9E799739DE31AFD2872583CB006BB676 Hearing Summary

Representatives Galindo and Sirota, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1249, concerning safety and accountability in school contracts.  The bill makes changes to state law related to school district contracting procedures for professional services, which include paraprofessional, clerical, custodial and maintenance, food, transportation, technical, skilled trade, and security services, as well as health and student services provided by a non-licensed person.  Representative Galindo distributed Amendment L.002 (Attachment A), and the sponsors responded to questions from the committee.  Representative Galindo stated that small rural school districts are excluded from the requirements set out in the bill.

The following people provided testimony:

Reetha Morris, American Federation of Teachers, testified in support of the bill.

Andrew Slama, representing himself as a teacher, testified in support of the bill.

Jason Burns, Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Lara Center, Jefferson County Education Support Professionals Association (JESPA), testified in support of the bill.

The above four-person panel responded to questions from the committee.

Monte Hollander, representing himself as a bus driver and a member of JESPA, testified in support of the bill.

Eddie Chacon, Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Nate Golich, Colorado Education Association, read testimony in support of the bill from Alice Oruna, representing the Paraprofessional Education Association.

Cristin O'Rourke, representing herself as a parent, testified in support of the bill.

The above four-person panel answered questions from the committee.

Melvin Bland, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Jonna Levine, Support Jeffco Kids, testified in support of the bill.

Sandra Parker Murray read testimony in support of the bill from Marlene Jimenez, representing herself.

Adena Gibson Ferguson, Westminster Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

The four-person panel answered questions from the committee.

Michelle Murphy, Colorado Rural Schools Alliance and Colorado BOCES Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Brett Johnson, Colorado Association of School Executives and Aurora Public Schools, testified in opposition to the bill.

Anne-Marie Lemieux, Douglas County Board of Education, testified in opposition to the bill. A copy of her testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment B).

Tracy Jonson, Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) and Academy 70, testified in opposition to the bill.

Matt Cook, CASB, testified in opposition to the bill.

The above five-person panel answered questions from the committee.

Troy Valentine, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Caroline Wolfrum, Jefferson County Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Evie Hudak, Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

Bev Armour, Jefferson County Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

The four-person panel responded to questions from the committee.

Shelby Ross and Megan Waples, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from the committee about the bill.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

The sponsors requested that the bill be laid over to a later date.