Date: 05/10/2010

Final
SB10-191

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
COW as amended
L.140		PASS
PASS



02:01 PM -- Senate Bill 10-191

Rep. Scanlan provided an overview of the bill.

Rep. Hullinghorst expressed concerns with the minimal costs identified by the fiscal note and asked if someone could speak to how these costs were identified.

Rep. Ferrandino asked if the Department could speak to costs identified in the bill, specifically the resource bank.

Rep. Pommer expressed concerns with the solvency of the SEF, revenue shortfalls for districts, scarcity of resources, depleted state aid for K-12 and asked if the sponsor was aware of these issues and how districts will be able to implement the provisions of the bill.

Rep. Scanlan responded to the Chair's questions.

Rep. Pommer provided further commentary.

Rep. Murray provided further details about the bill related to its timeline.

 2:11 -- Rich Wenning, Assoc. Commissioner at CDE, provided testimony in response to Rep. Ferrandino's questions. Mr. Wenning indicated that in SB 10-191 is to identify resources to districts. The other bill (H.B. 10-1430) provides the actual resources to districts.

Rep. Pommer asked further questions of the witness related to scarce resources at the Department.

Mr. Wenning provided the Committee further clarification of the bill's funding mechanism.

Rep. Pommer expressed further concern with the bill and its impact to districts.

Rep. Pace discussed issues related to the bill and funding and testing K-12 education, specifically the evaluation of teachers that teach subjects that are not measured by CSAP.

Rep. Scanlan and Rep. Murray responded to Rep. Pace's questions.

Rep. Pace provided further commentary about needing to assess teachers whom teach subject areas not currently evaluated by CSAP.

Mr. Wenning provided further details related to costs. He provided an overview of current law and charges of the Department related to CSAP. He expressed that this bill builds on current law.

Rep. Pommer interjected a question to clarify Mr. Wenning's questions. Mr. Wenning answered this question.

Rep. Pommer then indicated that it was his understanding that the bill will cost $80 million based on discussions with Department leadership. How is the Department planning on funding this aspect in concert with further costs driven by this bill.

Mr. Wenning provided additional details related to how costs will be funded, specifically through federal funding that will become available with the passage of legislation such as what is currently being weighed.

Rep. Judd provided further commentary about state funding of assessments and other K-12 funding.

Mr. Wenning asserted that this bill invests in student learning. It puts in place additional structure for other endeavors being pursued by the state. Further, the bill includes a "fail safe" funding provision to ensure that the costs of the bill are covered no matter what the revenue outlook might reflect.

Rep. Judd provided further details about his perspective on funding K-12. He indicated that he was aware of certain grants being received, including those from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also indicated that he would be interested in seeing the work being done related to CAP4K and other initiatives to complete before "making that jump."

Mr. Wenning responded to Rep. Judd's inquiry and defended the Department's position and benefits of the bill.

Rep. Hullinghorst indicated that she was aware of how assessments are developed and models that are applied. She asked the Mr. Wenning asked if there was baseline information to help provide guidance related to the development of assessments.

Mr. Wenning recalled that the Teacher Identifier bill passed last year provides a foundation to take a look at the educator level and tie to the student level of data specificity.

Rep. Pommer provided commentary related to the Department's funding.
BILL:SB10-191
TIME: 02:34:14 PM
MOVED:Ferrandino
MOTION:L.140
SECONDED:Lambert
VOTE
Fischer
Gardner B.
Hullinghorst
Judd
Kefalas
Kerr J.
Lambert
Pace
Riesberg
Sonnenberg
Vaad
Ferrandino
Pommer
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
Rep. Riesberg asked if there is potential for additional federal grants, other than Race to the Top.
Mr. Wenning indicated that R2T was the primary and that a Teacher Incentives Grant program could also be.


BILL:SB10-191
TIME: 02:36:20 PM
MOVED:Riesberg
MOTION:L.140
SECONDED:Lambert
VOTE
Fischer
No
Gardner B.
Yes
Hullinghorst
No
Judd
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Lambert
Yes
Pace
No
Riesberg
No
Sonnenberg
Yes
Vaad
Yes
Ferrandino
Yes
Pommer
No
Not Final YES: 8 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:SB10-191
TIME: 02:37:11 PM
MOVED:Gardner B.
MOTION:COW as amended
SECONDED:Kerr J.
VOTE
Fischer
No
Gardner B.
Yes
Hullinghorst
No
Judd
No
Kefalas
No
Kerr J.
Yes
Lambert
Yes
Pace
No
Riesberg
Yes
Sonnenberg
Yes
Vaad
Yes
Ferrandino
Yes
Pommer
No
Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
Rep. Judd expressed that he is concerned with the solvency of the SEF.
Rep. Ferrandino expressed that he has strong reservations with the bill and further expressed his own personal experiences within the education system. He also discussed issues with funding in the state.
Rep. Pommer provided further issues with the education system. He expressed concerns with local funding issues and the State's ability to cover K-12 expenditures and further commentary about the steps taken by the State so far and what may lie ahead as well as other condolences related to state funding of K-12 education.