Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:04/30/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:02:48 PM to 04:07 PM
Baumgardner
X
Benefield
X
Place:HCR 0112
Massey
X
Middleton
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Murray
X
Representative Merrifield
Peniston
X
Priola
X
This Report was prepared by
Scanlan
X
Katey McGettrick
Schafer S.
X
Summers
X
Todd
X
Solano
X
Merrifield
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB09-1369
SB09-285
SB09-291
SB09-130
Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Postponed Indefinitely


02:50 PM -- House Bill 09-1369

Representative Weissmann, sponsor of House Bill 09-1369, concerning the higher education leadership search process, presented his bill to the committee. He explained the purpose for bringing forth the bill, and the changes the bill makes to current law.


02:56 PM

Representative Middleton asked questions about the applicant search process, specifically about the lack of diversity among candidates and the lack of inclusion language in the bill. Representative Peniston also asked questions of the sponsor regarding the search committee for selecting candidates.



03:02 PM

Committee discussion ensued about the search committee, with Representative Weissmann noting that the bill codifies existing practices. Representative Schafer asked if it applies to community colleges. Representative Weissmann replied that it does. Representative Middleton returned to the discussion about the search committee. Representative Priola asked about language changes in the bill from "select", "choose", and "appoint" to "elect". Representative Weissmann replied that the change reflects current practices at higher education institutions.


03:10 PM

The following people testified:


03:10 PM --
Jeremy Hueth, representing the University of Colorado (CU), testified against the bill, and outlined CU's concerns with the bill. He shared his experience as legal counsel to CU's presidential search committee. He raised issues of confidentiality for candidates that are not selected, and that the bill could undermine the university's ability to recruit qualified candidates.


03:16 PM

Representative Priola asked if the university was consulted on the drafting of the bill. Mr. Hueth replied that CU was not, and could not say if other universities had been consulted. Representative Benefield asked clarifying questions about voting on candidates at public meetings. Representative Merrifield asked if they vote in public currently. Mr. Hueth responded no.


03:19 PM

Representative Weissmann explained that he would be willing to work on the language to ensure that the voting is kept confidential. Representative Murray asked who is on the current search committee, and how the current search process operates. Representative Middleton asked under what circumstances the committee goes into executive session.


03:24 PM --
Billy Husher, representing AFT Colorado, testified in support of the bill.


03:27 PM

Mr. Husher responded to questions from the committee.


03:30 PM --
Rich Schweigert, representing Colorado State University, testified against the bill.


BILL:HB09-1369
TIME: 03:33:20 PM
MOVED:Middleton
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment on page 4, line 21, insert "and diverse" after high-quality, and to make conforming amendments throughout the bill. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
Baumgardner
Benefield
Massey
Middleton
Murray
Peniston
Priola
Scanlan
Schafer S.
Summers
Todd
Solano
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB09-1369
TIME: 03:35:22 PM
MOVED:Benefield
MOTION:Moved on page 5, line 18, to strike "vote on each person interviewed and". The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Middleton
VOTE
Baumgardner
Benefield
Massey
Middleton
Murray
Peniston
Priola
Scanlan
Schafer S.
Summers
Todd
Solano
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


03:36 PM

Members shared their positions on the bill.


BILL:HB09-1369
TIME: 03:46:25 PM
MOVED:Benefield
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1369, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 8-5-0 vote.
SECONDED:Todd
VOTE
Baumgardner
No
Benefield
Yes
Massey
No
Middleton
Yes
Murray
No
Peniston
Yes
Priola
No
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Summers
No
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:HB09-1369
TIME: 03:46:44 PM
MOVED:Priola
MOTION:PI - sub
SECONDED:Summers
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Benefield
No
Massey
No
Middleton
No
Murray
Yes
Peniston
No
Priola
Yes
Scanlan
No
Schafer S.
No
Summers
Yes
Todd
No
Solano
No
Merrifield
No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 9 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL




03:48 PM -- Senate Bill 09-285

Representatives Summers and Solano, co-prime sponsors of Senate Bill 09-285, concerning the inclusion of career and technical education in the concurrent enrollment program created in House Bill 09-1319, presented their bill to the committee.


03:52 PM

The following people testified on the bill:


03:53 PM --
Darrell Green, representing Pickens Technical College, testified in support of the bill and shared a handout with committee members (Attachment A).


03:54 PM --
Geri Anderson, representing the Colorado Community College System, testified in support of the bill.


03:55 PM --
Matt Gianneschi, representing the Office of the Governor, testified in support of the bill.


03:59 PM --
Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:SB09-285
TIME: 04:00:14 PM
MOVED:Summers
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-285 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:Solano
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Benefield
Yes
Massey
Excused
Middleton
Yes
Murray
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Priola
Yes
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Summers
Yes
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




04:01 PM -- Senate Bill 09-291

Representative Middleton, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-291, concerning school finance for school districts that reinstate TABOR, presented her bill to the committee. No witnesses signed up to testify.


BILL:SB09-291
TIME: 04:02:25 PM
MOVED:Middleton
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-291 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 8-4-1 vote.
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
Baumgardner
No
Benefield
Yes
Massey
Excused
Middleton
Yes
Murray
No
Peniston
Yes
Priola
No
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Summers
No
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




04:03 PM -- Senate Bill 09-130

Representative Scanlan, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-130, concerning the, presented her bill to the committee. She explained the concept of the bill are now included in Senate Bill 09-256, concerning the financing of public schools, and did not see the need to continue with two bills with the same language.


BILL:SB09-130
TIME: 04:06:06 PM
MOVED:Middleton
MOTION:Moved to postpone Senate Bill 09-130 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 11-2-0 vote.
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Benefield
Yes
Massey
Yes
Middleton
Yes
Murray
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Priola
No
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Summers
No
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



04:07 PM

The committee adjourned.