Senator Roberts and Senator Catlin, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 26-052 to the committee. The bill creates a hiring preference for coal transition workers and allows a public entity to deposit or invest public funds from a payment the public entity has received to offset the socioeconomic impacts from the closure of a coal mine or coal power generating station. The sponsors distributed a fact sheet (Attachment A) and amendment L.003 (Attachment B). They responded to questions from the committee.

Carl Smith, representing SMART-Transportation Division, testified in support of the bill. Jason Wardrip, representing Colorado Building & Construction Trades Council, testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Tony Bohrer, representing Moffat County, testified in support of the bill. Jeff Comstock, representing Moffat County, testified in support of the bill.

Patricia Garcia-Nelson, representing Greenlatinos, testified in support of the bill. Bob Butero, representing United Mine Workers of America , testified in support of the bill. Richard Orf, representing Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Dennis Dougherty, representing Colorado AFL-CIO, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Orf responded to questions from the committee.

Senator Roberts discussed amendment L.003.

Senators Roberts and Catlin wrapped up their presentation of the bill.