H_ED_2019A 04/23/2019 01:34:05 PM Committee Summary

Representatives Sullivan and Galindo, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-171, concerning apprenticeships and vocational training. The bill requires the Department of Labor and Employment to establish the Colorado State Apprenticeship Resource Directory with detailed information about apprenticeship programs in the state by January 1, 2020. The sponsors distributed a fact sheet about the bill to the committee (Attachment A), and answered questions from the committee.

The following people provided testimony:

Zach Collins, representing the Denver Pipefitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, testified in support of the bill.

Payten King, representing the Denver Pipefitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, testified in support of the bill.

Dan Bales, representing the Denver Pipefitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, testified in support of the bill.

Karen Kalavity, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

The panel answered questions from the committee.

The bill sponsors gave concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.

Representatives McCluskie and Geitner, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-176, concerning expanding concurrent enrollment opportunities.  The reengrossed bill makes changes to state law related to concurrent enrollment and requires that that concurrent enrollment be offered at no tuition cost to qualified students. Under the bill, students who complete a concurrent enrollment course must receive credit that applies to high school graduation requirements and that applies to a postsecondary degree, certificate, or gateway course, or is transferable among state institutions of higher education.  The bill sponsors distributed information about concurrent enrollment  (Attachment B) and Amendments L.006, L.007, and L.008 (Attachments C through E).  The sponsors responded to committee questions.

The following people provided testimony:

Dr. Angie Paccione, representing the Colorado Department of Higher Education, testified in support of the bill.

Carl Einhaus, representing the Colorado Department of Higher Education, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Paccione and Mr. Einhaus responded to committee questions.

Former Lt. Governor Joe Garcia, President of the Colorado Community College System, testified in support of the bill.

Kelly Caufield, representing Colorado Succeeds, testified in support of the bill.

Jennifer Mello, representing the Colorado State Board of Education and Colorado Department of Education, testified in support of the bill.

The above three-person panel responded to committee questions.

Mary Kay Hogan, representing Colorado Mountain College, testified in support of the bill and responded to committee questions. Mr. Einhaus returned to the table to answer committee questions.

Representative McCluskie explained Amendment L.006.

Representative Geitner explained Amendment L.007.

Representative McCluskie explained Amendment L.008.

The bill sponsors made concluding comments about the bill, and committee discussion ensued.

Representatives Exum and Tipper, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-231, concerning the Colorado Second Chance Scholarship. The bill creates the scholarship program in the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) to assist persons who were previously committee to the Division of Youth Services and are pursing a postsecondary credential. The Executive Director of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) must appoint a program coordinator to regularly meet with and support scholarship recipients to set employment and education goals, and to connect students with wraparound services. The bill sponsors answered questions from the committee.

Dr. Angie Paccione, representing CDHE and CCHE, testified in support of the bill and answered committee questions about the program.

The bill sponsors made concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representatives McLachlan and Wilson, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-190, concerning teacher preparation program support.  The bill requires that the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CHDE), in collaboration with state institutions of higher education, Colorado Department of Education, local education providers, and entities that implement alternative teacher preparation programs, review research and practices from other states and countries to identify best practices in providing educator preparation programs.  Representative McLachlan distributed Amendment L.005 (Attachment F).  The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Julie Pelegrin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from the committee, and the bill sponsors continued to respond to questions.

Sarah Glover, representing the Public Education Business Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Representative McLachlan explained Amendment L.005.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative Bird presented Senate Bill 19-216, concerning the creation of the High School Innovative Learning Pilot Program and innovative learning plan grants in the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).  An innovative learning opportunity includes learning that typically occurs outside of the classroom, including work-based learning, capstone projects, and other experiences that are designed to help students develop postsecondary and workforce related skills.  Representative Bird answered committee questions.

The following people provided testimony:

Kelly Caufield, representing Colorado Succeeds, testified in support of the bill.

Griff Wirth, representing himself as an educator, testified in support of the bill.

Rebecca Sneller, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

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

Anne Barkis, representing the Poudre School District, testified in support of the bill and answered committee questions.

Julie Pelegrin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to answer committee questions about the bill.

Representative Bird made concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.