Bill Summary for Bill Number HB15-1170

Date: 02/25/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1170

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion p Refer House Bill 15-1170, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection PASS

10:22 AM -- HB15-1170

Representative Buckner, Chair, welcomed the committee members. Representatives Kraft-Tharp and Wilson, co-sponsors, introduced House Bill 15-1170, which changes the way the Colorado Department of Education measures postsecondary and workforce readiness to include an emphasis on non-collegiate postsecondary options. Representative Kraft-Tharp discussed the Colorado Pipeline report and its recommendations for policy changes. She discussed the industries needing employees, and the weaknesses in the school district accountability system as far as ensuring students' success after graduation. Representative Wilson discussed previous legislation and the need for changes to current policy. He discussed the graduating class of 2015, and explained that one-third will not attend college. He further explained that of the two-thirds that go to college, half of those students will not complete a bachelor's degree program. He discussed the high school students that need career training and explained that he wants to redefine the meaning of success after high school to focus more on career readiness for the kids who need it. He explained the provisions of the bill and discussed Amendment L.001 (Attachment A). Representative Kraft-Tharp discussed the provisions of the amendment. The co-sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseEd0225AttachA.pdf

10:36 AM

The co-sponsors continued to respond to questions from the committee.

10:47 AM

The following people testified on the bill:

10:47 AM -- Geri Anderson, representing Aims Community College, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed the reasons legislators should support the bill and how it would help Colorado students. She discussed the importance of Career and Technical Education and the challenges faced by teachers and administrators.

10:53 AM -- Bud Starker, representing Associated General Contractors of Colorado, spoke in support of the bill. He talked about the construction industry's need for skilled workers and how the bill would help fill those positions. He listed other groups that support the bill.

10:55 AM -- Tony Milo, representing the Colorado Contractors Association, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the need to redefine success after high school and how the bill would help fill skilled openings in the construction industry.

10:56 AM

The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

10:59 AM -- Jeff Barratt, representing Emily Griffith Technical College, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the need to fill jobs in the skilled trades. He discussed the importance of the statewide coordinator. He discussed public-private partnerships to help fill the need for workers, and how the bill would assist his institution's efforts. Mr. Barratt responded to questions from the committee.

11:07 AM -- Luke Ragland, representing Colorado Succeeds, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the need for a highly-skilled workforce to attract investment in the state. He discussed the skills gap among high school graduates in Colorado and how the bill addresses that gap.

11:10 AM -- Dale McCall, representing himself, spoke about his experiences as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher, spoke in support of the bill. He explained the impact of the bill on CTE and on school districts. He shared several stories about the need for CTE in Colorado. Mr. McCall responded to questions from the committee.

11:18 AM


BILL:	HB15-1170
TIME:	11:18:31 AM
MOVED:	Buckner
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Priola
		VOTE
	Everett
	Fields
	Garnett
	Lee
	Lundeen
	Moreno
	Priola
	Wilson
	Windholz
	Pettersen
	Buckner

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

11:19 AM

Representative Kraft-Tharp offered closing comments to the bill. Representative Wilson offered closing comments to the bill.


BILL:	HB15-1170
TIME:	11:22:23 AM
MOVED:	Buckner
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1170, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-1.
SECONDED:	Pettersen
		VOTE
	Everett	No
	Fields	Yes
	Garnett	Yes
	Lee	Yes
	Lundeen	Yes
	Moreno	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Wilson	Yes
	Windholz	Yes
	Pettersen	Yes
	Buckner	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS