H_ED_2019A 03/14/2019 01:32:31 PM Committee Summary

Representative Wilson presented House Bill 1093, concerning higher education fixed rate tuition contracts, and requested that the committee postpone the bill indefinitely.

Representatives Lontine and Larson, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1194, concerning school discipline for preschool through second grade students.  Under the bill, a school district, charter school, or state funded preschool may only suspend or expel a student in preschool through second grade if certain conditions are met.  Representative Lontine distributed information about the bill (Attachments A and B) and several amendments (Attachments C through G).  She also distributed a memorandum prepared by Legislative Council staff stating that the bill does not require an appropriation if Amendment L.007 passes (Attachment H).

Representative Larson discussed Amendments L.001 (Attachment C), L.003 (Attachment D), L.004 (Attachment E), L.005 (Attachment F), and L.007 (Attachment G). Representative Larson also discussed the memorandum from Legislative Council Staff.

The sponsors answered committee questions about the bill.

The following people provided testimony:

Jake Cousins, Padres and Jovenes Unidos, testified in support of the bill.

Christina Walker, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Clayton Early Learning, testified in support of the bill.

Christiano Sosa, The Arc Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Dawn Fritz, Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

The above four-person panel responded to committee questions.

Dr. Rosemarie Allen, Institute for Racial Equality, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Matthew Pesko, Colorado Psychiatric Society, testified in support of the bill and distributed a copy of his testimony to the committee (Attachment I).

The above two-person panel responded to questions from the committee and discussed the racial disproportion of students who are expelled.

Amie Baca-Oehlert, Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Bill Jaeger, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

The above two-person panel answered committee questions.

Representative Larson and Lontine discussed Amendment L.001 and responded to committee questions.

Representative Larson discussed Amendment L.003.

Representatives Larson and Lontine discussed Amendment L.004 and answered committee questions.

Representative Larson discussed Amendment L.005 and answered committee questions.

Representative Larson discussed Amendment L.007 and answered committee questions.

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

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative Coleman presented House Bill 19-1187, concerning increasing student aid application completion rates. The bill requires that the General Assembly appropriate $250,000 per year in FY 2020-21 through FY 2022-23 for the State Board of Education to distribute to local education providers (LEP) that receive a school counselor corps grant. Representative Coleman distributed a letter in support from the Colorado School Counselor Association (Attachment J), information about the bill (Attachment K), and Amendment L.001 (Attachment L). Representative Coleman explained Amendment L.001 and answered committee questions.

The following people provided testimony:

Molly O'Connor, Students for Education Reform, testified in support of the bill.

Prateek Dutta, Education Reform Now, testified in support of the bill.

Charley Olena, New Era Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Stephanie Ricker, Colorado Department of Higher Education, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Misti Ruthven, Colorado Department of Education, responded to committee questions, and the panel also continued to respond.

Representative Coleman discussed Amendment L.001 and answered committee questions.

Representative Coleman made concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.