local governments and urban renewal authorities to enter into intergovernmental agreements regarding the repayment of additional revenues received from a voter approved property tax mill levy increase.  Senator Martinez Humenik distributed amendment L.001 [Attachment E].

Chris Woodruff, representing the Colorado Assessor's Association, testified in support of the bill.

Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill.

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

Senators Neville and Moreno, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-269, which creates a program in the Department of Public Safety to disburse funds to local education providers to make school security-related improvements.  Senators Neville and Moreno responded to committee questions.

Senator Smallwood, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-259, which clarifies that marijuana excise taxes are due when marijuana is transferred between retail marijuana cultivation facilities.  In addition, it makes changes to the authority of local governments to levy taxes on retail marijuana.  Senator Smallwood distributed amendments L.001 through L.007 [Attachments F through L].

Dean Meizer, representing LivWell, testified in support of the bill.

Sal Pace, representing Pueblo County, testified in support of the bill.

Robert DeGabrielle, representing Las Suenos Farms, testified in support of the bill.

Richard Kwessel, representing Strawberry Fields, testified in support of the bill.

Scott Smith, representing Three Rivers Development, testified on the bill.

Michael Cole, representing Kingpin Farms LLC, testified on the bill.

Shaely Needs, representing Pueblo West Organics, testified on the bill.

Dan Irey, representing Nature's Gift Shop LLC, testified on the bill.

Kevin Gallagher, representing the Cannabis Business Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

David Munn, representing Colorado Cannabis, testified in support of the bill.

Harley Gifford, representing Pueblo West, testified on the bill.

Senators Jahn and Neville, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1381, which permits a medical marijuana establishment to purchase from any cultivator after a transition period.

Jordan Wellington, representing Maggie's Farm and Lightshade, testified in support of the bill.

Dean Heizer, representing LivWell, testified in support of the bill.

Jim Burack, representing the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) within the Department of Revenue, testified on the bill and responded to committee questions.

Dominique Mendiola, representing MED, responded to additional committee questions.

Mr. Heizer responded to committee questions.

Shawn Coleman, representing Terrapin Care Station, testified in support of the bill.

Michelle Wright, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Dave Cuesta, representing Native Roots, testified in support of the bill.

Kevin Gallagher, representing the Cannabis Business Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Bill Conkling, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Steve Brooks, representing Lightshade, testified in support of the bill.

Senators Neville and Jahn provided closing comments on the bill.