Date: 02/22/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1262

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 10-1262 to the CommitteePASS



02:08 PM -- House Bill 10-1262

Representative Frangas, sponsor of House Bill 10-1262, concerning scholarship programs for persons in industries in high need of trained workers, explained the bill to the committee.


02:11 PM

Representative Middleton asked why, under the bill, CollegeInvest administers the program, and not the Department of Higher Education or individual institutions. She raised concerns about a recent audit of CollegeInvest that found issues with the administration of the program. Representative Frangas responded that he would be willing to change that in the bill. Representative Benefield asked where the funding from the bill comes from. Committee conversation on this topic ensued and Representative Middleton explained the origination of the scholarship fund.


02:16 PM

Representative Frangas responded to Representative Middleton's comments, explaining that the bill takes a small amount of money from the CollegeInvest Scholarship Trust Fund. Committee members raised questions about fiscal note.


02:19 PM

Josh Abram, Legislative Council Staff and the fiscal note analyst for the bill, explained that the expenditures mentioned in the fiscal note are a result of the transferring of moneys from the CollegeInvest Scholarship Trust Fund into the new scholarship program. Representative Murray asked how much money in the CollegeInvest fund is dedicated to scholarships. Mr. Abram explained that there is $60 million in the scholarship fund. Discussion on the funding for the scholarship ensued.


02:26 PM

Representative Schafer asked how CollegeInvest will ensure that students are matriculating into the scholarship program.


02:28 PM

The following person testified on the bill:

02:28 PM -- Lorena Garcia, representing 9 to 5, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of providing financial assistance for people to receive training for new job skills.


02:30 PM

Representative Tipton asked if there are restrictions in current law that prevent the scholarship money to be used for this purpose currently. Representative Frangas responded, discussing that the Governor is proposing to take funding from the scholarship program in order to balance the budget. Representative Frangas further stated that he thinks it is important to protect some of the funding from being used to balance the budget. Representative Summers shared his view on the bill, presenting concerns with the bill's focus on specific industries.
BILL:HB10-1262
TIME: 02:36:53 PM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 10-1262 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 9-3-1 vote.
SECONDED:Schafer S.
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
Massey
Excused
McNulty
No
Middleton
Yes
Murray
No
Peniston
Yes
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Summers
No
Tipton
Yes
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



02:39 PM

The committee recessed.