H_ED_2023A 03/02/2023 02:48:32 PM Committee Summary

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee reconvened. Representative Lindsay presented Senate Bill 23-008. The bill adds student representatives to several review processes related to K-12 educational standards. Written testimony on the bill is included as Attachment A.

Siddharth Nareddy, representing Colorado Youth Advisory Council, testified in support of the bill.

Mariah Guerrero, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Lindsay responded to committee members' questions.

Mr. Nareddy responded to committee members' questions.

Ms. Guerrero responded to committee members' questions.

Jane Ritter, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to committee members' questions.

Anna Gerstle, Legislative Council Staff, responded to committee members' questions.

Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Joseph presented House Bill 23-1109 to the committee, along with a handout (Attachment B), and amendments L.002, L.003, L.004, and L.005 (Attachments C through F). The bill changes the due process and legal thresholds for expulsion, suspension, or the denial of admission of public school students. Written testimony on the bill is included as Attachment G.

Lorenzo Gomez, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill. Luis Loya-Perez , representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill. Barbara Andrea Garza Guzman, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill. Jennifer Jackson, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill.

Panelists responded to committee members' questions.

Precious Saenz, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Julie Perez, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill. Ja'Tayvion Reed, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill. JJ Reed, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Erin Pier, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill. Alina Acosta, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill. Josh Gurvitch, representing AUL Denver, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to committee members' questions.

Nayeli Lopez, representing Young African American and Latinx Leaders, testified in support of the bill. Reina Ortiz, representing Young African American and Latinx Leaders, testified in support of the bill. Ubaldo Julian, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Ethan Rowe, representing Young African American and Latinx Leaders, testified in support of the bill. Temitope Towolawi, representing Young African American and Latinx Leaders, testified in support of the bill. Maryam Rahimie, representing Young African American and Latinx Leaders, testified in support of the bill. Nicole Siegler, representing Young African American and Latinx Leaders, testified in support of the bill.

Tiffany Pelham Webb, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Thelonius Crews-Yearick, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. RJ Sonheim, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Bret Miles, representing CASE, testified in opposition to the bill. Frank Reeves, representing Colorado Rural Schools Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill. Angelina Sierra-Sandoval, representing Colorado League of Charter Schools, testified to amend the bill. Mr Matt Cook, representing Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in opposition to the bill. Panelists responded to committee members' questions.

Elizabeth Newman, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault , testified to amend the bill.

Elie Zwiebel, representing Colorado Juvenile Defender Center, testified in support of the bill. Tim Hernandez, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Elise Logemann, representing Denver Public Schools, testified to amend the bill. Meighen Lovelace, representing Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Catherine Ordonez, representing American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Natalie Perez, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Nicole Duncan, representing ACLU, testified in support of the bill. Katherine Gladson, representing Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, testified in support of the bill. Ivana Bejaran, representing Stand for Children, testified in support of the bill. Ashley Chase, representing Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill. Sarah Hunt, representing Charter Advocacy Coalition, testified in opposition to the bill.

Tayz Enriquez, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Deep Badesha, representing Denver Public Schools, testified in support of the bill. Jack Johnson, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Bri Buentello, representing Stand for Children Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Joseph discussed their amendments.

Representative McLachlan announced that the bill will be laid over for action only.

Representative Young presented Senate Bill 23-084 to the committee. The bill establishes procedures for higher education institutions to follow when certifying employment for the purpose of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Written testimony on the bill is included as Attachment H.

Kallie Leyba, representing American Federation of Teachers, Colorado, testified in support of the bill. David Chatfield, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Lisa Eytel, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Monica Black, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Richard Wagner, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Rachael Lehman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. JoAnn McCarthy, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Charles von Tagen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Katherine Dorman, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Sheila Rucki, representing American Federation of Teachers/Metropolitan State University of Denver, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Young distributed and explained amendment L.003 (Attachment I).