H_ED_2019A 02/07/2019 01:31:12 PM Committee Summary

Representative McLachlan called the meeting to order and explained remote testimony procedures to the committee.

Representative Soper, sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1094, concerning the addition of basic life skills to the list of courses for which public schools provide internet links to the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) as part of the performance report. The bill requires school districts to provide additional information in school performance reports regarding the availability of courses covering basic life skills, such as financial literacy, nutrition, and wellness, to CDE. He distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and Amendment L.002 (Attachment B), and he explained the amendments.

Two people testified remotely from Colorado Mesa University:

Dr. John Rodwick, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Blake McCallister, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Soper again explained Amendments L.001 and L.002.

Representative Soper made concluding comments on the bill.

Representatives Wilson and McCluskie, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1153, concerning measures to enable local district colleges to serve more students. The bill modifies the role and mission of Colorado Mountain College (CMC) and allows the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to consider recommending adjustments to state grants to local district colleges.

Representatives Wilson and McCluskie responded to questions from the committee regarding the reason CMC is currently limited to five baccalaureate degrees.

Matt Gianneschi, CMC, testified in support of the bill and distributed information about CMC (Attachment C). He discussed the tuition rate and funding sources for CMC.

Stephanie Beste, representing herself as a CMC student, testified in support of the bill.

Flor Cruz, representing herself as a CMC student, testified in support of the bill.

Patrick Boyle, Vail Health, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Gianneschi responded to questions from the committee about grant funding for CMC and the annexation process of school districts into a local district college, such as CMC.

Representative McCluskie and Wilson made concluding comments on the bill, and members of the committee discussed the bill.

Representative Bird, sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1055, concerning the provision of state financial assistance for public school capital construction. The bill diverts additional marijuana excise tax revenue from the the Public School Fund to the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program.  The bill also changes the amount appropriated from the State Education Fund annually on behalf of charter school capital construction and increases the total amount of lease payments allowable under lease purchase agreements for public school capital construction projects.  Representative Bird also distributed information about the bill to the committee (Attachment E).

Kathy Gebhardt, Boulder Valley School District, testified in support of the bill and discussed the BEST program and how those funds would be distributed under the bill. Ms. Gebhardt responded to questions from the committee. Representative Bird also responded to questions regarding provisions in the bill.

Laura Long, Associated General Contractors, testified in support of the bill.

Darren Edgar, Sierra Grande School District and Colorado Rural Alliance, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Edgar answered questions from the committee.

Lloyd Harwood, Canon City School Board, testified in support of the bill.

George Welsh, Canon City School District and Opportunity Coalition, testified in support of the bill and explained how proceeds from the sale of certificates of participation help fund the BEST program.

Mr. Welsh answered committee questions about funding for safety and security in schools.

Representative Bird distributed and explained Amendments L.001 (Attachment E) and L.002 (Attachment F).

Craig Harper, Joint Budget Committee Staff, answered questions from the committee regarding the amount of funding available from the BEST program.

The committee discussed Amendment L.002.

Representative Bird made concluding comments on the bill. Committee discussion ensued.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative Cutter presented House Bill 19-1110, concerning media literacy, which was on the table for action only. Testimony on the bill was heard on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. Representative Cutter distributed Amendment L.005 (Attachment G) and Amendment L.010 (Attachment H). Amendment L.010 amends Amendment L.005.

Representative Cutter moved Amendment L.005, which was seconded by Representative Michaelson Jenet and committee discussion ensued.

Representative Landgraf distributed and explained Amendment L.008 (Attachment I), which amends L.005.

Jacob Baus, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from the committee about Amendment L.008. Representative Landgraf also responded to questions from the committee regarding the amendments. Committee discussion ensued.

Representative Cutter explained Amendment L.010, and committee discussion ensued. She also discussed Amendment L.004 (Attachment J), which was distributed at the meeting on Tuesday, February 5, 2019.

Committee discussion ensued, and Reprenstative Larson dsitributed and explained Amedment L.009 (Attachment K).

Representative Cutter made concluding comments on the bill and mentioned groups that support the bill.