H_ED_2024A 02/15/2024 01:32:33 PM Committee Summary

Reps. Weinberg and Vigil presented House Bill 24-1049. The sponsors requested that the bill be postponed indefinitely.

Reps. Young and Garcia introduced House Bill 24-1063. The bill makes changes to state law related to the use of abbreviated school days for students with disabilities. The sponsors answered committee questions.

Anna Gerstle, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to answer committee questions.

Ms. Elizabeth Moran, representing The Arc of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Sara Pielsticker, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Elie Zwiebel, representing the Transformative Justice Project of Colorado (fka Colorado Juvenile Defender Center), testified in support of the bill. Ms. Katie Hecker, representing Office of the Child's Representative, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses answered several committee questions.

Shelbie Konkel, representing the Colorado Department of Education, came to the table to answer questions on the fiscal note.

The sponsors gave some closing remarks.

Mr. Brian Tobias, representing the Department of Regulatory Agencies, came to the table to discuss the sunset process and discuss the report relating to the Private Occupational Education Act of 1981. The report may be found in Attachment D and the draft bill in Attachment E.

Committee discussion with Mr. Tobias continued.

Dr. Angie Paccione, reperenting the Colorado Department Higher Education, answered committee questions. Ms. Mary Kanaly, representing the Division of Private Occupational Schools, answered committee questions. Ms. Lorna Candler, representing the Division of Private Occupational Schools, answered committee questions.

Committee discussion ensued with the witnesses.

The committee back over.

Reps. McCormick and Armagost returned to the committee to discuss House Bill 24-1087. The bill was previously heard on February 8 and laid over.

Colleen ONeil, representing the Colorado Department of Education, was available to answer committee questions.

Reps. Vigil and Titone introduced House Bill 24-1039. The bill deems a school’s refusal to use a student’s preferred name as a form of discrimination and establishes a task force in the Colorado Department of Education to provide guidance for school districts. The sponsors responded to several committee questions.

Written testimony may be found in Attachment H.

Ms. Elizabeth Williams, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Autumn Matisek, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Lara Matisek, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Dawn Fritz, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Marla Fernandez-Benavides, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Rich Guggenheim, representing Gays Against Groomers, testified in opposition to the bill. Joseph Currin, representing Gays Against Groomers, testified in opposition to the bill. Valerie Leal, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Shannon Johnson, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Jeff Brosius, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Sarah Hunt, representing the Charter Advocacy Coalition, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Lori Gimelshteyn, representing the Colorado Parent Advocacy Network, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Jarvis Caldwell, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Rob Friedl, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Kashia Davis, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Stephanie Vitale, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Joel Greenberg, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Vanessa Wilcox, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Steven Haden, representing Envision You, testified in support of the bill. Mx. Sam Charney, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Amanda Monk, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Achtonn Monk, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Jacquelyn Monk, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Brett Dayberry, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Judy Papenfuss, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Steve Papenfuss, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Lindsay Datko, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Elizabeth Armstrong, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Jennifer Iversen, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Deanna Giles, representing themself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Nadine Bridges, representing One Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Anaya Robinson, representing ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Cayenne Wilcox, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Ethan Anderson, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Patricia Hines, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Benji Archer, representing Out Boulder County, testified in support of the bill.

The sponsors gave some closing remarks.

The committee made some closing remarks.