S_FIN_2020A 02/11/2020 02:05:26 PM Committee Summary

Jack Wylie, Department of Personnel and Administration, responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill.

Senators Fields and Moreno introduced Senate Bill 20-029 and distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The bill increases the amount of basic cash assistance for a Colorado Works recipient by 10 percent for FY 2020-21 and then adjusts the amount for inflation in subsequent years. Senator Moreno explained amendment L.001, which decreases the 10 percent increase to 5 percent and requires the Joint Budget Committee to annually review the sustainability of the Colorado Long-term Works Reserve and to make adjustments in the funding source of the cost of living adjustment if the balance of the reserve is less that $34 million. The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Committee discussion ensued on the bill's fiscal impact and the sources of funding to the Colorado Long-term Works Reserve.

Gini Pingenot, Colorado Counties Inc., tesified regarding her organization's position on the bill.

Greg Romberg, Arapahoe County Commissioners, testified regarding concerns with the bill and the county's position on amendment L.001.

Chrissy Witzburg, Bayaud Enterprises, testified in support of the bill.

Norm Davey, Together Colorado, testified in support of the bill and distributed materials in support of the bill to the committee (Attachment B).

Katie Creedon, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Aditi Ramaswami, Children's Hospital Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Jack Regenbogen, Colorado Center on Law and Poverty, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout regarding the bill (Attachment C).

Isabel Cruz, Center for Work Education and Employment, testified in support of the bill.

Judith Rubio, Center for Work Education and Employment, testified in support of the bill.

Members of the committee commented on amendment L.001.  Senators Field and Moreno gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.

Members of the committee commented on the bill.

Senators Coram and Fenberg introduced Senate Bill 20-018. The bill creates a grant program and working group in the Department of Local Affairs concerning homeless populations and wildfire risk reduction.

Adam Wilms, Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, offered to respond to committee questions regarding the bill.

Senator Lundeen introduced Senate Bill 20-074. The bill creates the Highly Effective Teacher Bonus Program to distribute money to local education providers for bonuses and recruiting incentives for highly effective teachers. He responded to questions from the committee.

Committee discussion on the bill continued.

Kevin Vick, Colorado Education Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Rob Gould, Colorado Classroom Teachers Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Gould responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Gould and Mr. Vick responded to committee questions regarding the effectiveness of teacher bonuses.

Committee discussion with Mr. Gould and Mr. Vick continued.

Luke Ragland, Ready Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Lundeen made closing remarks on the bill.

Committee members made closing comments on the bill.

Senator Tate introduced Senate Bill 20-021, which was previously heard by the committee on February 6, 2020.  This bill expands certain requirements that must be included in new state tax expenditure bills or legislation extending an expiring tax expenditure.

Committee members commented on the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee reconvened.

Senator Gardner, bill sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 20-109 and described the bill. The bill reclassifies short-term rental properties as commercial, for the purposes of property taxes. The committee received three handouts (Attachments E, F, and G).

Senator Gardner distributed and described three amendments, L.001, L.002, and L.003 (Attachments H, I, and J).

Senator Gardner responded to questions from the committee.

Marita Lee Fiddler Sherman, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner John Messner, Gunnison County, testified in support of the bill.

Frank Celico, Summit County Assessor, testified on the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment K).  Mr. Celico responded to questions from the committee.

Commissioner Richard Cimino, Grand County, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment L).

Commissioner Messner, Mr. Celico, and Commissioner Cimino responded to questions from the bill sponsor.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Bob Fixter, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Ms. Kinder made further comments.

Liz Peetz, Colorado Association of Realtors, testified against the bill. Ms. Peetz responded to questions from the bill sponsor.

Senator Gardner made closing comments.