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.