House Committee on Education (03/04/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	03/04/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:32 PM to 03:07 PM	Benefield	X
		Massey	E
Place:	HCR 0112	McNulty	X
		Middleton	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	E
	Representative Merrifield	Peniston	X
		Scanlan	E
This Report was prepared by		Schafer S.	X
	Katey McGettrick	Summers	E
		Tipton	E
		Todd	X
		Solano	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB10-1253 SB10-081		Postponed Indefinitely Referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:33 PM -- House Bill 10-1253

Representative Peniston, sponsor of House Bill 10-1253, concerning the "Exceptional Children's Educational Act" as it relates to gifted children, explained to the committee why she is requesting that the bill be postponed indefinitely.


BILL:	HB10-1253
TIME:	02:35:49 PM
MOVED:	Peniston
MOTION:	Moved to lay over House Bill 10-1253 until June 21, 2010. The motion passed on an 8-0-5 vote.
SECONDED:	McNulty
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Excused
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Excused
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Excused
	Tipton	Excused
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 5 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:37 PM -- Senate Bill 10-081

Representative Solano, sponsor of Senate Bill 10-081, concerning the creation of an interagency task force to develop farm-to-school program policies, presented the bill to the committee. She shared a handout with committee members (Attachment A).

02:39 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

02:39 PM -- Theresa Hafner, representing Denver Public Schools (DPS), testified in support of the bill and discussed how farm-to-school programs can provide healthy foods to schoolchildren. She further explained that these programs teach children where their food comes from and how food affects their bodies.

02:42 PM

Representative Benefield asked Ms. Hafner if these programs exist in DPS or if she knows which school districts currently have these programs. Representative Solano responded that there are four programs operating in Colorado: Durango School District 9-R; Greeley-Evans School District 6; Pikes Peak Farm-to-School; and Southwest Colorado Farm-to-School. Representative Peniston asked if there is a mechanism to implement these programs. Representative Solano responded that there is a national farm-to-school network. Conversation ensued on replicating national models in Colorado. Representative Todd shared that she has read that there is a national movement for schools to move towards implementing these programs as part of obesity reduction efforts. Representative Schafer asked questions about the handout from Representative Solano.

02:54 PM -- Karen Berry, representing the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts, testified in support of the bill and shared a handout with the committee (Attachment B). She discussed the role that conservation districts could play in implementing the farm-to-school programs and asked the committee to consider including a member from her association on the task force.

02:58 PM

Representative Benefield asked Ms. Berry to explain what it means to "sell shares" in an agricultural context. She explained that a farmer sells portions of his or her farm and the farmer cultivates the produce and is given to the share-owner when the crop is ready.

03:01 PM -- Benjamin Waters, representing the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified on the bill. He discussed the relationship of the bill with Senate Bill 10-106 pertaining to food policy councils.


BILL:	SB10-081
TIME:	03:05:01 PM
MOVED:	Solano
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-081 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-1-5 vote.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Excused
	McNulty	No
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Excused
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Excused
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Excused
	Tipton	Excused
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 1 EXC: 5 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:06 PM

The committee adjourned.