s_sa_2017a_2017-03-15t13:32:14z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/15/2017

Location: SCR 357

01:52 PM -- HB17-1001



Senator Kerr, sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1001 to the committee. This bill recreates and reenacts the "Parental Involvement in Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade Education Act." It allows employees of covered employers to take up to 6 hours of leave in any one-month period (not to exceed 18 hours in an academic year) to attend a child's academic activities. Covered employers include any state or local government entity and any private company with 50 or more employees. Part-time employees are eligible for a portion of the leave based on the percentage of a full-time schedule the employee works. Employers subject to the bill may limit the ability of employees to take leave based on certain restrictions and may require written verification before granting leave. Whenever possible, employees must provide one week's written notice of the event. The bill does not require employers to provide paid leave, and employers have already satisfied the requirements of the bill as long as they provide an amount of paid or unpaid leave (including vacation, sick, or personal time) equal to the amount specified and allow employees to use the leave to attend children's academic activities. The bill requires that all school districts and each institute charter school make parents and the community at large aware of the availability of parental leave through website postings and other communication channels. The bill also directs the Colorado Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education to provide information about the new law, to the extent possible.



Committee members discussed the bill with Senator Kerr.



02:02 PM -- Judith Marquez, representing 9 to 5 Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



02:06 PM -- Xavier Manzanares, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:09 PM -- Shawna Fritzler, representing Colorado PTA, testified in support of the bill.



02:11 PM -- Kjersten Forseth, representing the Colorado AFL-CIO, testified in support of the bill. Committee members commented on Ms. Forseth's testimony.



02:16 PM -- Nell Roberts, representing the Junior League, testified in support of the bill.



02:18 PM -- Kelli Eastmond, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:21 PM -- Kassandra Rendon-Morales, representing the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), testified in support of the bill.



02:24 PM -- Helen Shreves, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:27 PM -- Cheryl Gray, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:29 PM -- Nancy Nixon, representing Nexus Accessibility International, testified in support of the bill.



02:34 PM -- John Stone, representing the Service Employees International Union, testified in support of the bill.





02:35 PM



Senator Kerr wrapped up his presentation of the bill. Committee members discussed the bill with Senator Kerr.

02:59 PM



The committee adjourned.