H_ED_2020A 02/06/2020 02:09:32 PM Committee Summary

Representative Titone and Representative Caravero, co-prime sponsors, introduced House Bill 20-1131, concerning the creation of a grant program to provide funding for menstrual hygiene products in public schools. The sponsors distributed handouts about the bill and facts about access to mentrual products to the committee (Attachments A,B, and C). Committee discussion and questions ensued.

Caitlin Soch, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Sam Espinoza, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

Kate Newell, representing the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Erin Persand, representing I Support the Girls, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses took questions and comments from the committee.

Tay Anderson, representing Denver Public Schools, testified in support of the bill.

Justin Key, representing I Support the Girls, testified in support of the bill.

Rhiannon Wenning, representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Emma Tang, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Jess Wetzel, representing Free the Period Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Piper Acuff, representing the Intersectional Feminist Club at Arvada West High School, testified in support of the bill.

Julia Trujillo, representing the Intersectional Feminist Club at Arvada West High School, testified in support of the bill.

Maia Wesiar, representing the Intersectional Feminist Club at Arvada West High School, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Jonna Levine, representing Support Jefferson County Kids, testified in support of the bill.

Evie Hudack, representing Colorado Parent Teacher Association (PTA), testified in support of the bill.

Shawna Fritzler, representing Jefferson County PTA, testified in support of the bill.

Elizabeth Hinkley, representing the ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Ethan Davis, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Jocelyn Gotfred, representing the Intersectional Feminist Club at Arvada West High School, testified in support of the bill.

Maya Tornerud, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Alexandria Jimenez, representing the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Julia Rohnes, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Geoff Davis, representing Period Kits, testified in support of the bill.

Grace Hoodson, representing the Intersectional Feminist Club at Arvada West High School, read a letter of support from Dr. Jason Glass, Jefferson County Superintendant.

Elizabeth Leving, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Kay Landon, representing the Jefferson County Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Teresa Key, representing I Support the Girls, testified in support of the bill.

Denise McCorrie, representing the Period Pals Project, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Titone distributed and explained amendment L.001 and L.002 (Attachments D & E).

Committee discussion ensued.

Representatives Titone and Caraveo, co-sponsors of the bill, gave closing remarks.

The committee came back to order.

Representative McLachlan, sponsor, introduced House Bill 20-1062, concerning CO Student Free Expression. Representative McLachlan distrubuted  fact sheets on the bill as well as written testimony (Attachments F-N). Representative McLachlan answered questions from the committee.

Kay Landon, representing the Jefferson County Student Association, testified in support of the bill.

Melinda Huspen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Laura Sudik Varble, representing the Colorado Student Media Association, testified in support of the bill.

Pat McConnell, representing Americas for a Prosperous, testified in support of the bill.

Pat McConnell, representing Americans for Prosperity, testified in support of the bill.

Patrick Moring, representing  the Colorado Student Media Association, testified in support of the bill.

Marta Hedde, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Joseph Cumins, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Jack Kennedy, representing the Colorado High School Media Association, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Representative McLachaln distributed and explained amendment L.001 (Attachment O).

Representatives McLachlan and Exum, co-prime sponsors of the bill, introduced HB1110, creating the Emergency Completion and Retention Grant Program in the Department of Higher Education. The sponsors answered questions from the committee.

Emily Burns, representing the Colorado Department of Higher Education, testified in support of the bill.

Laura Ware, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill.

Dhivahara Vivek, representing Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.

Kim Tolchinsky, representing Young Invincibles, testified in support of the bill.

Matthew Vondrasek, representing the United Government of Graduate Students at the University of Colorado Boulder, testified in favor of the bill. The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Representatives McLachlan and Exum gave closing remarks.

Representative Michaelson Jenet, sponsor, introduced House Bill 20-1005, concerning enhancing Safe2Tell. This bill requires the Department of Law to devise a process to appropriately route non-crisis Safe2Tell tips and to conduct an advertising campaign for Safe2Tell. It also allows the Attorney General to release Safe2Tell information to a law enforcement agency to prevent imminent physical harm or serious bodily injury. Representative Michaelson Jenet distributed and reviewed amendment L.002 (Attachment P).

Cheryl Fleetwood, representing the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, read testimony from two witnesses. Ms. Fleetwood testified in support of the bill.

Bennett Lane, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Sarah Davidon, representing Mental Health Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Bev Marquez, representing Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners, testified in support of the bill.

Camille Harding, with the Office of Behavioral Health, shared that she is present to answer technical questions on the bill. The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Michaelson Jenet gave closing remarks.