I_SchSafety_2019A 10/31/2019 10:09:47 AM Committee Summary

Representative Michaelson Jenet made opening remarks and explained that the bill drafters would present each bill draft.

Shelby Ross, representing the OLLS, presented draft bill #2 (Attachment C).  The committee was also provided with a fiscal note (Attachment D).  The bill concerns excused absences in public schools for behavioral health concerns.  Senator Fields commented on the bill.

Michael Dohr, representing the OLLS, presented draft bill #3 (Attachment E).  The committee was also provided with a fiscal note (Attachment F).  The bill expands the School Security Disbursement Program to allow grants to community-based organizations in addition to local education providers.  Representative Van Winkle withdrew the bill from consideration.

Mr. Dohr returned to the table to present draft bill #5 (Attachment I).  The committee was also provided with a fiscal note (Attachment J).  This bill allows a public safety entity to ask a court for a search warrant to determine the location of an individual who uses Safe2Tell for specific purposes.   The bill was withdrawn.

Conrad Imel, representing the OLLS, presented draft bill #6 (Attachment K). The committee was also provided with a fiscal note (Attachment L). This bill increases the amount transferred from the State Public School Fund to the School Access for Emergency Response Grant Program (SAFER) Cash Fund by $5.0 million per year, resulting in a total annual transfer of $10.0 million to the SAFER Cash Fund.  The bill was withdrawn.

Mr Imel also presented draft bill #7 (Attachment M). The committee was also provided with a fiscal note (Attachment N).  The bill requires that the Colorado Department of Education offer professional development for school personnel related to youth behavioral and mental health issues.

Mr. Dohr presented draft bill #8 (Attachment O). The committee was also provided with a fiscal note (Attachment P). The bill makes enhancements to the Safe2Tell program in the Department of Law.  Representatives Van Winkle and Michaelson Jenet made comments about the bill.

Mr. Imel presented draft bill #9 (Attachment Q). The committee was also provided with a fiscal note (Attachment R). The bill requires the School Safety Resource Center to develop a school climate survey. Representatives Beckman and Sirota announced that the bill would be pulled from consideration because climate surveys are already in place.

Mr. Dohr presented draft bill #10 (Attachment S). The committee was provided with a fiscal note (Attachment T). The bill requires the Departments of Education, Law, Public Health and Environment, and Public Safety to contract with a consultant to study issues related to school safety programs. Senator Lundeen commented that the bill should be amended into bill draft #11.

Mr. Dohr presented draft bill 11 (Attachment U). The committee was provided with a fiscal note (Attachment V). The bill creates an interagency working group on school safety in the Department of Education.  Senator Gardner commented about the bill.

Mr. Dohr presented draft resolution #12 (Attachment W), which expresses support for the I Love U Guys Foundation. Senator Lundeen discussed his intent in having the resolution drafted. Senators Lundeen and Fields and Representatives Van Winkle and Sirota were named sponsors for the resolution.

Representative Beckman provided an amendment for draft bill #4 (Attachment X). She explained what the amendment does and why the bill is important.

Senator Lundeen commented about draft bill #10 and how that bill could be folded into draft bill #11. Senator Fields proposed an amendment to draft bill #11 (Attachment Y). She explained what the amendment does.

Senator Lundeen withdrew draft bill #10 from consideration.

Senator Fields proposed an amendment to draft bill #7 (Attachment Z) and explained how it works.

Representative Michaelson Jenet announced that the committee would recess until 11:10.

Representative Michaelson Jenet announced that she would like to roll the contents of draft bill #1 into draft bill #11.

Draft bill 11 will be sposored by Senators Gardner and Gonzales and Van Winkle and Michaelson Jenet.

Representative Michaelson Jenet responded to questions from the committee about draft bill #8.

The bill will be sponsored by Representatives Michaelson Jenet and Van Winkle and Senators Fields and Lundeen.

Senator Lundeen commented that bill draft #7 and its relationship to draft #11. Senator Fields discussed her reasons for offering bill draft #7. Other members of the committee joined the conversation about the bill.

The bill will be sponsored by Senator Fields and Representatives Sirota and Beckman.

The committee discussed changing the title of bill draft #4.

The bill will be sponsored by Representatives Beckman and Michaelson Jenet and Senator Gonzales.

The bill will be sponsored by Senator Fields and Representative Michaelson Jenet.

Representative Michaelson Jenet made closing comments about the work of the committee.  Other committee members also made closing remarks.