Date: 02/24/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1295

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Motion to postpone House Bill 10-1295 indefinitely
Refer House Bill 10-1295 to the Committee on Appro		PASS
FAIL



10:40 AM -- House Bill 10-1295 - Concerning Income Tax Credits for Nonpublic Education

Representative Lambert, prime sponsor, explained the provisions of the bill and discussed the fiscal impact. He continued by saying that the bill creates an income tax credit for individuals who enroll their dependent child in a home-based or private school and to any taxpayer who offers a scholarship to a child who enrolls in a private school. In order to qualify, the child must have been enrolled in a public school immediately before enrolling in the private school or a home-based school. Children continue to qualify for the credit each year until they return to a public school. The credit is not refundable but can be carried forward for three years.

The following persons testified:

10:44 AM -- Ms. Karen Wick, Colorado Education Association, testified in opposition toward the bill. She continued by saying this bill will reduce state General Fund revenue by $24 million in FY 2010-11 and not save school districts money. She continued her presentation discussing the home-schooled portion of the credit and the differences between nonpublic and public schools. She closed by saying Colorado has a very vibrant charter school system and her organization does not believe public money should fund nonpublic education.

10:51 AM -- Ms. Treon Goossen, RO8-28, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Goossen noted that House Bill 10-1295 will not encourage families to leave the public school systems but will offer options. Ms. Goossen noted that the home-school option is not an inferior education when compared to the public school option. She closed by urging the committee to support the legislation.

10:55 AM -- Ms. Jenny Kraska, Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in support of the bill. She closed by saying that the bill will give families the option to select a school that best meets the needs of their children.

11:00 AM -- Ms. Jane Urschel, Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), testified in opposition of the bill. She said that CASB opposes the use of public funds to fund private or parochial schools. Ms. Urschel closed by noting that nonpublic schools are not subject to uniform standards.

11:04 AM -- Ms. Natalie Mullis, Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions about the State Education Fund. She commented that most of the increase in school funding for next year will have to come out of the General Fund.


11:11 AM
BILL:HB10-1295
TIME: 11:12:42 AM
MOVED:Roberts
MOTION:Refer House Bill 10-1295 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a 4-6 vote.
SECONDED:Gerou
VOTE
DelGrosso
Excused
Frangas
No
Gerou
Yes
Kagan
No
Kefalas
No
Labuda
No
Roberts
Yes
Summers
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Benefield
No
Judd
No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 6 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB10-1295
TIME: 11:23:46 AM
MOVED:Labuda
MOTION:Motion to postpone House Bill 10-1295 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 6-4 vote.
SECONDED:Benefield
VOTE
DelGrosso
Excused
Frangas
Yes
Gerou
No
Kagan
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Roberts
No
Summers
No
Swalm
No
Benefield
Yes
Judd
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS