H_ED_2019A 01/15/2019 01:32:52 PM Committee Summary

Representative Kraft-Tharp and Representative Larson, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1008, concerning the provision of grants for career and technical education capital constriction through the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Act. The bill allows the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board to provide grants for equipment, new construction, or the retrofitting of public schools for career and technical education under the BEST Act. Representative Kraft-Tharp and Representative Larson responded to questions from the committee.

The following people testified on the bill:

Michael Gifford, Associated General Contractors of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He also stated that the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce supports this bill.

Eric Ward, Colorado Association of Career Technical Educators, testified in support of the bill and distributed information regarding career and technical education in the state (Attachment A).

Tony Gagliardi, National Federation of Independant Business, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Kraft-Tharp responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Kraft-Tharp distributed Amendment L.002 (Attachment B), which clarifies that the board can consider other factors in awarding and denying career and technical education capital construction grants.

Representative Kraft-Tharp and Representative Larson made concluding comments on the bill. Committee members also made comments regarding the bill.

Representative Arndt, sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1059, concerning the removal of redundant language in the educator licensing statute.  The bill, recommended by the Statutory Review Committee, removes redundant references to military spouses in the professional teacher license statute and the professional special services license statute.