S_ED_2019A 02/07/2019 01:36:24 PM Committee Summary

Senator Zenzinger, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 19-102 which concerns permitting a public school to include operation as a community school in its innovation plan. She explained several provisions of the bill, including what makes a school a community school. Senator Zenzinger answered questions from the committee.

Senator Zenzinger continued to answer questions from the committee.

The following people testified on the bill:

Rhiannon Wenning, representing the Colorado Education Association and Jefferson Jr./Sr. High School, spoke in support of the bill.

GaoLou Brown, representing herself as a teacher, spoke in support of the bill.

Jane Fillmore, representing herself as a teacher, spoke in support of the bill.

Francesca Craver, representing herself as a school principal, spoke in support of the bill.

The panel of witnesses answered questions from the committee.

Senators Holbert and Todd, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-095 which concerns the review of the funding formula for institutions of higher education.

The following person testified on the bill:

Chloe Mugg, Legislative Liaison for the Colorado Department of Higher Education, spoke in support of the bill and answered questions from the committee.

Senator Todd, sponsor, presented House Bill 19-1036 which concerns annual stipends for certain nationally certified school professionals.

The following people testified on the bill:

Dr. Melanie Potyondy, representing herself as a school psychologist, spoke in support of the bill.

Dr. Brad Reimers, representing himself as a school psychologist, spoke in support of the bill.

Brittany Hutson, representing herself as a school psychologist, spoke in support of the bill.

Sacha Mittelman, representing herself as a school psychologist, spoke in support of the bill.

Karen Smith, President of the Colorado School Counselor Association, spoke in support of the bill.

Dr. Sarah Davidon, Research Director for Mental Health Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

Senators Fenberg and Winter, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 19-002 which concerns the regulation of student education loan servicers. The co-sponsors distributed and explained strike below amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

The co-sponsors answered questions from the committee.

The following people testified on the bill:

Zoey DeWolf, representing the Colorado Bankers Association, spoke in support of the bill as amended.

Charley Olena, representing New Era Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.  

Nikolai Frant, representing the Colorado Attorney General's Office, spoke in support of the bill as amended.

Karen Cody-Hopkins, representing herself as an attorney, spoke in support of the bill. She distributed her written testimony to the committee (Attachment B).

A copy of the written testimony from Ellen Harnick, Western Office Director for the Center for Responsible Lending, was distributed to the committee (Attachment C).

Jamie Simpson, representing the American Federation of Teachers Colorado, spoke in support of the bill.

Amanda Valenta, representing the Bell Policy Center, spoke in support of the bill.

Christina Postolowski, representing Young Invincibles, spoke in support of the bill.

Ruben Gallegos, representing the Colorado Fiscal Institute, spoke in support of the bill.  

Mary Marchun, representing the Independent Bankers of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill as amended.

Danielle Grimm, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

Gabrielle Healy, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

Dylan Robinson-Ruet, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.

Jo Sagrillo, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill.

Liz Escobedo, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.

Anna Lee, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill.