Date: 04/15/2015
Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB15-173
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
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11:52 AM -- SB15-173
Representative Buckner took the gavel. Representative Pabon, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-173, which enacts protections on data collected on students and teachers. Representative Pabon spoke about educational technology, the opportunities it presents, and the requirements needed to manage that technology. He spoke about the importance of definitions and uniform application as the bill seeks to regulate not just Colorado businesses, but businesses from all over the world that are operating in Colorado. He discussed federal legislation introduced by Congressmen Messer and Polis. He spoke about the importance of addressing student privacy. He described the stakeholder process that went in to drafting the bill. He spoke about his efforts to work with Senator Holbert on the bill, and about the benefits to students of some of applications in use in Colorado schools. Representative Pabon responded to questions from the committee.
12:14 PM
The following people testified:
12:14 PM -- Andrew Moore, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), spoke in support of the bill. He described the bill's stakeholders, and the importance of protecting children's privacy. He described the provisions of the bill and his experiences working with vendors. He explained that the bill requires staff training and parent notifications in the event of a data breach. He spoke about click-through contracts teachers approve in their classrooms. He thanked the bill sponsors for their inclusive stakeholder process. Mr. Moore responded to questions from the committee.
12:28 PM -- Ron Barnes, Head of State Legislative Affairs for Google, spoke in support of amending the bill. He described Google's position on the bill and the reasons it supports the amendments. Mr. Barnes responded to questions from the committee.
12:58 PM -- Wolfgang Baeck, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He spoke about his personal experiences as a businessman. Mr. Baeck responded to questions from his committee.
01:11 PM -- Paula Nikolai, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. She spoke about corporate involvement in education and advocated for parents to refuse public education for their children.
01:12 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, spoke in support of the bill. She described parents' involvement in drafting the bill. She discussed the impact of technology on the education system.
01:17 PM -- Kristi Butkovich, representing the Denver Alliance for Public Education, spoke in support of the bill. She described current law in California and how this bill compares. She spoke about pending federal legislation. She described data breaches and failures of education technology. She urged the committee not to exempt online education providers from the provisions of the bill.
01:20 PM
Representative Buckner, laid over Senate Bill 15-173, House Bill 15-1339, and House Bill 15-1273 until a special meeting Friday, April 17, upon adjournment of the Public Health Committee.
01:22 PM
The committee adjourned.