226817C23B1E85DD872583AF00720F58 Hearing Summary

Senators Coram and Todd, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1032 and distributed a handout (Attachment A).  The bill makes changes to state law related to comprehensive human sexuality education instruction and the associated grant program. The bill also modifies definitions of comprehensive human sexuality education, adds definitions of consent and human sexuality instruction.

Under current law, if a public school offers a comprehensive human sexuality curriculum, the curriculum must meet certain requirements. The bill adds additional content requirements related to:

• all methods for preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases;
• the development of safe and healthy relationships, including communication and consent; and
• optional instruction on all pregnancy outcome options.

The bill does not prohibit discussion of moral, ethical, or religious values as they pertain to human sexuality, healthy relationships, or family formation. Human sexuality instruction must not:

• teach or endorse religious ideology or sectarian tenets;
• use shame-based or stigmatizing language or instructional tools;
• employ gender norms or stereotypes; and
• exclude the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals.

The bill maintains current law related to a school district notifying parents of human sexuality instruction and the ability of parents to excuse a student from human sexuality instruction. The bill does not require parental notification for programming on gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, or healthy relationships that occurs outside of human sexuality instruction. The State Board of Education may not waive content standards related to comprehensive human sexuality education for school districts or charter schools. The bill also specifies that content standards adopted by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) prior to 2018 do not need to be revised.

Current law contains parameters for a comprehensive human sexuality grant program to provide grants to schools and school districts, although the program has not been funded. The program is in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and overseen by the interagency youth sexual health team. The bill changes the program to:

 

• align with the bill's modified definition of comprehensive human sexuality education and modified content requirements;
• specify that the State Board of Health must promulgate rules for the grant program by December 1, 2019, and that CDPHE must complete a program report, including an analysis of the impact of the grant funding, by January 30, 2021;
• specify that grant applicants must demonstrate that the grant is needed to implement comprehensive human sexuality education, and that rural schools and schools that do not currently offer comprehensive human sexuality education must receive priority; and
• add eight members to the oversight group representing specific organizations and groups, and specify that CDPHE must convene the oversight group by July 1, 2019. The youth member and the member representing parents may be reimbursed for expenses incurred to serve on the oversight group.

Senator Todd continued to discussed the provisions of the bill and distributed amendments L.068, L.069, L.070, L.071, L.072, and L.074 to the committee (Attachments B,C,D,E,F, and G).

Committee questions and comments followed.

Brecken Jones, representing herself, testified in a neutral capacity on the bill. B.J. Jones, representing himself, testified in a neutral capacity on the bill. Nicole Hunt, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Lacey Agcaoili, representing herself, testified against the bill.  

Reverend Amanda Henderson, Interfaith Alliance Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Kate Newell, Interfaith Alliance Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Reverend Morgan Caruthers Fletcher, Interfaith Alliance Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Benjamin Waters, LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Rabbi Burt Yellin, Congregation Roeh Israel, testified against the bill.  Reverend Dennis Clermont, representing himself, testified against the bill. Matt Niedzielski, Respect Life Apostolate - Colorado Springs, testified against the bill.  Matthew Moeller, representing himself, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Dawn Wilson, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Senator Winter read an email from a constituent.

Emily Jackson, representing herself, testified against the bill. Dylon Sparks, representing himself, testified against the bill.  David Chapman, representing himself, testified against the bill and provided a handout (Attachment H).  Lysle Miller, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Abby Hansen, SafeHouse Denver, testified in support of the bill. Hannah Croft, SafeHouse Denver, testified in support of the bill.

Alison Macklin, Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood, testified in support of the bill.

Gena Ozols, NARAL Pro-Choice America, testified in support of the bill.  Fawn Bolak, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Justo Yanez, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Jaqueline Jiminez, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to quetions.

Senator Fields reconvened the meeting.

Senator Fields commented on previous testimony.

Autumn Leva, Family Policy Alliance, testified against the bill.

Carolyn Black, representing herself, testified against the bill. Stephanie Curry, Family Policy Alliance, testified against the bill. Murry McMurry, representing himself, testified against the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Candace Woods, First Congregational Church of Colorado Springs, testified in support of the bill. Reverend Nadia Bolz-Webber, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Reverend Tamara Boynton, Interfaith Alliance, testified in support of the bill. Jennifer Leith, Interfaith Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Peggy Littleton, representing herself, testified against the bill. Jan Cook, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Keith King, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Evelyn Zier, representing herself, testified against the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Jack Teter, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, testified in support of the bill. Tina Mueh, Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill. Erin Miller, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill. Lizzy Hinkley, American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado (ACLU), testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions. Senator Todd responded to committee questions.

Marcy McGovern, representing herself, testified against the bill. Jennie McCabe, representing herself, testified against the bill. Veronica Devlin, representing herself, testified against the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Elizabeth Laffely, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Astrid Flores, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, testified in support of the bill.  Jess Shelton, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Liz Eden, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Committee comments followed.

Leigh Schmidt, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Brook Pollock, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Sophia Lither, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Philip Schmidt, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Brandi Hawkins, representing herself, testified against the bill. L.E. Morrow, representing himself, testified against the bill. John Maulby, representing himself, testified against the bill. Bill Banks, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Shelby Bland, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Natalie Brown, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Kristy Cameron, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Joel Sorensen, representing himself, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Maggie Holland, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Maya Walthall, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Clark Wilson, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.  Moria Lees' testimony in support of the bill was read by a third party.  The witness panel responded to questions.

Ayirde Russell, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Jadeah Jacobsen, representing herself, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attached I).

Senator Fields reconvened the meeting.

Cesar Arellano, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Naysa Gallegos, representing herself, testified against the bill. Siveli Santos,  Colorado Youth Conference, testified in support of the bill.  Faye Barnhart, representing herself, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment J).

Dr. Thomas Perille, representing himself, testified against the bill (Attachment K). Richard Harris, Truth and Liberty Coalition, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment L).  Lea Holst, representing herself, testified against the bill. Pedro Gonzales, representing himself, testified against the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Cathy Lees, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Laura Reeves, Interfaith Alliance, testified in support of the bill.  Susan Luerssen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Jake Peteron, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Claire Reifert, representing herself, testified in support of the the bill. Ms. Reifert responded to questions.

Gianella Ramos-Milan, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Tess Brody, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  Sarah Bathke, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to questions.

Bryn Brody, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Robert Fox, representing himself, testified against the bill. James Powers, representing himself, testified against the bill.  Heather Adler, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Raana Simmons, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support the of the bill. Suzy Roman, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Jolene Cardenas, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Carmen Ramirez, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Brenda Payne, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Rigo Mandez read Giuliana Day's testimony against the bill.  Brad Bergford, representing himself, testified against the bill. Stephanie Kelley, representing herself, testimony against the bill was read by Kathryn Wittman.  Kathryn Wittman, representing herself, testified against the bill.  The witness panel responded to questions. Committee discussion followed.

Senator Coram dialogued with the witnesses. Committee members commented.

Kimberly Cullen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Katie Doble, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Karla Gonzales Garcia, representing Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, testified in support of the bill. Anna Crawford, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Lillian Perez, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Helen Williams, representing herself, testified against the bill. Carlene Miller, representing herself, testified against the bill. David Riffel, Cultural Impact Team, testified against the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment M).

Tomei Kuehl, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified is support of the bill.  Lydia Waligorski, Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Amy Pulver, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Sara Neal, ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Karen Moeller, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Gina Pacher, representing herself, testified against the bill. Janise Perez, representing herself, testified against the bill.  Mr. Renee Hernandez, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Andrew McNulty, LGBT Bar Association, testified in support of the bill. Renee Larrarte, Colorado Women's Lobby, testified in support of the bill. Cynthia Hudson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Shawn Morris, representing herself, testified in support.

Heather Durfee, representing herself, testified against the bill. Deborah Flora, representing herself, testified against the bill. Thomas Uebbing, representing himself, testified against the bill.

Carolyn Martin, representing herself, testified against the bill.

Jaylem Durousseau, Students for Life Action, testified against the bill.

Barb Cardell, Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS, testified in support of the bill.  Kimberly Grogan, League of Women Voters, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment N).  Diana Smith, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.  The testimony of Kallie Leyba, American Federation of Teachers - Colorado, in support of the bill was read by Lizzy Hinkley.

Cindra Barnard, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ester Okamanon, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Mary Faltynski, Boulder County Public Health, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Karen Tonso, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Todd made comments on the witness testimony. Dr. Tonso responded to questions. The witness panel responded to questions.

Delana Maynos, representing herself, read the testimony of a friend. Rica Rodriguez, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Juniper McGinn, Inside Out Youth Services, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members and the bill sponsors discussed the amendments.

Senator Smallwood distributed amendment L.077 (Attachment O).

Several persons who attended the meeting, but did not testify, provided written testimony.  These documents are included as Attachment P.