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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Legislative Review Committee - 01/15/2004 -r LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Meeting Summary January 15,2004 Legislative Review Committee present:Ray Martinez,Marty Tharp Staff present:Diane Jones,Ron Phillips,Carrie Daggett,Mark Radtke The meeting was called to order at 8:03 a.m. MEETING SUMMARY The meeting summary for the November 13,2003 Legislative Review Committee meeting was approved as written. POLICE PEER SUPPORT The issue of supporting a bill that provides privileged communication for Law Enforcement Peer Support Team Members was brought back to LRC.Mark Radtke provided highlights of a proposed bill being supported by members of the Fort Collins Police Department.The proposal includes several exceptions to the privileged communication protection,including admission of a felony,threat of suicide/homicide and admission of child abuse or abuse of the elderly.Councilmember Tharp questioned why misdemeanors are not covered and Mayor Martinez questioned why spousal abuse is not covered in the exceptions.The Committee decided to await the bill’s introduction to see the specific wording before recommending a position. DISCUSSION OF NEW BILLS SB 1 is a phase out of the business personal property tax.Councilmember Tharp noted the phase out does not provide a method for local governments to recover revenue that would be lost in the tax cut,thereby eroding our tax base.Mayor Martinez is interested in seeing other bills that deal with the issue before forming an opinion on SB 1.Mark Radtke cited the existing policies that would position Fort Collins as opposed to SB 1. SB 89 addresses two issues.The first would recognize local nonprofit housing agencies as local public procurement units for purposes of cooperative purchasing agreements. The second issue would require mobile home park owners to give residents of the park the right of first refusal if there was a pending sale.Councilmember Tharp observed the latter would not likely be exercised as the property would generally be priced beyond the reach of the mobile home owners. 0 0 SB 93 requires alcoholic beverage sewers to undergo training on recognizing false identifications and avoiding service to minors.The bill gives liquor licensees no penalties on the first offense for sewing minors each year.Mayor Martinez said compliance operations generally check licensees only once a year,making the free pass unacceptable.The City will be in opposition to the bill. HB 1004 places requirements on libraries to install internet filters on computers and take other steps to shield minors from pornography.The bill creates a mandate on local libraries.Councilmember Tharp reported that the Fort Collins library already has adequate protections for minors and this bill usurps local control.The City will oppose the measure. HB 1120 requires local governments to make master plans legally enforceable.Mr. Radtke presented the bill for informational purposes at this time as City staff continues to look at the ramifications of the measure.Ron Phillips said the Colorado Municipal League has taken an oppose position to the bill for fear of the legal entanglements that could accompany legal enforceability. Councilmember Tharp asked if any bill had been submitted dealing with computer screen voting.Mr.Radtke reported that there has not,but noted there is opposition in the legislature to such systems and a bill could come forward in the fUture.He noted many legislators are also opposed to mail ballot elections due to concern over possible fraud. Mr.Radtke reported that House State Affairs has stalled HB 1024 which would have required elections departments to pay the return postage on mail ballots. CLEAR ACT Congress will reconvene on January 20 and there is no movement to report on either the House or Senate version of the federal CLEAR Act (H.R.2671 and S.1906). ADJOURNMENT The Committee adjourned at 8:52 a.m. The next meeting of the Legislative Review Committee is scheduled for January 29, 2004.