4A23D6CEC5771315872583B40070C382 Hearing Summary

Representatives Gonzales-Gutierrez and Buentello, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 19-1192, concerning inclusion of American Minorities in teaching civil government. Under current law, Colorado's public schools are required to teach the history and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including the history, culture, and contributions of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and African Americans.  The bill requires that schools also teach the history, culture, and contributions of Asian Americans and the interconnected nature of these communities.  The bill creates a 15-member History, Culture, Social Contributions, and Civil Government Education Commission and sets the conditions for the commission's selection and composition.  The commission must make recommendations to the State Board of Education (board) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) related to the teaching of history, culture, and civil government.  Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez distributed information about the bill to the committee (Attachment A).

Representative Buentello and Representative Gonzales-Gutierrez responded to committee questions regarding the bill.

The following people provided testimony:

Angelita Trujillo, representing Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), testified in support of the bill.

Velia Rincon, representing herself as an educator, testified in support of the bill.

Kent Willman, Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

Stephanie Rossi, Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill.

The above four-person panel answered questions from the committee about the commission established in the bill.

Mariana Galvez Soninario, COLOR, testified in support of the bill and distributed various handouts to the committee (Attachment B).

Esperanza Garcia, representing herself as a student, testified in support of the bill.

Mason Estes, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Ramon Del Castillo, representing himself as an educator, testified in support of the bill.

The above four-person panel answered committee questions about the bill.

Committee discussion ensued.

Rudy Gonzales, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Sean Davis, representing himself as an educator, testified in support of the bill with amendments that would include the LGBTQ community on the commission.

Ruis Torres, representing himself as an educator, testified in support of the bill.

The above three-person panel responded to questions from the committee.

Matthew Crag, representing himself as an educator, testified in support of the bill with amendments including the LGBTQ community on the commission created in the bill.

Bernie Janelle, representing herself as an educator, testified in support of the bill with amendments including the LGBTQ community on the commission created in the bill.

Chris Arteaga, representing himself, testified in support of the bill with amendments including the LGBTQ community on the commission created in the bill.

Jill Fleishman, Native American Justice Council, testified in support of the bill.

Joel Zigman, representing himself, testified in support of the bill with amendments including the LGBTQ community on the commission created in the bill. Mr. Zigman distributed a copy of his testimony to the committee (Attachment C).

Representtive Buentello moved and explained Amendment L.001 (Attachment D), which includes a member from the LGBTQ community on the commission created in the bill.  The sponsors responded to questions about the amendment.

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.