S_ED_2017A 01/26/2017 Committee Summary

01:32 PM -- Presentation from History Colorado



Senator Hill, chair, called the meeting to order. The committee members received a memorandum outlining the organization and procedures for the Senate Education Committee (Attachment A).



17SenateEd0126AttachA.pdf



Senator Hill invited Steve Turner, Executive Director of History Colorado, and Tamra Ward, Vice-chair of the History Colorado board, to come to the table to discuss a recent incident at a History Colorado facility in Pueblo. Mr. Turner distributed a copy of his prepared remarks (Attachment B).



17SenateEd0126AttachB.pdf























01:39 PM -- Discussion with higher education institutions on student health insurance



Senator Hill invited representatives from the University of Colorado (CU), Colorado State University (CSU), and Metropolitan State University of Denver (Metro) to come to the table to talk about their institution's requirements for student health insurance. Jeremy Hueth, Managing Associate University Counsel, and Michele Van Pelt, Director of Finance and Operations for health services at CU, came to the table. Ms. Van Pelt talked about the opt-out process for students to decline the health insurance. She explained that the school's mandatory student health insurance plan was implemented in 1986 for students enrolled in six or more undergraduate course hours, or one or more graduate course hours. She stated that students are automatically enrolled in the school's health insurance plan and are given a period of time to opt-out of the plan. She said that all students at CU are required to have some type of health insurance coverage, and if they choose to opt-out of the school's plan, they must provide proof of other insurance coverage. She talked about students' ability to apply for a late waiver if they miss the opt-out period. Ms. Van Pelt answered questions from the committee. Mr. Hueth told the committee that 80 percent of the CU-Boulder student population opts out of coverage, while the opt-out rate at the Anschutz campus is 65 percent. The representatives from CU distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment C).



17SenateEd0126AttachC.pdf



01:46 PM



Christine Straburg, representing Metro, talked about the school's student health insurance requirements as well as it's opt-out waiver. She distributed two handouts to the committee (Attachments D and E), and stated that Metro has an 80 percent opt-out rate and 20 percent of students are insured through the school's health insurance plan. Mike Feeley, representing CSU, explained that CSU requires it's students to maintain some type of health insurance, whether it be through the school, their parents, or another plan. He said that 20 percent of CSU students are covered by the school's plan. He explained that similar to the other schools represented on the panel, students at CSU must opt-out of the school's policy, which has been in existence since 1984.



17SenateEd0126AttachD.pdf 17SenateEd0126AttachE.pdf













































01:50 PM -- SB17-052



Senator Kerr, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-052 which concerns recommendations related to Title 22 from the Department of Education to the Statutory Revision Committee. There were no witnesses to testify on the bill, and no questions from the committee.

01:54 PM -- Sunset Review Health Service Corps Advisory Council



Saul Larsen, Department of Regulatory Agencies, introduced himself and discussed the department's sunset review process. Committee members received a copy of the 2016 Sunset Review Report for the Health Service Corps Advisory Council, Education Data Advisory Committee, School Safety Resource Center Advisory Board, and the Forest Service Technical Advisory Panel (Attachment F). Mr. Larsen discussed the recommendations of the review of the Health Service Corps Advisory Council and answered questions from the committee. The committee members received a copy of the draft bill (Attachment G).



17SenateEd0126AttachF.pdf 17SenateEd0126AttachG.pdf

02:04 PM -- Sunset Review Education Data Advisory Committee



Bryan Jameson, Department of Regulatory Agencies, came to the table to talk about the department's sunset report for the Education Data Advisory Committee (EDAC), which can be found as Attachment F. Mr. Jameson explained the recommendations in the report. The committee members received a copy of the draft bill (Attachment H).



17SenateEd0126AttachH.pdf



02:10 PM -- Lisa Escarcega, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives and the Colorado Rural Schools Alliance, spoke in support of introducing the bill as drafted. She explained the importance of continuing the EDAC.









































02:13 PM



There were no more witnesses and public testimony was closed.

02:15 PM -- Sunset Review School Safety Resource Center Advisory Board



Vivienne Belmont, Department of Regulatory Agencies, presented the report for School Safety Resource Center Advisory Board, which can be found as Attachment F. She stated that department recommends continuing the board indefinitely. The committee members received a copy of the draft bill (Attachment I). Ms. Belmont answered questions from the committee.



17SenateEd0126AttachI.pdf



02:19 PM -- Christine Harms, Director, Colorado School Safety Resource Center, came to the table to answer questions.



































02:21 PM



There were no more witnesses so public testimony was closed.

02:23 PM -- Sunset Review Forest Service Technical Advisory Panel



Ellen Graham, Department of Regulatory Agencies, presented the report for the Forest Service Technical Advisory Panel (panel), which can be found as Attachment F. She stated that the department recommends continuing the panel indefinitely. The committee members received a copy of the draft bill (Attachment J). The committee decided not to move the draft bill forward at that time due to a possible conflict with the passage of Senate Bill 17-050. Committee discussion ensued.



17SenateEd0126AttachJ.pdf









































02:31 PM -- SB17-060



Senator Todd, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-060 which concerns moving the Colorado Student Leaders Institute (COSLI) from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to the Department of Higher Education (DHE). A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment K), and Senator Todd distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment L). Senator Todd explained that the bill does not change any of the details or funding requirements of the program, and answered questions from the committee.



17SenateEd0126AttachK.pdf 17SenateEd0126AttachL.pdf



The following people testified on the bill:



02:36 PM -- Kachina Weaver, Legislative Liaison, DHE, spoke in support of the bill and answered questions from the committee.



02:39 PM -- Celeste Archer, Executive Director of COSLI, came to the table to answer questions. She distributed four handouts (Attachments M through P).



17SenateEd0126AttachM.pdf 17SenateEd0126AttachN.pdf



17SenateEd0126AttachO.pdf 17SenateEd0126AttachP.pdf

02:51 PM



The committee adjourned.