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H_SA_2023A 04/24/2023 02:45:33 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, CIVIC, MILITARY, & VETERANS AFFAIRS
Date 04/24/2023
Attendance
Armagost X
Boesenecker X
Bottoms X
Brown X
DeGraaf X
Epps *
Ricks *
Sharbini *
Willford X
Ortiz *
Woodrow X
Time 02:45:33 PM to 07:17:16 PM
Place LSB A
This Meeting was called to order by Woodrow
This Report was prepared by Lauren Morgan
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB23-153 Referred to House Appropriations
SB23-211 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB23-105 Amended, referred to House Appropriations
SB23-276 Amended, referred to House Finance
HB23-1296 Referred to House Appropriations
SB23-111 Amended, referred to House Appropriations

SB23-153 - Referred to House Appropriations


02:45:47 PM  
Representatives Duran
and Pugliese, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-153. This bill continues
the regulation of notary publics by the Secretary of State, which is scheduled
to repeal on September 1, 2023. State fiscal impacts include both new revenue
and expenditures from changes to the program under the bill, as well as
the continuation of the program's current revenue and expenditures. The
committee asked questions to the sponsors.
02:49:38 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Christopher Beall,
representing Colorado Department of State, testified in support of the
bill.




Eric McKeeman,
representing The UPS Store, testified in support of the bill.




Larry Hudson,
representing Land Title Association of Colorado, testified in support of
the bill.




James Fulgenzi,
representing Notarize, testified in support of the bill.




The committee
asked questions to the panel.
03:01:11 PM  
The bill sponsors make closing comments. The committee made closing comments.


03:03:17 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-153 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Ricks
Armagost Yes
Boesenecker Yes
Bottoms Yes
Brown Yes
DeGraaf Yes
Epps Yes
Ricks Yes
Sharbini Yes
Willford Yes
Ortiz Yes
Woodrow Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB23-211 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


03:06:59 PM  
Representatives McLachlan
and Velasco, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-211.The bill aligns
state law with updated federal guidelines under the Indian Child Welfare
Act that took effect February 9, 2023.
03:10:05 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Chairman Melvin
Baker, representing Southern Ute Indian Tribe, testified in support of
the bill.




Kendall Marlowe,
representing The Kempe Foundation, testified in support of the bill.




The committee
asked questions to the panel.
03:16:41 PM  
The bill sponsors made closing remarks. The committee made closing remarks.


03:18:47 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-211 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Willford
Armagost Yes
Boesenecker Yes
Bottoms Yes
Brown Yes
DeGraaf Yes
Epps Yes
Ricks Yes
Sharbini Yes
Willford Yes
Ortiz Yes
Woodrow Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB23-105 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations


03:25:11 PM  
Representatives Bacon and Gonzales-Gutierrez, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-105. The bill requires the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to investigate and take enforcement action regarding complaints alleging violations of state pay equity laws, and makes updates to job posting and employee notification requirements for employers when hiring employees. The committee asked questions to the sponsors.
03:37:36 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Tanya Regan, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.




Meghan Dollar,
representing Colorado Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the
bill.




Mark Tisdale,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.




Jessica Kostelnik,
representing Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition
to the bill.




The committee
asked questions to the panel.
03:53:29 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Jaclyn Terwey,
representing Colorado Municipal League, testified to amend the bill.




Eric Bergman,
representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified to amend the bill.




Kelsey  Olsen,
representing Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, testified to amend the
bill.




Caitlin Adams,
representing Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, testified to
amend the bill.




The committee
asked questions to the panel.
04:03:31 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Michelle Siemer,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.




Louise Myrland,
representing The Women's Foundation of Colorado, testified in support of
the bill.




Kaitlin Altone,
representing 9to5 Colorado, testified in support of the bill.




Ellen Giarratana,
representing Colorado Women's Bar Association, testified in support of
the bill.




The committee
asked questions to the panel.
04:13:24 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Kayla Frawley,
representing ProgressNow Colorado, testified in support of the bill.




Scott Moss, representing
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, was available to answer committee
questions.




Rachel Ellis,
representing Colorado Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association, testified
in support of the bill.
04:13:25 PM  
Written testimony
for this bill can be found in Attachment A.
04:21:00 PM  
The bill sponsors
presented Amendmnet L.026 (Attachment B).


04:22:33 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.026 (Attachment B)
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Willford
Armagost
Boesenecker
Bottoms
Brown
DeGraaf
Epps
Ricks
Sharbini
Willford
Ortiz
Woodrow
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
04:23:00 PM  
The bill sponsors
made closing comments. The committee made closing comments.


04:40:07 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-105, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Sharbini
Armagost No
Boesenecker Yes
Bottoms No
Brown Yes
DeGraaf No
Epps Yes
Ricks Yes
Sharbini Yes
Willford Yes
Ortiz Yes
Woodrow Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB23-276 - Amended, referred to House Finance

04:42:59 PM  
Representative Sirota,
bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 23-276. The bill makes multiple changes
to the uniform election code and the conduct of elections, including changing
the method for the state to reimburse counties for a portion of the cost
to conduct elections.
04:45:58 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Martha Tierney,
representing America Votes and the Colorado Democratic Party, testified
in support of the bill.




Kevin Strauch,
representing Morgan County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support of
the bill.




Matt Crane, representing
Colorado County Clerks Association, testified in support of the bill.

04:52:44 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Honorable Lori
Mitchell, representing Chaffee County Clerk and Recorder, testified in
support of the bill.




Vice Chairman
Lorelei Cloud, representing Southern Ute Indian Tribe, testified in support
of the bill.




Amanda Gonzalez,
representing Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support
of the bill.




Elizabeth Steele,
representing Colorado Common Cause, testified in support of the bill.

05:08:02 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Christopher Beall,
representing Colorado Department of State, testified to amend the bill.




Jenny Thomas,
representing Colorado County Clerks Association, testified in support of
the bill.




Tiffany Lee, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Ben Schler, representing Denver
Clerk and Recorder's Office, testified in support of the bill.




The committee
asked questions the panel.




 

 
05:17:48 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Eric Bergman,
representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified to amend the bill.




Celeste Landry,
representing League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified to amend the
bill.




Dr. Michael Neil,
representing themself, testified to amend the bill.




The committee
asked questions to the panel.
05:17:49 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Sheri Davis, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.




Bobbie Gross,
representing the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support of
the bill.




Hayle Johnson,
representing the County of Jackson, testified in support of the bill.




Angela Myers,
representing the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support
of the bill.




The committee
aksed questions to the panel.


 
05:17:50 PM  
Written testimony
for this bill can be found in Attachment C.
05:25:51 PM  
The bill sponsor
presented Amendment L.025 (Attachment D). The committee discussed the amendment.


05:29:31 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.025 (Attachment D)
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Ricks
Armagost
Boesenecker
Bottoms
Brown
DeGraaf
Epps
Ricks
Sharbini
Willford
Ortiz
Woodrow
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:29:34 PM  
The bill sponsor
presented Amendment L.033 (Attachment E). The committee discussed the amendment.


05:30:17 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.033 (Attachment E)
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Sharbini
Armagost
Boesenecker
Bottoms
Brown
DeGraaf
Epps
Ricks
Sharbini
Willford
Ortiz
Woodrow
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:30:35 PM  
The bill sponsor
presented Amendment L.034 (Attachment F). The committee discussed the amendment.


05:31:05 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.034 (Attachment F)
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Ricks
Armagost
Boesenecker
Bottoms
Brown
DeGraaf
Epps
Ricks
Sharbini
Willford
Ortiz
Woodrow
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:31:08 PM  
The bill sponsor
made concluding remarks on the bill.


05:33:16 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-276, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Sharbini
Armagost No
Boesenecker Yes
Bottoms No
Brown Yes
DeGraaf No
Epps Yes
Ricks Yes
Sharbini Yes
Willford Yes
Ortiz Yes
Woodrow Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB23-1296 - Referred to House Appropriations


05:33:35 PM  
Representatives Herod
and Ortiz, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1296, concerning the
creation of a task force to study issues related to the rights of Coloradans
with disabilities. The bill creates a task force and four subcommittees
to study issues concerning persons with disabilities. Two handouts were
provided to the committee (Attachment G).
05:41:59 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Julie Reiskin,
representing the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified in support
of the bill.




Heather Stauffer,
representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in a neutral position
on the bill.




Bruce Eisenhauer,
representing the Department of Local Affairs, testified in support of the
bill.




Seth Ford, representing
the Department of Personnel and Administration, testified in support of
the bill.
05:47:34 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Eric Bergman,
representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in a neutral position on
the bill.




Ginny Brown, representing
the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, testified in a neutral
position on the bill.




Andrew Montoya,
representing Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, testified to amend the
bill.
05:52:08 PM  
The bill sponsors
made closing comments. The committee made closing comments.


06:01:02 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 23-1296 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ortiz
Seconded Ricks
Armagost Yes
Boesenecker Excused
Bottoms Yes
Brown Yes
DeGraaf Yes
Epps Yes
Ricks Yes
Sharbini Yes
Willford Yes
Ortiz Yes
Woodrow Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB23-111 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations


06:01:17 PM  
The committee recessed.
06:04:44 PM  
The committee came
back to order.
06:05:52 PM  
Representatives Titone
and Woodrow, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-111, concerning public
employees' workplace protection from employer retaliation. The bill establishes
certain rights for public employees and associated enforcement procedures.
The bill defines public employee.
06:10:12 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Richard Rosenblatt,
representing the Colorado AFL-CIO, testified in support of the bill.




Tim Hernandez,
representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of
the bill.




Kayleigh TenBarge,
representing herself, testified in support of the bill.




Dr. Wendy Bolyard,
representing the United Campus Workers of Colorado, testified in support
of the bill.




Jacob Oldefest,
representing Denver Health Workers United, testified in support of the
bill.




The committee
aksed questions to the panel.
06:30:47 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Dianne Criswell,
representing the Special District Association of Colorado, testified in
opposition to the bill.




Eric Bergman,
representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in opposition to the bill.
He provided a handout to the committee (Attachment H).




Jaclyn Terwey,
representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified in opposition to
the bill.




Mark Tisdale,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.




The committee
aksed questions to the panel.
06:43:50 PM  
Jade Kelly, representing
the Communication Workers of America Local 7799, testified in support of
the bill.




Amie Baca-Oehlert,
representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of
the bill.




Brian Wood, representing
the UCHealth Workers Union, testified in support of the bill.




Collette Simpkins,
representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of
the bill.



06:52:55 PM  
A panel of witnesses
testified to the committee.




Kevin Walek, representing
the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.




David Graf, representing
the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.




Ben Carter, representing
the Mountain View Professional Firefighters, testified in support of the
bill.




Travis Weiner,
representing the Defenders Union of Colorado, testified in support of the
bill.
07:04:15 PM  
Naomi Perera, representing
Colorado Professional Firefighters, testified in support of the bill.




Written testimony
for this bill can be found in Attachment I).



 

 
07:07:05 PM  
Representative Woodrow
presented Amendment L.017 (Attachment J). The committee discussed the amendment.


07:08:29 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.017 (Attachment J)
Moved Woodrow
Seconded Willford
Armagost
Boesenecker Excused
Bottoms
Brown
DeGraaf
Epps
Ricks
Sharbini
Willford
Ortiz
Woodrow
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
07:08:31 PM  
The bill sponsors
made closing comments. Committee members made closing comments.


07:16:57 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-111, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Woodrow
Seconded Sharbini
Armagost No
Boesenecker Yes
Bottoms No
Brown Yes
DeGraaf No
Epps Yes
Ricks Yes
Sharbini Yes
Willford Yes
Ortiz Yes
Woodrow Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


07:17:16 PM   The committee adjourned.






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