House Committee on Education (03/25/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	03/25/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:32 PM to 02:23 PM	Benefield	X
		Massey	X
Place:	HCR 0112	McNulty	X
		Middleton	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	X
	Representative Merrifield	Peniston	X
		Scanlan	E
This Report was prepared by		Schafer S.	X
	Katey McGettrick	Summers	*
		Tipton	X
		Todd	X
		Solano	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB10-079 SB10-088 SB10-111 SB10-108		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to Appropriations

01:32 PM -- Senate Bill 10-079

Representative King, co-prime sponsor of Senate Bill 10-079, concerning graduate-level program authority for Mesa State College, presented the bill to the committee. The bill permits the school to offer general education courses at the graduate level. Representative Bradford, also co-prime sponsor of the bill, noted the need for educational opportunities on the Western slope.

01:33 PM

Representative Solano asked what programs would be offered. Representative King explained that the witness would discuss the program offerings.

01:34 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

01:34 PM -- Tim Foster, President, Mesa State College, testified in support of the bill and responded to Representative Solano's question about program offerings, noting the need for training for qualified health care professionals, for teacher preparation programs, and for training for criminal justice professionals. He discussed the work of the college to establish a body farm for the study of forensics.

01:37 PM

Representative Massey asked President Foster about program duplication and whether this will affect the school's future ability to offer programs. President Foster responded, noting the evolving role of private higher education institutions such as University of Phoenix and the effect it has on public higher education institutions. He also noted the school's process for selecting programs and explained that the school offers only programs that address an educational need in the community.

01:44 PM -- Doug Price, Member of the Board of Trustees, Mesa State College, testified in support of the bill and noted the seriousness with which the board takes its fiduciary responsibilities. He explained the board's role in approving program offerings at the college.

01:46 PM

Representative Middleton shared her role on the higher education advisory committee, and asked Mr. Price to comment on the process of program offering in light of the strategic planning process. Mr. Price responded that the board seeks to integrate the strategic planning process by considering the geographic needs. Discussion on the issue of role and mission ensued between Representative Middleton and Mr. Price.


BILL:	SB10-079
TIME:	01:51:03 PM
MOVED:	McNulty
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-079 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Tipton
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:51 PM -- Senate Bill 10-088

Representative Massey, sponsor of Senate Bill 10-088, concerning the authorization of two-year degrees with academic designation, presented the bill to the committee. The bill allows students pursuing an associates degree to select a degree designation for a specific program instead of receiving a general education degree.

01:53 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

01:53 PM -- Linda Bowman, President of the Community College of Aurora, and Michelle Haney, President at Red Rocks Community College, introduced themselves to the committee. President Bowman stated her support of the bill and noted the importance of allowing community college students to designate a degree pathway. She noted the effect that the bill could have on reducing the need for remediation.

President Haney also stated her support of the bill. She discussed the importance of having a degree designation on a student's transcript as he or she looks for employment after graduation.

01:58 PM -- Frank Waterous, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill and provided a copy of his written testimony to the committee (Attachment A). He addressed concerns with the provision that limits degree designation to those degrees for which there are valid student transfer agreements.


BILL:	SB10-088
TIME:	02:05:09 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-088 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:05 PM -- Senate Bill 10-111

Representative Massey, sponsor of Senate Bill 10-111, concerning public schools that are authorized by the Charter School Institute, presented the bill to the committee.

02:07 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

02:08 PM -- Vincent Badolato, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, testified in support of the bill.

02:08 PM -- Mark Hyatt, representing the Colorado Charter School Institute, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:	SB10-111
TIME:	02:09:54 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Benefield
	Massey
	McNulty
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Tipton
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB10-111
TIME:	02:10:28 PM
MOVED:	Solano
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.005 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Benefield
	Massey
	McNulty
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Tipton
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB10-111
TIME:	02:11:25 PM
MOVED:	Solano
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.006 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Benefield
		VOTE
	Benefield
	Massey
	McNulty
	Middleton
	Murray
	Peniston
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.
	Summers
	Tipton
	Todd
	Solano
	Merrifield

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:	SB10-111
TIME:	02:13:23 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-111, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Middleton
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:14 PM -- Senate Bill 10-108

Representative Middleton, sponsor of Senate Bill 10-108, concerning the implementation of general education core courses at higher education institutions, presented the bill to the committee. Representative Schafer asked how a student tests out of a course. Representative Middleton explained that the school administers a test to the student, such as the Accuplacer.

02:17 PM -- John Karakoulakis, representing the Colorado Department of Higher Education, also responded to Representative Schafer's question and explained that each institution selects which test it offers to demonstrate proficiency.

02:19 PM -- Frank Waterous, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill and shared a copy of his written testimony to the committee (Attachment E).


BILL:	SB10-108
TIME:	02:22:18 PM
MOVED:	Middleton
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-108 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Massey
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:22 PM

The committee adjourned.