S_LG_2017A 03/23/2017 Committee Summary

11:03 AM -- SB 17-245



Senator Priola, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of Senate Bill 17-245 concerning notice requirements for short-term leases and distributed Amendment L.002 (Attachment A) and Amendment L. 003 (Attachment B). Under current law, a residential tenancy of one month or more but less than six months may be terminated by either party with seven days notice. This bill extends the notice to 21 days. The bill also requires 21 days notice for a landlord to increase rent in tenancies of one month or longer, but less than one year, and where there is no written agreement between the landlord and the tenant.



170323 AttachA.pdf170323 AttachB.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



11:06 AM -- Jack Regenbogen, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a fact sheet about the bill (Attachment C) and information about similar laws in other states (Attachment D). He also distributed letters of support for the bill from Julie Reiskin, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, (Attachment E) and Caldwell Sullivan, Four Star Realty (Attachment F). He responded to questions from the committee about the bill.



170323 AttachC.pdf170323 AttachD.pdf170323 AttachE.pdf170323 AttachF.pdf











11:14 AM -- Jeanette Hensley, Colorado Senior Lobby, spoke in support of the bill.



11:17 AM -- Lydia Waligorski,, Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, spoke in support of the bill.



11:19 AM -- Jennifer Solms, Denver Regional Council of Governments, spoke in support of the bill and discussed hardships experienced by persons related to evictions and potential evictions.



11:25 AM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Priola closed his remarks on the bill.

11:34 AM -- HB 17-1174



Senator Crowder and Senator Guzman, co-prime sponsors, discussed the provisions of House Bill 17-1174 concerning exempt rural telecom local improvement district requirements and distributed Amendment L.005 (Attachment G). Current law requires a county seeking to establish a local improvement district (LID) for the purpose of financing a telecommunications service improvement to enter into an agreement with a telecommunications service provider to provide services, facilities, plants, or systems in the area in which the telecommunications service improvement will be constructed. Additionally, the new telecommunications service must be wholly owned, operated, and maintained by the telecommunications service provider, rather than the county. This reengrossed bill permits a rural county with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents to establish a LID in an unserved area to contract with a telecommunications service provider or an advanced service provider to fund the construction of an advanced service improvement.



170323 AttachG.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



11:36 AM -- Eric Bergman, Colorado Counties, Inc., spoke in support of the bill and explained that Mike Brazell, Park County Commissioner, also supports the bill. He also responded to questions from the committee about LIDs in Colorado and current law.



11:42 AM -- Mike Nelson, Comcast, spoke in support of the bill.



11:49 AM -- Dianna Orf, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.







11:51 AM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Tate and Senator Kerr closed their remarks on the bill.

11:52 AM



The committee recessed.







11:54 AM -- SB 17-252



Senator Tate, prime sponsor, discussed the provisions of Senate Bill 17-252 concerning utility cost saving contracts for local governments. Under current law, local governments may enter into contracts for utility cost-savings which are defined to include installations, modifications, or services designed to reduce energy consumption and operating costs in buildings or other facilities. This bill authorizes local governments to enter into utility cost-savings contracts for increasing meter accuracy and clarifies that operation and maintenance cost-savings calculations must be made on a net basis.



The following person testified on the bill:



11:58 AM -- Paul Engle, Ameresco, spoke in support of the bill and explained how his company helps organizations meet energy saving and energy management challenges.



11:58 AM -- Taylor Lewis, Colorado Energy Office, spoke in support of the bill and explained how energy performance contracts helps governmental entities to finance energy and water conservation measures.



12:07 PM -- Jorge Figueroa, Western Resource Advocates, spoke in support of the bill and explained how improved water meter technologies may help public water providers save water and avoid the need for new water supplies.



12:09 PM



The chair closed testimony, and Senator Priola closed his remarks on the bill.

12:11 PM



The committee adjourned.