Date: 01/25/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1030

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion
Moved to refer House Bill 10-1030, as amended, to
Page 1, line 8 of amendment L.001, moved to strike		Pass Without Objection
PASS
TIE



01:42 PM -- House Bill 10-1030

Representative Peniston, sponsor of House Bill 10-1030, concerning the creation of an early childhood educator development scholarship fund, presented the bill to the committee.


01:46 PM

Representative McNulty asked if there are any other scholarship programs under existing law for specific types of educators. Representative Peniston responded that she was not sure if there are, but that there should be one for early childhood educators. Representative Tipton asked about the fiscal note, specifically about the 1 percent for administrative costs. Committee discussion ensued on this topic.


01:51 PM

Representative Murray asked about the administration of the funds for the bill, specifically asking if the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) is an appropriate home for the administration of the program. Representative Peniston explained that the purpose of having the program housed in CDE is to be able to utilize the educator identifier system established under House Bill 09-1065.


01:55 PM

Representative Solano explained the origins of the bill and why the Early Childhood and School Readiness Commission forwarded this measure as an interim committee bill from the commission. She discussed the importance of quality in early childhood education. She discussed the federal Early Learning Challenge Grant Program, noting that the grant program requires a ten-year commitment, unlike the federal Race to the Top grants, which are more limited in scope.

Representative Peniston responded to questions from the committee regarding: the purpose of the bill, the scope of the scholarship program eligibility; and the federal legislation authorizing the Early Learning Challenge Grant Program. Representative Peniston also explained that early childhood education was included in Colorado's Race to the Top application as an invitational priority.


02:01 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

02:01 PM -- Jon-Paul Bianchi, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill because it improves access to education for early childhood educators.

02:03 PM -- Kathryn Hammerbeck, representing the Early Childhood Education Association, testified in support of the bill and shared the provider perspective on improving the quality of early childhood education programs and teachers. She noted the importance of professional development supports for early childhood teachers.

02:05 PM -- Gladys Wilson, representing Qualistar Early Learning, testified on the bill, stating support for the concept of the bill but raising concerns about creating a new infrastructure for the scholarship program.


02:07 PM

Representative Summers asked if Qualistar will work with CDE on the scholarship program. Representative Peniston responded that an amendment she plans to offer will address the issue of collaboration.
BILL:HB10-1030
TIME: 02:08:49 PM
MOVED:Peniston
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.

10HseEd0125AttachA.pdf
SECONDED:Solano
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


02:12 PM

Representative Peniston moved an amendment to L.001 (after discussion, the amendment to L.001 was withdrawn; see vote sheet below). Anne Barkis, representing CDE, testified on the amendment. She explained that CDE requested 10 percent of any potential grant funding to cover administrative costs, which she noted mirrors the federal government guidelines regarding such costs. She said that the department could not support the amendment without further discussion with the commissioner.

Representative Middleton expressed concern about reducing the administrative costs, noting the amount of work it takes to administer a scholarship program. Representative Massey asked if it would be better to leave the change in the percentage as written in amendment L.001 and work out issues with the percentage dedicated for administrative costs in the Committee on Appropriations.

Representative Merrifield asked how one percent for administrative costs was originally determined. Representative Peniston asked Benefield to respond. Representative Benefield explained that she does not remember the specific conversation in the Early Childhood and School Readiness Commission, but that she believed that one percent was agreed upon because CDE has administered other programs, so the expertise is already at the department, lowering the need for significant funding of administrative costs.

Ms. Barkis discussed the issues the department has faced when programs lack sufficient funding for administrative costs. Representative Summers weighed in on the conversation regarding administrative costs, stating that the program may be better housed somewhere else other than the department.
BILL:HB10-1030
TIME: 02:12:04 PM
MOVED:Peniston
MOTION:Page 1, line 8 of amendment L.001, moved to strike "EIGHT" and substitute "FOUR". After committee discussion, the amendment was WITHDRAWN.
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: WITHDRAWN


02:23 PM

Representative Peniston concluded her remarks and asked for the committee's support of the bill.
BILL:HB10-1030
TIME: 02:23:34 PM
MOVED:Peniston
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 10-1030, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-1 vote.
SECONDED:Solano
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Massey
Yes
McNulty
Yes
Middleton
Yes
Murray
No
Peniston
Yes
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Summers
Yes
Tipton
Yes
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:24 PM

The committee adjourned.