Date: 04/15/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1369

COMMITTEE ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to adopt the first report of the first confePASS



12:11 PM

Representative Scanlan asked Nicole Myers, Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), to review the draft conference committee report with the committee (Attachment A). She also invited Vody Herrmann, representing the Colorado Department of Education, to the table. Ms. Myers explained that the draft report addresses the seven school districts with limited or no state aid; strikes language requiring a study about school district consolidation; addresses district charter schools that convert to Charter School Institute charter schools and the counting of those students for averaging purposes; and includes a conforming amendment to the appropriation clause. Representative Pommer explained that the appropriation clause amendment accounts for the cost of living study.

10ConfCommHB1369AttachA.pdf

12:15 PM

Senator Steadman asked Ms. Herrmann to discuss the district charter school conversion and the impact on averaging. Ms. Herrmann responded that there are two school districts that have taken advantage of this averaging but noted that the language in the report will only impact future conversions. Discussion on this topic ensued. Representative Massey asked Ms. Herrmann if she has spoken with the seven districts affected by the categorical buy-out program proposed in the bill. She responded that she has spoken with them and she believes that they understand the issue.


12:19 PM

Senator Bacon stated that he would vote for the report but stated that he prefers not to move forward with the categorical buy-out for those seven school districts. Ms. Herrmann responded to Senator Bacon's concerns, noting that the calculation was made after total program funding, which allows the school districts to maintain their mill levies. Senator King expressed agreement with Senator Bacon, stating that the local communities should not have to reduce their mill levies. Ms. Herrmann responded that two school districts would lose funding regardless. Ms. Myers added that the funding is taken from the total program mill levy, not the mill levy override. Senator Bacon asked if the mill levy reduction could be temporary.


12:23 PM

Ms. Myers responded that OLLS did research this issue, but determined that a temporary reduction could be done in compliance with the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR). Senator Bacon asked if the report can include language that holds those two districts harmless. Senator Steadman discussed the origin of the compromise language in the conference committee report, noting the need to be equitable with the budget cuts. Discussion on this topic ensued, with Representative Scanlan commenting that there continue to be equity issues, and had this language not been included, it would have exacerbated the current equity issues.
BILL:HB10-1369
TIME: 12:29:29 PM
MOVED:Steadman
MOTION:Moved to adopt the first report of the first conference committee on House Bill 10-1369 (CLHB1369.001). The motion passed on a 6-0 vote.
SECONDED:Massey
VOTE
Pommer
Yes
King K.
Yes
Massey
Yes
Steadman
Yes
Bacon
Yes
Scanlan
Yes
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



12:29 PM

The committee adjourned.