Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:04/15/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:11:22 AM to 01:23 PM
Holbert
*
Johnston
X
Place:SCR 356
Kerr
X
Merrifield
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Neville T.
*
Senator Hill
Todd
X
Woods
X
This Report was prepared by
Marble
*
Rachel Kurtz-Phelan
Hill
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
SB15-003
HB15-1220
HB15-1270
HB15-1146		Postponed Indefinitely
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Postponed Indefinitely


11:23 AM -- SB15-003

Senator Hill, chair, welcomed the committee members to the meeting. Senator Merrifield, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-003 which was on the table for action only. The bill concerns the requirement that fifty percent of an educator's performance evaluation be determined by student academic growth. Senator Merrifield talked about the negative impacts of Senate Bill 10-191 and discussed how this bill seeks to rectify those impacts. He talked about his personal experiences as a teacher and about ways in which he would like to see a fair teacher evaluation system in the future. He asked the committee to postpone the bill indefinitely.





















BILL:SB15-003
TIME: 11:33:02 AM
MOVED:Merrifield
MOTION:Postpone Senate Bill 15-003 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
Yes
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


11:34 AM -- HB15-1220

Senators Cooke and Martinez Humenik, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 15-1220 which concerns response to sexual assault on campuses of Colorado's institutions of higher education. Senator Martinez Humenik explained that the bill requires all public institutions of higher education to have a sexual assault policy in place, since some institutions already have these policies in place and some do not. Senator Cooke stated that it is important to have processes in place for victims of sexual assault. He said the bill is important for the safety of students on college campuses.

The following people testified on the bill:

11:37 AM -- Karen Moldovan, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA), spoke in support of the bill. She provided background information about CCASA, and talked about why her organization supports the bill. She stated that the staff on college campuses need to be trained and well-equipped to respond to students who have been victims of sexual assault. Ms. Moldovan answered questions from the committee.

11:44 AM -- Hillary Marsh, representing herself as a sexual assault examiner and registered nurse, spoke in support of the bill. She talked about the importance of victims receiving care from a trained provider, especially in terms of evidence collection. She discussed the process of collecting medical evidence and answered questions from the committee.

11:50 AM -- Kimberly Weeks, representing CCASA, spoke in support of the bill. She shared her personal story of being a victim of sexual assault on a college campus.

11:57 AM -- Annmarie Jensen, representing CCASA, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed the bill's stakeholder process and answered questions from the committee.







12:11 PM

There were no more witnesses and Senator Hill closed public testimony. The co-sponsors provided closing comments to the bill. Committee discussion ensued.
BILL:HB15-1220
TIME: 12:13:41 PM
MOVED:Holbert
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1220 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-1, with two members excused.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
Excused
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
Yes
Woods
Excused
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


12:16 PM -- HB15-1270

The committee took a brief recess.
























12:22 PM

The committee came back to order. Senator Hill invited Senators Todd and Woods, co-sponsors, to the table to present House Bill 15-1270 which concerns authorization for local education providers to operate pathways in technology early college high schools (PTECH). Copies of amendment L.012 (Attachment A) and amendment L.014 (Attachment B) were distributed to the committee. Senator Woods stated that the program established by the bill is similar to the Early Colleges program and concurrent enrollment but specifically for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) students. Senator Todd explained amendment L.012 (Attachment A). Senator Woods explained amendment L.014 (Attachment B). The sponsors answered questions from the committee.

15SenateEd0415AttachA.pdf15SenateEd0415AttachA.pdf 15SenateEd0415AttachB.pdf15SenateEd0415AttachB.pdf

The following people testified on the bill:

12:29 PM -- Luke Ragland, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in favor of the bill. He said that future job growth in Colorado will be in STEM jobs and that Colorado is not currently able to support these demands. He said the program is a win-win for Colorado students and Colorado's economy. Mr. Ragland answered questions from the committee.

12:32 PM -- Patty Quinones, representing the St. Vrain Valley School District, spoke in favor of the bill. She told the committee that she oversees her district's STEM initiatives, it's new innovation center, and the Race to the Top grant. She discussed the STEM programs in the St. Vrain school district, and how the bill will positively impact the schools and programs in her district. She discussed academic and work force alignment, and stated that PTECH is a direct pipeline to middle skill jobs in the state.

12:39 PM -- Patrick Pratt, representing Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry (CACI), spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the importance of collaboration between industry and education, and the need to make sure students are educated so that they will be competitive in the workforce.

























12:41 PM

There were no more witnesses and Senator Hill closed public testimony.
BILL:HB15-1270
TIME: 12:41:43 PM
MOVED:Woods
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.012 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Johnston
Kerr
Merrifield
Neville T.
Todd
Woods
Marble
Hill
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

BILL:HB15-1270
TIME: 12:41:59 PM
MOVED:Woods
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.014 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Johnston
Kerr
Merrifield
Neville T.
Todd
Woods
Marble
Hill
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection







BILL:HB15-1270
TIME: 12:42:48 PM
MOVED:Woods
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1270, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 6-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
No
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
Yes
Woods
Yes
Marble
No
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


12:46 PM -- HB15-1146

Senator Todd, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1146 which concerns the creation of the Colorado Student Leaders Institute (COSLI). She distributed a handout (Attachment C) and amendment L.003 (Attachment D).

15SenateEd0415AttachC.pdf15SenateEd0415AttachC.pdf 15SenateEd0415AttachD.pdf15SenateEd0415AttachD.pdf

The following people testified on the bill:

12:50 PM -- Julie Pelegrin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to explain amendment L.003 (Attachment D).

12:51 PM -- Jason Hanson, representing COSLI, spoke in support of the bill. He provided information about the program and the application process. He discussed the bill's fiscal note. He talked about the need to keep Colorado's best and brightest students in the state and explained that the program curriculum focuses on Colorado history.

12:58 PM -- Susan Miller, representing COSLI, spoke in support of the bill. She talked about the uniqueness of the program and the importance of Colorado youth understanding the history of the state. She discussed the involvement of gifted and talented students in the program.










01:03 PM -- Holly Fink, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed her involvement in COSLI and talked about how the program is beneficial to students. Ms. Fink answered questions from the committee.

01:07 PM -- Sam Willett, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He told the committee about how the program has had a positive impact on his development, and about how it will benefit Colorado. He talked about similar programs in other states.

01:09 PM -- Ge'Swan Swanson, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He provided background information about the program. He said that it brings together both rural and urban students, and allows the best and brightest to interact with each other.

01:11 PM -- Tyler Lis, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He talked about the cost per student of similar programs across the country, and about program funding. He talked about how the program will help prepare him for college. He stated that the program's fiscal impact is an investment and not an expenditure.


01:15 PM

There were no more witnesses and Senator Hill closed public testimony. Senator Todd provided closing comments to the bill.
BILL:HB15-1146
TIME: 01:18:14 PM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Johnston
Kerr
Merrifield
Neville T.
Todd
Woods
Marble
Hill
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection











BILL:HB15-1146
TIME: 01:20:23 PM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1146, as amended, to the Legislative Council Committee. The motion failed on a vote of 4-5.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
No
Johnston
Yes
Kerr
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Neville T.
No
Todd
Yes
Woods
No
Marble
No
Hill
No
YES: 4 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

BILL:HB15-1146
TIME: 01:23:12 PM
MOVED:Marble
MOTION:Postpone House Bill 15-1146 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 5-4.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Holbert
Yes
Johnston
No
Kerr
No
Merrifield
No
Neville T.
Yes
Todd
No
Woods
Yes
Marble
Yes
Hill
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


01:23 PM

The committee adjourned.