Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-285

Date: 04/22/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-285

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved prepared Amendment L.002 (Attachment M). Th Moved prepared Amendment L.004 (Attachment N). Th Moved prepared Amendment L.006 (Attachment O). Th Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-285, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

05:00 PM -- Senate Bill 09-285

Senator Heath presented Senate Bill 09-285. The bill is recommended by the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth. It makes changes to House Bill 09-1319, which permits students in grades 9 through 12 to enroll in courses at institutions of higher education and apply earned credits toward the requirements for both high school graduation and a post-secondary degree. Senate Bill 09-285 includes the following provisions:

clarifies that concurrent credits may be earned in career and technical education courses;
permits students to apply credits toward either an academic degree or a career and technical certificate; and
adds representatives of career and technical program providers to the concurrent enrollment advisory board.

School districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) that are approved as a career and technical education program provider cannot include concurrently enrolled students for the purpose of calculating state aid for career and technical education that the district or BOCES receives under current law. The bill takes effect upon the enactment of House Bill 09-1319.

Senator Heath explained the bill and stated that it is a companion bill to House Bill 09-1319. Responding to questions from Senator Harvey regarding why the bill was necessary, Senator Heath said that the bill expands and formulates programs that may not exist in all counties. Senator Heath responded to further questions from Senator Harvey regarding the fiscal impact of the bill. He distributed prepared Amendments L.002, L.004, and L.006 (Attachments M through O, respectively).

The following individuals testified regarding the bill:

05:06 PM -- Matt Gianneschi, representing the Governor's Office, testified in favor of the bill. He stated that the legislation comes from the recommendations of the P-20 Council. He addressed Senator Harvey's comments concerning post-secondary enrollment options. Mr. Gianneschi and Senator Harvey discussed funding sources for the program. Responding to a question from Senator Harvey concerning the eligibility of illegal aliens for concurrent enrollment options, Mr. Gianneschi referred to a formal opinion written by Attorney General John Suthers (Attachment P).

05:11 PM -- Geri Anderson, representing the Colorado Community College System, testified in favor of the bill. She responded to suggestions from Senator Foster concerning ways to market technical or vocational education tracks. Other members of the committee shared additional comments regarding technical career programs.

05:16 PM -- Dean Stecklein, representing Pickens Technical College and area technical colleges, testified in favor of the bill.

05:19 PM -- Darrell Green, representing Pickens Technical College and the Colorado Association of Career and Technical Education (CACTE), testified in favor of the bill. He gave examples of concurrent enrollment options.

05:21 PM -- Dan Lucero, representing the CACTE, testified in favor of the bill. He addressed Senator Foster's comments regarding popular perceptions of career and technical education. He stated that the bill will help advance career and technical education as viable options.

05:23 PM

Senator Heath explained the reasons why the bill was not combined with House Bill 09-1319. He described prepared Amendments L.002, L.004, and L.006. He stated that they ensure that the bill coincides with House Bill 09-1319.


BILL:	SB09-285
TIME:	05:24:36 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Moved prepared Amendment L.002 (Attachment M). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Foster
	Harvey
	Mitchell
	Scheffel
	Tochtrop
	Heath
	Veiga

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-285
TIME:	05:24:49 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Moved prepared Amendment L.004 (Attachment N). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Foster
	Harvey
	Mitchell
	Scheffel
	Tochtrop
	Heath
	Veiga

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-285
TIME:	05:24:58 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Moved prepared Amendment L.006 (Attachment O). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Foster
	Harvey
	Mitchell
	Scheffel
	Tochtrop
	Heath
	Veiga

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-285
TIME:	05:25:06 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-285, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Foster	Yes
	Harvey	Yes
	Mitchell	Yes
	Scheffel	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Veiga	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

05:25 PM

The committee adjourned.