HomeMy WebLinkAbout800817.tiff LEGISLATIVE REPORT -- March 5, 1980
This will be the first in a series of reports from the Board,
to be made each Wednesday during the Board meeting in an effort to
keep the public informed of legislative measures being followed by
the Commissioners, as well as our positions on those issues.
Since the beginning of the 1980 Legislative Session, the following
Bills have been noted by the Board.
HB 1112, concerning the Assessment of Personal Property
This Bill provides a new method of assessment of personal
property which is favorable to commerce and industry. The
Board determined, on the advice of the County Assessor,
not to take any action or stance on this measure. The
Bill has passed both houses and is awaiting the Governor' s
signature.
SB 9, concerning weatherization grants by the Division of
Housing
Staff in the County' s Division of Human Resources recom-
mended support of this Bill as it is felt 'it would give
the weatherization programs the flexibility needed to
provide for repairs or improvements which can effectively
improve the thermal performance of homes. Commissioners
Dunbar, Roe and Steinmark sent a letter to the County' s
Legislative representatives supporting passage of SB 9.
The Bill has passed the Senate and is presently in the
House Appropriations Committee.
SB 23, concerning workmen ' s compensation coverage for public
officials, and making such coverage optional at the discretion
of the employer
Present law requires local governments to carry workman ' s
compensation coverage on all advisory board and commission
members. The Bill would allow the County to provide coverage
for those members of its boards and commissions who are not
already covered through other sources , and exclude anyone
who is presently receiving double coverage. With 17 advisory
boards and commissions, having approximately 178 full-time
and associate members, the County currently spends $1, 600
to $1, 700 each year for this insurance coverage. Commissioners
Dunbar, Roe and Steinmark sent a letter to the County ' s
Legislators requesting their support for SB 23. The Bill
has passed the Senate and is under consideration in the House.
SB 95, concerning deregulation by the PUC of Commercial Transporting
of Ashes, Trash, Waste, Rubbish, etc.
This Bill has passed the Senate and is now being considered in
the House . Although the Commissioners did not take an official
position on SB 95, information was prepared and sent to Colorado
Counties, Inc. for use by its lobbyists.
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Legislative Report/'- March 5, 1980
Page 2
Briefly, the Bill would eliminate the regulation of commercial
trash hauling as a responsibility of the PUC and place it
with the board of county commissioners. A few of the problems
noted with the Bill are that areas of sparse populations could
be paying higher prices for trash service, thereby increasing
the incidences of dumping of trash along roadways. Further,
counties do not presently have the authority to put any "teeth"
into regulations they may adopt to regulate the trash hauling.
Highway Users Tax Fund
The HUTF is not a measure which is being addressed by the
Legislature this session; however, a letter, under the signature
of Commissioner Kirby, was sent to the CCI Legislative Committee
outlining the problems this county faces in financing its road
and bridge program, and urging CCI staff and other counties to
begin compiling data on road and bridge conditions and financial
needs. Further the letter encouraged CCI to set as a major
priority for 1980-1931 the development of possible funding
mechanisms for the HUTF to present to the Legislature in the
1981 Session.
SB 97, concerning Access to Records regarding Child Abuse or
Neglect
SB 97 amends provisions of present state law related to
confidentiality of records in child abuse or neglect situations
to open access in cases wherein a court believes a report to have
been maliciously made and requires the court to order full
disclosure of records in cases where the reporting party is
to be called as a witness. Assistant County Attorney Robert
Lowenbach has appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee
to testify in favor of this Bill .
SB 125, concerning Mobile Homes and providing for the Registration,
Assessment and Taxation thereof
The State Treasurers and Assessors Associations originated this
Bill in an attempt to equalize assessments in the area of
mobile homes; to provide requirements for notice to be given to
the county assessors when the mobile home is being moved and
to clarify penalties for moving a mobile home without a valid
permit. The Bill is substantially a good Bill ; however, before
being amended in the Senate, it contained a provision which
would exempt 20% of mobile home household furnishings from
assessment . This would have an impact of approximately $1, 000, 000
on assessed valuation in Weld County, eliminating $78 , 000 in
revenue.
Fortunately this provision was amended out of the Bill . The
Board of Commissioners has expressed its support of the present
amended version of SB 125 to the County ' s legislative representatives
Colorado Human Settlement Policies
This is in reference to a set of policies developed by the
Colorado Department of Local Affairs, with the cooperation of
other State departments, and adopted through an executive order
of the Governor on September 13 , 1979, as policies of the State
Legislative Report -- March 5, 1980
Page 3 r.
of Colorado for the purpose of guiding the decisions and
actions of all boards and commissions and principal depart-
ments of the state government , including the divisions,
sections and units thereof, in regards to the accommodation
of the growth that is projected to occur within the state.
A resolution was introduced in the legislature, the middle
of February, which strongly urges the Governor to rescind
immediately his executive order on the Human Settlement
Policies. The Board of County Commissioners is split in
its support of and opposition to the Legislature ' s resolution.
If individual Commissioners wish to make comments on the
policies, they will do so as individual Commissioners.
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