H_ED_2019A 04/18/2019 01:33:43 PM Committee Summary

Representatives Gray and Baisely, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-104, concerning the elimination of duplicate regulations of school buildings.  The bill creates the elimination of duplicate regulations commission to examine duplicate rules related to licensed childcare programs that operate on the property of a school district or charter school.  

The following people provided testimony:

Chris Coker, representing the YMCA, testified in support of the bill.

Susan Zimmerman, representing the St. Vrain Valley School District, testified in support of the bill and provided examples of rules and regulations that are duplicative and conflict.

Mr. Coker and Ms. Zimmerman responded to questions from the committee. The bill sponsors also answered committee questions.

The bill sponsors made concluding comments on the bill.

Representative Wilson presented Senate Bill 19-079, concerning the Enhance School Safety Incident Response Program in the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the Department of Public Safety. The bill modifies application and award date deadlines for the program and appropriates money for the administration of the program.

The following people provided testimony:

Steren Bell, representing the DeAngelis Foundation, testified in support of the bill.

John O'Donnell, representing the DeAngelis Foundation, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Bell and Mr. O'Donnell responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Wilson made concluding comments on the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative Kipp presented Senate Bill 19-161, concerning the State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education. The bill, which is a sunset bill, continues the council indefinitely and increases the number of members on the council by two. Representative Kipp answered questions from the committee.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative Buckner presented Senate Bill 19-059, concerning the creation of the Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Courses grant program in the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The program will provide assistance to local education providers that automatically enroll students in advanced courses. Representative Buckner answered questions from the committee regarding the bill.

The following people provided testimony:

Olivia Batiste, representing herself as a student and the Colorado State Youth Council, testified in support of the bill.

Aya Saad-Masri, representing herself as a student and the Colorado State Youth Council, testified in support of the bill.

Sheldon Reynolds, representing himself as a school administrator, testified in support of the bill.

Tom Brinegar, representing Colorado Succeeds, testified in support of the bill.

The panel answered committee questions regarding the bill, and committee discussion ensued.

Prateek Dutta, Education Reform Now and Democrats for Education Reform, came to the table to respond to committee questions.