H_ED_2019A 02/14/2019 01:33:38 PM Committee Summary

Representative Carver, sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1139, concerning American civics education.  The bill provides public schools the option of meeting the kindergarten through 8th grade state civics standards through an American civics course of study that emphasizes knowledge in several topics. Representative Carver distributed information regarding the bill and the 2020 Colorado State Board of Education Civics standards (Attachment A).

Representative Carver answered committee questions regarding the community forums required under current law. State law requires that school districts convene a community forum at least every 10 years to discuss content standards in civics.

Representative Carver continued to respond to committee questions.

Representative Carver gave concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.

Representative Michaelson Jenet, sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1017, concerning kindergarten through fifth grade emotional and social health. The bill creates the School Social Worker Pilot Program in the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).  The program places additional school social workers in the elementary schools of a school district that has high poverty and high needs students, with the intent of reducing the social, emotional, and behavioral issues, adverse childhood experiences, disciplinary referrals, delinquency, truancy, and incidences of self harm.  Representative Michaelson Jenet distributed Amendment L.001, which strikes everything below the enacting clause (Attachment B).

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to questions from the committee regarding projects in other states and questions about the model.

Josh Abram, Legislative Council Staff, answered committee questions about how Amendment L.001 would affect the fiscal impact of the bill. Representative Michaelson Jenet continued to respond to questions about the pilot project and the bill.

The following people testified remotely from Ft. Lewis College:

Kate Niles, National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Niles responded to committee questions.

Erica McCalden, San Juan BOCES, testified in support of the bill.

The following people testified in person on the bill:

Joanna Ioannides, National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of the bill.

Sara Brown, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, testified in support of the bill.

Felicidad Fraser, National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of the bill.

Quixe Smith, Adams 12 Five Stars Schools, testified in support of the bill.

The above panel responded to questions from the committee.

Cam Short Camilli, Colorado School Social Work Association and National Social Workers Association, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Darlene Sampson, Association of Black Social Workers, testified in support of the bill.

Jenny Bender, Colorado Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), testified in support of the bill.

Dana Walters, CASA, testified in support of the bill.

Monica Johnson, East Central BOCES, testified in support of the bill.

Carmen Garcia, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Jennifer Quintanna, Colorado School Counselor Association, testified in support of the bill and distributed infomration about the School Behavioral Health Services Framework (Attachment C) and information about counselors, social workers, and school psychologists (Attachment D).

The panel of Ms. Quintanna, Ms. Garica, and Ms. Johnson responded to questions from the committee.

Kayla Tibbals, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Lauren Ross, Cherry Creek School District, testified in support of the bill.

Kim Wright, Boulder Valley School District, testified in support of the bill.

The above panel of witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Sarah Barnes, Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bill.

Nate Golich, Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Becky Zal-Sanchez, National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Marian Bussey, National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of the bill.

The panel of Ms. Barnes, Mr. Golich, Ms. Zal-Sanchez, and Dr. Bussey responded to committee questions.

Jessie Caggiano, Colorado School Social Workers Association, testified in support of the bill.

Mollie Martin, Cherry Creek School District, testified in support of the bill.

Liz Davis, National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of the bill.

Nathan Moore, representing himself, provided testimony on the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to questions regarding the bill.

Representative Michaelson Jenet made concluding comments on the bill and committee discussion ensued.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative McLachlan announced that House Bill 19-1123 would be laid over until Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

Representatives McLachlan and Wilson presented Senate Bill 19-009, concerning financial incentives for rural educators. Under current law, the Department of Higher Education administers stipends for teachers in rural areas with certain limits. The bill removes the limits on the number of stipends that may be issued and increases the maximum stipend amount for Colorado Rural Teaching Stipends.

Dr. Harvey Rude, Colorado Center for Rural Education (CCRE), testified in support of the bill and distributed information regarding stipends provided by CCRE (Attachment E).

Evan Kennedy, Public Education Business Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

David Cassares, representing, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Representatives McLachlan and Wilson made concluding comments on the bill.