Date: 01/26/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1001

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion
Refer House Bill 15-1001, as amended, to the Commi		PASS
PASS



05:45 PM -- HB15-1001

Representative Pettersen and Representative Garnett, sponsors, presented House Bill 15-1001, which repeals the Early Childhood Educator Scholarship Program within the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and creates the Early Childhood Educator Development Fund within the Colorado Department of Human Services (DHS). The bill creates scholarship grants that will be governed by rules created by the State Board of Human Services. Grants must be distributed to nonprofit corporations or institutions of higher educations to assist early childhood education professionals in obtaining a postsecondary credential in early childhood education. Representative Pettersen discussed the need to retain high quality early childhood educators. Representative Garnett thanked the committee and discussed the importance of delivering high quality early childhood education. The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

05:55 PM -- Kathryn Harris, Laurie Roxbury, and Robbin Hutchins-Jones, representing Qualistar, came to the table and spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Harris discussed improving outcomes for children by improving the quality of educators in the classroom. She discussed the benefits to students of high quality programs, and how most early childhood staff do not have college degrees. Teachers must have two college level courses, and center directors must have 30 hours of college level course work. She discussed the low wages of early childhood educators, and how difficult it is for educators to obtain college degrees.

05:59 PM -- Robbin Hutchins-Jones, representing Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (TEACH) scholarships, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed her experiences as a recipient of scholarships and an employee of childcare centers. She discussed the high cost of college and the importance of making college affordable. She discussed the positive impact scholarships have had on her family childcare business. She discussed the needs of children, and the importance of developing social-emotional skills, listening to instructions, reading, and how developing these skills in early childhood leads to later achievement.


06:02 PM

The preceding three witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

06:08 PM -- Representative Pettersen read a statement in support of the bill from Shawna Fritzler. She discussed the importance of early childhood education.

06:09 PM -- Bill Jaeger, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in favor of the bill. He discussed the importance of quality early childhood education and the need for investments in the workforce. He discussed brain development and pointed out that in Colorado, two-thirds of families with children under age 6 have all available parents in the workforce. He explained that average salaries for early childhood educators are roughly $11 per hour and that most early childhood educators are women.

06:11 PM -- Karen Riley, Dean of Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the importance of early childhood special education educators, and that special education educators are necessary and important. She urged the committee to consider language including special education educators.

06:13 PM -- Representative Garnett moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment C). Committee discussion ensued.

15HouseEd0126AttachC.pdf15HouseEd0126AttachC.pdf
BILL:HB15-1001
TIME: 06:23:58 PM
MOVED:Garnett
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:Pettersen
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Landgraf
No
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
No
Moreno
Yes
Wilson
No
Windholz
No
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


06:24 PM

Representative Moreno discussed an amendment he will offer on second reading relating to tracking the funds used for early childhood educator scholarships.


06:25 PM

Representative Wilson moved amendment L.002 (Attachment D) and Representative Everett seconded the motion. Committee discussion ensued. Representative Wilson withdrew his motion, and Representative Everett withdrew his second.

15HouseEd0126AttachD.pdf15HouseEd0126AttachD.pdf

06:28 PM

Representative Garnett offered closing comments to the bill. He discussed the benefits the program would provide.
BILL:HB15-1001
TIME: 06:32:50 PM
MOVED:Garnett
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1001, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:Fields
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Landgraf
No
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
No
Moreno
Yes
Wilson
No
Windholz
No
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:HB15-1001
TIME: 06:13:58 PM
MOVED:Garnett
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:Pettersen
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Landgraf
No
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
No
Moreno
Yes
Wilson
No
Windholz
No
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS