House Committee on Education (02/01/2010)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	02/01/2010	ATTENDANCE

Time:	03:03 PM to 04:25 PM	Benefield	X
		Massey	X
Place:	HCR 0112	McNulty	*
		Middleton	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	X
	Representative Merrifield	Peniston	X
		Scanlan	X
This Report was prepared by		Schafer S.	X
	Katey McGettrick	Summers	X
		Tipton	X
		Todd	*
		Solano	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB10-1040 HB10-1026		Amended, Referred to Finance Amended, Referred to Appropriations

03:03 PM -- House Bill 10-1040

Representative A. Kerr, sponsor of House Bill 10-1040, concerning CollegeInvest lifelong learning savings accounts, presented the bill to the committee. He responded to questions from the committee regarding senate sponsorship, the bill's safety clause, and the target audience for who might open up this type of savings plan.

03:12 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

03:12 PM -- Janet Gullickson, representing CollegeInvest, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee regarding: CollegeInvest's marketing plan for this program; income caps for program eligibility; what happens to unexpended funds in 529 savings accounts; and restrictions on the usage of funds.

03:20 PM -- Frank Waterous, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill and shared a handout with the committee members (Attachment A).

03:22 PM -- Jerry Hulsizer, representing Always Best Care, testified in support of the bill and shared his experience as a business owner who manages a caregiver business. He noted how the bill might benefit his employees.

03:25 PM -- Clarke Becker, representing the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and the Economic Development Council of Colorado, testified in support of the bill and noted the importance of a well-trained workforce.


BILL:	HB10-1040
TIME:	03:29:08 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Todd
		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

03:30 PM

Representative A. Kerr concluded his remarks on the bill and asked for the committee's support.


BILL:	HB10-1040
TIME:	03:32:03 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 10-1040, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a 13-0 vote.
SECONDED:	Middleton
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Tipton	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: 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.
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.