H_ED_2019A 01/22/2019 01:31:14 PM Committee Summary

Brita Darling, Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), introduced herself to the committee and distributed information about the services OLLS offers (Attachment A).

Josh Abram, Legislative Council Staff, introduced himself and discussed the services that the office offers.

Mr. Abram responded to questions from the committee regarding fiscal notes.

Representatives Arndt and McLachlan presented House Bill 19-1036, concerning annual stipends for certain nationally certified school professionals.  Under current law, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) awards $1,600 stipends to teachers or principals who hold a certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (board), and an additional $3,200 (for a total of $4,800) to board certified teachers or prinicipals working in a low-performing, high-needs school.  The bill adds school psychologists who are board certified and meet the other program requirements to the list of eligible school professionals who qualify for the stitpends.

Representatives McLachlan and Arndt responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill.

Shelby Ross, OLLS, responded to a question from the committee regarding how contracted school employees would qualify for the stipend under the bill. Committee discussion ensued regarding the bill and how school psychologists would qualify under the bill.

The following persons testified on the bill:

Dr. Melanie Potyondy, Poudre School District, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.

Brad Reimers, Poudre School District, testified in support of the bill.

Brittany Hutson, testified in support of the bill.

Sacha Mittelman, Boulder Valley School District and Colorado Society of School Psychologists, testified in support of the bill and distributed a comparison of national certifications across school professionals (Attachment B) and a description of how school psychologists serve in schools (Attachment C). Ms. Mittelman responded to questions from the committee.

Senator Evie Hudak, Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

Karen Smith, Colorado School Counselor's Association, testified in support of the bill.

Grant Orvis, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Arndt distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment D), which includes board certified counselors in the bill.

Representatives McLachlan and Arndt made concluding comments regarding the bill and responded to questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.

Representatives Buckner and Wilson, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1005, concerning an income tax credit for certain early childhood educators. For tax years 2019 through 2023, the bill creates an income tax credit for eligible early childhood educators. To be eligible, an educator must hold an early childhood professional credential, and, for at least six months of the year, be the head of or employed by a family care home, or employed by an early childhood education program or family childhood care home. The Department of Revenue (DOR) must adjust the credit amounts for inflation beginning in tax year 2020.

Representatives Buckner and Wilson responded to questions from the committee.

The following persons testified on the bill:

Bill Jaeger, Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding statistics of early childhood education and the early childhood education credentials developed by the Colorado Department of Education.

Mr. Jaeger continued to answer questions from the committee regarding the 2019 Colorado Preschool Program Legislative Report, which can be found here: http://www.leg.state.co.us/library/reports.nsf/ReportsDoc.xsp?documentId....

Temisha Eliott, Clayton Early Learning, testified in support of the bill.

Suzanne Banning, Florence Crittenton School, testified in support of the bill.

Monalisa Martinez, Florence Crittenton Early Childhood Education Director, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Martinez responded to questions regarding the creditials and rating system for Colorado Shines, which is the quality rating and improvement system for all of Colorado's licensed early care and learning programs serving children aged 0-5.

Ali Mickelson, Colorado Fiscal Institute, testified in support of the bill.

Hunter Railey, Small Business Majority, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding the bill.

Grant Orvis, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Stefanie Stevens, Northwest Aurora Childcare Cooperative Pilot Project, testified in support of the bill.

Eric Myers, Colorado Department of Revenue, who was present for questions only, responded to questions from the committee.

Louis Pino, Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions regarding the bill's impact to a potential taxpayer refund under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.

Representatives Buckner and Wilson made concluding comments on the bill.