H_ED_2019A 04/16/2019 01:33:31 PM Committee Summary

Representatives Cutter and Esgar presented House Bill 19-1277, concerning the creation of the computer science courses and clubs grant program in the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The program provides grants to public schools to increase participation of traditionally under-represented students in computer science courses and clubs. The bill sponsors distributed Amendments L.001 and L.002 (Attachments A and B), and responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill.

The following people provided testimony:

Andrew Sannier, representing Girls Who Code, testified in support of the bill.

Bridget Roman, representing Girls Who Code, testified in support of the bill.

Giselle Cordero, representing Girls Who Code, testified in support of the bill.

Kelly Caufield, representing Colorado Succeeds, testified in support of the bill.

The panel answered questions from the committee, and Representative Esgar returned to the table to answer questions from the committee.

Alexis Harrigan, representing Code.org, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding data of students in computer science courses and clubs.

Representative Cutter explained Amendment L.001.

Representative Cutter explained Amendment L.002, and the bill sponsors responded to questions regarding the amendment.

The bill sponsors made concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.

Representatives Soper and Herod presented Senate Bill 19-170, concerning inquiries into a college applicant's criminal history. The bill prohibits state institutions of higher education from inquiring into, requiring disclosure of, or obtaining an applicant's criminal or disciplinary history, with certain exceptions. Representative Herod distributed research regarding inquiries into a college applicant's criminal history (Attachment C), and the bill sponsors answered questions from the committee regarding the bill.

The following people provided testimony:

Julie McKenna, representing Colorado Mesa University, testified in opposition to the bill, and answered questions from the committee.

Julie Steeler, representing the University of Colorado, testified in a neutral position to the bill.

Jason Hopfer, representing the Colorado Community College System, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms. Steeler and Mr. Hopfer responded to questions from the committee.

Tanya Kelly Bowry, representing the University of Colorado, came to the table to respond to questions about the university's admissions process, and the panel continued to answer further questions.

Jamie Ray, representing the Second Chance Center, testified in support of the bill.

Justin Larson, representing himself and the Second Chance Center, testified in support of the bill.

Prateek Dutta, representing Education Reform Now and Democrats for Education Reform, testified in support of the bill.

The above three-person panel answered questions from the committee.

Representative Larson distributed and explained Amendment L.017 (Attachment D), and committee discussion ensued.

The bill sponsors made concluding comments regarding the bill, and committee discussion ensued.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representatives Benavidez and Jaquez Lews presented House Bill 199-1294, concerning a transfer of apprenticeship credit to college credit. The bill requires the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) to convene a working group to determine the best way to transfer construction industry registered apprenticeship program credit to college credit. If possible, the working group must include representatives of community colleges, area technical schools, local district colleges, relevant four-year institutions, and applicable union and non-union labor organizations. The working group must report to the General Assembly with its recommendations by December 31, 2019.

Jason Hopfer, representing CCCS, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors made concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.