Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

S_ED_2018A 01/25/2018 01:32:21 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Date 01/25/2018
Attendance
Gardner X
Merrifield X
Neville T. *
Todd X
Zenzinger X
Priola X
Hill X
Time 01:32:21 PM to 05:17:23 PM
Place SCR 352
This Meeting was called to order by Hill
This Report was prepared by Rachel Kurtz-Phelan
Hearing Items Action Taken
Conf 18-Colorado State University System — Board Of Governors Favorably Refer to Full Senate
SB18-069 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
Presentation by Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program Committee Discussion Only
SB18-013 Referred to Senate Appropriations
SB18-008 Postponed Indefinitely

01:32:38 PM

Senator Hill, chair, called the meeting to order and reviewed the day's agenda.



SB18-069 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
01:57:25 PM  
Senators Holbert and Zenzinger, co-sponsors,
presented Senate Bill 18-069 which concerns enforcement of statewide transfer
agreements.  Senator Holbert spoke about the necessity of the bill
to help Colorado students.
02:04:52 PM  
Amendment L.001 was distributed to the committee [Attachment B]. Senator Zenzinger provided her comments on the bill.
02:07:11 PM  
Nancy McCallin, President of the Colorado Community College System, spoke in support of the bill.
02:12:21 PM  
Andy Dorsey, President of Front Range Community College, spoke in support of the bill.
02:16:04 PM  
Leah Porter, representing herself as a student, spoke in support of the bill.
02:19:37 PM  
Isaiah Curtis, representing himself as
a student, spoke in support of the bill.  He answered questions from
the committee.
02:23:11 PM  
Kachina Weaver, representing Aims Community College, spoke in support of the bill.


02:26:33 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Zenzinger
Seconded
Gardner
Merrifield
Neville T.
Todd
Zenzinger
Priola
Hill
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


02:27:44 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-069, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Zenzinger
Seconded
Gardner Yes
Merrifield Yes
Neville T. Yes
Todd Yes
Zenzinger Yes
Priola Yes
Hill Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB18-008 - Committee Discussion Only
02:29:22 PM  
Senator Hill explained that the committee
would hear testimony from one witness on Senate Bill 18-008 since the witness
needed to leave for the airport. Catherine Beeson, representing the Colorado
Symphony Arts Education, spoke in support of the bill.  She answered
questions from the committee.



Presentation by Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program - Committee Discussion Only
02:37:12 PM  
Senator Hill invited the presenters from
the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program to the table.  
Board members Tim Reed and Kathy Gebhardt, and Andy Stine, Director of
Capital Construction, Colorado Department of Education, distributed a handout
[Attachment C] to the committee.   Mr. Reed spoke about the program's
different funding sources as well as the types of grants available, as
well as the make up of the board.
02:43:42 PM  
Ms. Gebhardt spoke about an increase in
the program's funding from marijuana excise taxes.  The panel answered
questions from the committee.



SB18-013 - Referred to Senate Appropriations
02:50:27 PM  
Senators Fields and Gardners, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 18-013 which concerns expanding the grades eligible for the child nutrition school lunch protection program.
02:56:35 PM  
Danielle Bock, Director of Nutrition Services
for Greeley Evans School District, spoke in support of the bill.
02:57:55 PM  
Erika Edwards, representing the Colorado School Nutrition Association, spoke in support of the bill.
02:59:24 PM  
Jessica Gould, representing the Colorado
School Nutrition Association, spoke in support of the bill.
03:00:40 PM  
Theresa Hafner, Executive Director of Food Services for Denver Public Schools, spoke in support of the bill.
03:03:17 PM  
Jasmine Gonzalez, representing Padres y Jovenes Unidos, spoke in support of the bill.
03:04:41 PM  
Fabiola Flores, representing Padres y Jovenes Unidos, spoke in support of the bill.
03:06:07 PM  
Evie Hudak, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, spoke in support of the bill.
03:08:38 PM  
Hillary Jorgensen, representing Healthier
Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.
03:11:00 PM  
Erin Miller, Vice President of Health Initiatives, Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bill.
03:12:01 PM  

There were no more witnesses so Senator Hill closed public testimony.  Senators Fields and Gardner provided closing comments to the bill.
03:14:35 PM  
The co-sponsors answered questions from the committee.


03:18:38 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-013 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Gardner
Seconded
Gardner Yes
Merrifield Yes
Neville T. No
Todd Yes
Zenzinger Yes
Priola Yes
Hill No
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
03:18:39 PM  



SB18-008 - Postponed Indefinitely
03:18:50 PM  
Senator Merrifield, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 18-008 which concerns measures to reward public education entities that provide student access to arts education programs. He distributed two handouts to the committee [Attachments D and E].
03:29:38 PM  
Ed Vigdor, representing the Spirit of Harmony Foundation, spoke in support of the bill.
03:32:57 PM  
Matt Cook, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, spoke in support of the bill.
03:34:25 PM  
Mr. Cook answered questions from the committee.
03:36:36 PM  
Luke Ragland, representing Ready Colorado, spoke in opposition to the bill.
03:39:44 PM  
Dan Schaller, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, spoke in opposition to the bill. Mr. Schaller and Mr. Ragland answered questions from the committee.
03:57:20 PM  
Yolanda Calderon, representing Aurora Public
Schools and the Colorado Education Association, spoke in support of the
bill.
04:01:16 PM  
Zarainy Dewberry, representing herself
as a student, spoke in support of the bill.
04:04:03 PM  
Shawna Fritzler, representing the Colorado
Parent Teacher Association, spoke in support of the bill.
04:10:58 PM  
The previous three witnesses answered questions from the committee.
04:13:18 PM  
Pam Benigno, representing the Independence Institute, spoke in opposition to the bill.
04:19:20 PM  
Kelly Caufield, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in opposition to the bill.
04:26:13 PM  
The previous two witnesses answered questions from the committee.
04:36:40 PM  
Jason Diminich, representing Think 360
Arts for Learning, spoke in support of the bill.
04:40:38 PM  
Charlotte Talbert, representing the Scientific
and Cultural Facilities District, spoke in support of the bill.
04:45:31 PM  
Elizabeth Stanbro, representing herself as a teacher, spoke in support of the bill.
04:46:45 PM  
Andrew Romano, representing himself, spoke
in support of the bill.
04:48:27 PM  
Jessica Edwards, representing herself as a teacher, spoke in support of the bill.
04:51:35 PM  
Amy Dewberry, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.
04:53:47 PM  
There were no more witnesses so Senator Hill closed public testimony. Senator Merrifield read a prepared statement from Jason Glass, Superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools, and provided his closing comments to the bill.
05:01:59 PM  
Committee members provided closing comments to the bill. Senator Merrifield answered questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.


05:15:51 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-008 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Merrifield
Seconded
Gardner No
Merrifield Yes
Neville T. No
Todd Yes
Zenzinger Yes
Priola No
Hill No
YES: 3   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


05:16:00 PM
 Motion Postpone Senate Bill 18-008 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Priola
Seconded
Gardner Yes
Merrifield No
Neville T. Yes
Todd No
Zenzinger No
Priola Yes
Hill Yes
Final YES: 4   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



Conf 18-Colorado State University System — Board Of Governors - Favorably Refer to Full Senate
01:33:17 PM  
Senator Hill invited Dr. Anthony Frank,
President of Colorado State University, to the table to introduce the appointee
and reappointees to the board of Governors: Steven Gabel, Nancy Tuor, and
Jane Robbe Rhodes.  Copies of the Governor's appointment letter, and
the appointee and reappointees' applications and resumes can be found as
[Attachment A].
01:36:57 PM  
Ms. Robbe Rhodes, Ms. Tuor, and Mr. Gabel
introduced themselves, talked about their personal, educational, and professional
backgrounds and about why they would like to be appointed or reappointed
to the board.  The panel answered questions from the committee about
the importance of the agricultural and animal science programs at the school.
01:47:21 PM  
The panel continued to answer questions
from the committee.


01:54:00 PM
 Motion Refer the appointment of Steven Gabel to the Colorado State University System Board Of Governors to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
Moved Priola
Seconded
Gardner Yes
Merrifield Yes
Neville T. Yes
Todd Yes
Zenzinger Yes
Priola Yes
Hill Yes
YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


01:55:00 PM
 Motion Refer the reappointment of Nancy Tuor to the Colorado State University System Board Of Governors to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
Moved Priola
Seconded
Gardner Yes
Merrifield Yes
Neville T. No
Todd Yes
Zenzinger Yes
Priola No
Hill Yes
YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


01:56:00 PM
 Motion Refer the reappointment of Jane Robbe Rhodes to the Colorado State University System Board Of Governors to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
Moved Priola
Seconded
Gardner Yes
Merrifield Yes
Neville T. No
Todd Yes
Zenzinger Yes
Priola No
Hill Yes
YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


05:17:23 PM   Committee Adjourned






Colorado legislature email addresses ending in @state.co.us are no longer active. Please replace @state.co.us with @coleg.gov for Colorado legislature email addresses. Details

The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 7, 2024, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 8, 2024, unless otherwise specified. Details