Date: 02/01/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1026

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion
Moved to refer House Bill 10-1026, as amended, to 		Pass Without Objection
PASS



03:32 PM -- House Bill 10-1026

Representative Solano, co-prime sponsor of House Bill 10-1026, concerning the Quality Child Care Grant Incentive Program, explained the provisions of the bill to the committee.


03:36 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

03:36 PM -- Jon-Paul Bianchi, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding other programs that incentivize child care quality.

03:41 PM -- Charlotte Brantley, representing Clayton Early Learning, testified in support of the bill and shared her experience in delivering high quality child care to low income children in Colorado.

03:45 PM -- Pamela Harris, representing Mile High Montessori, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of funding high quality child care programs.


03:49 PM

Representative Tipton asked about the fiscal note for the bill. Committee discussion ensued on how the funding for the program will work for the bill and the examples provided in the fiscal note. Representative Tipton also asked about the program funding being tied to gifts, grants, and donations, and presented concerns for sustaining the program in the future. Representative Benefield noted that if the state wins the federal funds, the grant cycle will be for ten years. Representative Solano asked Elizabeth Groginsky from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to speak to question.

03:54 PM -- Elizabeth Groginsky, representing the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, responded to questions regarding the sustainability of the program and future funding. Ms. Groginsky explained that the grant funding is used to increase reimbursement to existing programs.


03:56 PM

Representative Summers discussed his interest in seeing collaboration in the administration of the grant program. Representative Benefield responded to his concerns. Representative Murray asked if the department would be testifying on the bill.

04:04 PM -- Scott Raun, representing the Department of Human Services, responded to questions from the committee regarding the fiscal note for the bill.

04:07 PM -- Emily Bustos, representing the Denver Early Childhood Council, testified in support of the bill and discussed the role of early childhood councils in the provision of early childhood education in Colorado.


04:10 PM

Representative Tipton asked how quality improvement will be measured in county early childhood programs. Ms. Bustos explained that a baseline will be measured and that the Qualistar program has tangible benchmarks that are used to rate program quality.

04:14 PM -- Gladys Wilson, representing Qualistar Early Learning, testified in support of the bill and provided data regarding the number of programs in Colorado that are rated.

04:16 PM -- Kathryn Hammerbeck, representing the Early Childhood Education Association, testified in support of the bill and noted the importance of having flexibility in quality assessment programs.
BILL:HB10-1026
TIME: 04:19:45 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.

10HseEd0201AttachC.pdf
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
Benefield
Massey
McNulty
Middleton
Murray
Peniston
Scanlan
Schafer S.
Summers
Tipton
Todd
Solano
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB10-1026
TIME: 04:20:53 PM
MOVED:Benefield
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 10-1026, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on 10-1-2 vote.
SECONDED:Solano
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Massey
Yes
McNulty
Excused
Middleton
Yes
Murray
No
Peniston
Yes
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Excused
Summers
Yes
Tipton
Yes
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



04:24 PM

The committee adjourned.