Date: 03/02/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1221

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion f
Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion p
Refer House Bill 15-1221, as amended, to the Commi
Refer House Bill 15-1221, as amended, to the Commi		FAIL
PASS
FAIL
PASS



01:35 PM -- HB15-1221

Representative Buckner, Chair, welcomed the committee. Representative Fields, co-sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1221, which requires employers with more than 50 employees to give employees up to 18 hours of unpaid leave to attend their children's academic activities and meetings at school. She described the benefits of parental involvement in a child's education and listed the other states with similar laws already in place. Representative Fields and Representative Buckner responded to questions from the committee. Committee discussion ensued.


02:00 PM

The following people testified:

02:00 PM -- Maggie Gomez, representing 9 to 5 Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. She described her organization and discussed the importance of parental involvement. She discussed House Bill 09-1057 that will sunset in September 2015 if House Bill 15-1221 is not passed. She described the No Child Left Behind law and the Race to the Top program and the federal government's emphasis on encouraging parental involvement. She listed organizations that support House Bill 15-1221. Ms. Gomez responded to questions from the committee.

02:05 PM -- Ricardo Martinez, representing Padres y Jovenes Unidos, spoke in support of the bill. He described the successes of the previous legislation and why current law should not be sunset. He described the impact on children of parental involvement. Mr. Martinez responded to questions from the committee.

02:12 PM -- Ellen Weber, representing STRIVE Preparatory School, spoke in support of the bill. She described her experiences as a school social worker, the benefits of parental involvement, and how the current law has helped parents become more involved in their children's education. Ms. Weber responded to questions from the committee.

02:19 PM -- Candice Leary Humphrey, representing Clayton Early Learning, spoke about the bill. She described the successes of children with involved parents and the challenges faced by parents with inflexible, minimum-wage jobs. She described her personal experiences with her son's special needs and research showing the importance of parental involvement. She described the economic situation of many families whose children attend Clayton and how parents have been denied leave from their jobs to attend conferences and meetings. Ms. Humphrey responded to questions from the committee.

02:30 PM -- Loren Furman, representing the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, spoke in opposition to the bill. She described her organization and the compromise that allowed House Bill 09-1057 to pass. Ms. Furman responded to questions from the committee.

02:42 PM -- Faby Gonzalez, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. She described her experiences as a single mother and her efforts to attend her son's Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings. She explained that at times her mother has attended school meetings in her place. She described the importance of attending her son's school-related events. Ms. Gonzalez responded to questions from the committee.

02:47 PM -- Gladys Peet and Martha Rodriguez, representing themselves, introduced themselves to the committee. Ms. Peet described her experiences as a student whose parent could not attend school events due to work and how her mother's absences from school events affected her. Ms. Rodriguez described her experiences as student whose parents could not miss work to attend school events.

02:53 PM -- Kate Stigberg, representing the American Federation of Teachers, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed the benefits of parental involvement in a child's education. Ms. Stigberg responded to questions from the committee.


02:56 PM

Representative Garnett described the provisions of Amendment L.003 (Attachment A). Committee discussion ensued.

15HouseEd0302AttachA.pdf15HouseEd0302AttachA.pdf
BILL:HB15-1221
TIME: 02:59:36 PM
MOVED:Garnett
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion passed on a vote of 9-2.
SECONDED:Moreno
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
No
Garnett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


03:01 PM

Representative Wilson described the provisions of Amendment L.001 (Attachment B).

15HouseEd0302AttachB.pdf15HouseEd0302AttachB.pdf
BILL:HB15-1221
TIME: 03:02:12 PM
MOVED:Wilson
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion failed on a vote of 5-6.
SECONDED:Priola
VOTE
Everett
Yes
Fields
No
Garnett
No
Lee
No
Lundeen
Yes
Moreno
No
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Pettersen
No
Buckner
No
YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


03:10 PM

Representative Buckner and Representative Fields offered closing comments to the bill. Committee discussion ensued.
BILL:HB15-1221
TIME: 03:20:14 PM
MOVED:Wilson
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1221, as amended, to the Committee on Business. The motion failed on a vote of 5-6.
SECONDED:Priola
VOTE
Everett
Yes
Fields
No
Garnett
No
Lee
No
Lundeen
Yes
Moreno
No
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Pettersen
No
Buckner
No
YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB15-1221
TIME: 03:20:43 PM
MOVED:Buckner
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1221, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:Garnett
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
No
Moreno
Yes
Priola
No
Wilson
No
Windholz
No
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:24 PM

The committee recessed.