Date: 04/21/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-001

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-001 to the Committee on ApproPASS



04:37 PM -- SB14-001

Representative Garcia and Representative MacLachlan, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 14-001, which concerns higher education funding and limitations on tuition increases at public colleges and universities. They distributed a handout (Attachment K). Representative Garcia stated that the bill will make college more affordable while also supporting the state's institutions of higher education. Representative MacLachlan spoke about the state capping tuition increases at 9 percent in the past, and stated that the bill will allow colleges to attract more students while also being able to cap tuition increases. Representatives Garcia and MacLachlan responded to questions from the committee.

14HseEd0421AttachK.pdf14HseEd0421AttachK.pdf

The following people testified:

04:44 PM -- Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia, representing the Department of Higher Education (DHE), spoke in support of the bill. He distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment L). He spoke about the increase in General Fund appropriations to higher education institutions, and stated that the intent of the bill is to allow institutions to keep tuition at an affordable rate, and that $40 million will be funneled to financial aid for students. He described the state's need to have a well-educated student population, decrease debt-load, and make sure that anyone who wants to attend college has the opportunity to do so. Lt. Governor Garcia responded to questions from the committee.

14HseEd0421AttachL.pdf14HseEd0421AttachL.pdf

04:54 PM -- Patty Erjavec, representing Pueblo Community College (PCC), testified in support of the bill. She discussed PCC's current conditions. President Erjavec responded to questions from the committee.

04:58 PM -- Frank Waterous, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill. He distributed his written testimony (Attachment M). He discussed the need for a cap on tuition, the current state of financial aid for students, and cuts in funding to public post-secondary educational institutions. He argued that the state's resources should focus on need-based aid.

14HseEd0421AttachM.pdf14HseEd0421AttachM.pdf

05:02 PM -- Rich Schweigert, Chief Financial Officer for the Colorado State University (CSU) system, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the CSU system, the need for funding increases, and CSU's ability to keep tuition increases at or below 6 percent at its campuses. He described how CSU lost 36 percent of its funding during the recent recession, and how it downsized by 45 million dollars and cut positions. He explained that 25 percent of CSU students are the first generation in their families to attend college, or are low income students. Mr. Schweigert responded to questions from the committee.


05:04 PM

No further witnesses being present, Representative Hamner closed public testimony.


05:05 PM

Representatives McLachlan and Garcia offered closing comments to the bill. The co-sponsors discussed the need for affordable college.
BILL:SB14-001
TIME: 05:07:51 PM
MOVED:Young
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-001 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-2, with one member excused.
SECONDED:Fields
VOTE
Buckner
Yes
Court
Yes
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Holbert
No
McNulty
Excused
Murray
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Young
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Hamner
Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS