Bill Summary for Bill Number SB13-015

Date: 03/04/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-015

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 13-015 to the Committee of the W	PASS

01:45 PM -- Senate Bill 13-015

Representative Peniston began chairing the committee. Representative Hamner, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 13-015 which concerns electronic participation of school board members in school district board of education meetings. The reengrossed bill gives local school boards and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) the ability to adopt a policy for the electronic participation of members at board meetings. The boards may adopt a policy authorizing members to attend and participate in regular, special, and executive session meetings electronically. At the first special meeting of a newly elected local school district board of education or BOCES board, members are required to sign an affidavit stating that they are aware of and will comply with confidentiality requirements and restrictions applicable to executive sessions.

The following persons testified on the bill:

01:47 PM -- Katie Fleming, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified on the bill. Ms. Fleming stated that Colorado Common Cause is neutral on the bill, and she provided background on the organization. She stated that government works best when there is participation by the public and that the reform discussed in the bill has the potential to increase public participation. She discussed the use of technology and how it impacts the democratic process.

01:53 PM -- Dr. Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), testified in support of the bill. Dr. Urschel stated that most laws are passed because of people who want to do good, and because of people who want to do well. She stated that the bill allows local school boards to create a procedure to allow for electronic attendance at executive sessions of the board, and requires members to sign an affidavit stating that they will uphold the confidentiality of the sessions. She stated that the idea for the bill came from CASB's delegate assembly. She stated that meetings are stronger with all member voices, even if members are not able to be physically present. She provided a handout to the committee from Telluride School Board Director, Cheryl Miller (Attachment A). Dr. Urschel stated that she spoke with a school board member from Eagle, Colorado who expressed some concern over members not being physically present at executive session meetings, but that he also acknowledged that the public interest is not fully represented if not all member voices are present.

13HseEd0304AttachA.pdf

01:57 PM -- Tom Balchak, President of the Poudre School District and representing CASB, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Balchak stated that the bill enhances opportunities for school board members to fully participate in school board meetings and executive session meetings. He stated that the bill may also increase the applicant pool of those who are interested in serving on school boards. He provided an example of a time he attended a board meeting electronically. He stated that board members do their due diligence in attending board meetings, but when members are out of town, they will still be able to attend and participate, and that full participation is very important when the board wants to send a clear message to the community on pressing issues. He stated that the bill promotes good boardsmanship and that technology has added to the democratic process in a positive way.

02:03 PM -- Matt Snyder, Executive Director of the Southeastern BOCES and President of the Colorado BOCES Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Snyder stated that the Southeastern BOCES has twelve members that live far away from each other and that members appreciate the ability to meet via 21st century technology when possible. He added that the bill will allow greater flexibility for board members.

Mr. Balchak, Mr. Snyder, and Dr. Urschel responded to questions from the committee about validating the identity of board members who participate electronically, and how school districts might craft their policies concerning electronic participation.

02:16 PM -- Walt Cooper, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Cooper stated that the bill is in direct response to local school board member requests.

Representative Hamner provided closing comments to the bill.


BILL:	SB13-015
TIME:	02:19:52 PM
MOVED:	Hamner
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 13-015 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 12-0, with one member excused.
SECONDED:	Court
		VOTE
	Buckner	Yes
	Court	Yes
	Everett	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Landgraf	Yes
	Murray	Excused
	Pettersen	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Young	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Hamner	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS