Date: 09/22/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for Presentation of Draft Interim Legislation - Bill 4

EARLY CHILDHOOD AND SCHOOL READINESS LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Move that Bill 4 be included as one of the bills tPASS



11:38 AM -- Presentation of Draft Interim Legislation - Bill 4

Ms. Julie Pelegrin, OLLS, presented Bill 4 (Attachment I). The bill authorizes funding for an additional 3,000 children to be served under the Colorado Preschool Program as half-time or full-time preschool students. She went over the specific provisions of the bill, including the fact that section 2 of bill makes clear ECARE slots, which can be used either for preschool or full-day kindergarten, are in addition to separately authorized preschool slots.

14EarlyChildhood0922AttachI.pdf14EarlyChildhood0922AttachI.pdf

The following person testified:

11:41 AM -- Mr. Rich Jones, representing the Bell Policy Center, spoke in support of the bill. He talked about the value of preschool education to children and for future advancement of the state. He said that about 16,000 additional children are qualified for the Colorado Preschool Program, but have not been able to be served. He said that Bell Policy Center looks favorably on increasing the number of preschool slots and appreciates that the spots are being dedicated solely to preschool students.


11:42 AM

Representative Pettersen talked about the origins of the bill and sought the opinion of the other commission members about moving the bill forward. Commission discussion ensued.
BILL:Bill 4
TIME: 11:46:50 AM
MOVED:Pettersen
MOTION:Move that Bill 4 be included as one of the bills to be forwarded to Legislative Council. The motion passed on a vote of 4-1, with one member excused.
SECONDED:Kefalas
VOTE
Kefalas
Yes
Marble
No
McCann
Yes
Wilson
Excused
Todd
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



11:48 AM

The bill will start in the House and Representative Pettersen will be the prime sponsor in the House. Senator Todd and Senator Kefalas will be the co-prime sponsors in the Senate. Representative McCann volunteered to be a co-sponsor.