Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:02/18/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:09:56 AM to 01:07 PM
Everett
X
Fields
X
Place:RM 271
Garnett
X
Lee
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Lundeen
X
Representative Buckner
Moreno
X
Priola
*
This Report was prepared by
Wilson
X
Lisa Gezelter
Windholz
X
Pettersen
X
Buckner
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB15-1088
HB15-1146		Amended, Referred to Appropriations
Amended, Referred to Appropriations


09:58 AM -- HB15-1088

Representative Buckner, Chair, welcomed the committee. He introduced students from Pine Lane Elementary. He introduced Dr. Tony Frank, new chancellor at Colorado State University (CSU), who spoke about his personal experiences and about his vision for his role as chancellor. Dr. Frank discussed public universities, student debt loads, and default rates. Dr. Frank responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Winter, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1088, which creates the Interagency Farm-to-School Grant Program. She spoke about the need to connect Colorado schools to Colorado farms. She discussed the needs of small farmers, and their struggles to meet the standards required to sell produce to schools.

The following people testified on the bill:

10:10 AM -- Frances Butler, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. She discussed her economic analysis of the program, including information from similar programs in other states. She described the necessity of helping only disadvantaged farmers. Ms. Butler responded to questions from the committee.















10:17 AM

Representative Winter responded to questions from the committee.

10:28 AM -- Monica Dimes-Henderson, representing the Falcon School District and the Colorado School Nutrition Association, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the challenges faced by food service directors. Representative Winter and Ms. Dimes-Henderson responded to questions from the committee.

10:39 AM -- Jeremy West, Nutrition Services Director for Greeley School District, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed the work of the Farm-to-School Task Force, how the freshness of food affects its nutrition value, and the purchasing power of schools. Mr. West responded to questions from the committee.

10:56 AM -- Anthony Zamora, representing Leffler Family Farms, spoke in support of the bill. He discussed his experiences as a farmer providing produce to local public schools. Mr. Zamora responded to questions from the committee.

11:09 AM -- Theresa Hafner, representing the Farm-to-School Task Force and Denver Public Schools, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed her experiences as a Task Force member and as a food services employee at a large urban district. She described Denver Public Schools' farming efforts. Ms. Hafner responded to questions from the committee.

11:19 AM -- Scott Covalt, representing himself as the owner-operator of Covalt Farms and The Generous Farmer Farms, spoke in support of the bill. He described his personal experiences. Mr. Covalt responded to questions from the committee.

11:29 AM -- Mona Martinez-Brosh, Director of Nutrition Services for Aurora Public Schools, spoke in support of the bill. She described her district and her experiences purchasing produce for the district.

11:34 AM -- Leslie Colwell, Vice President of K-12 Education Initiatives for the Colorado Children's Campaign, spoke in support of the bill. She spoke about the importance of good nutrition during childhood. Ms. Colwell responded to questions from the committee.


11:38 AM

Representative Winter introduced Amendment L.001 (Attachment A), which is a strike-below amendment. She spoke about the changes it makes to the bill and about moving the program from the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). She described changes to the types of grants, new eligibility requirements, and a report to the General Assembly.

15HouseEd0218AttachA.pdf15HouseEd0218AttachA.pdf











BILL:HB15-1088
TIME: 11:39:57 AM
MOVED:Pettersen
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Moreno
VOTE
Everett
Fields
Garnett
Lee
Lundeen
Moreno
Priola
Wilson
Windholz
Pettersen
Buckner
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

































11:45 AM

Representative Winter offered closing comments to the bill. Committee discussion ensued. Lynn Kathleen, representing the Farm-to-School Task Force, came to the table to respond to questions from the committee.
BILL:HB15-1088
TIME: 11:49:31 AM
MOVED:Pettersen
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1088, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:Buckner
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


11:53 AM -- HB15-1146

Representative Wilson, sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1146, which creates the Colorado Student Leaders Institute (COSLI). He described the structure and function of COSLI. He described the geographic allocation of slots for the Institute. He distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment B), and a packet of information (Attachment C). He described the provisions of the bill and amendment. Representative Wilson responded to questions from the committee.

15HouseEd0218AttachB.pdf15HouseEd0218AttachB.pdf 15HouseEd0218AttachC.pdf15HouseEd0218AttachC.pdf














12:02 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

12:03 PM -- Celeste Archer, Executive Director of the COSLI, spoke in support of the bill. She described the packet of information provided to the committee (Attachment C). She described her personal experiences and the success of the program. She showed a video produced by two COSLI students. She described the college credit available to student participants.

12:13 PM -- Tyler Lis, a student participant in COSLI, described his personal experiences and statistics related to these programs in other states.

12:15 PM -- Jessica Beach, a student participant in COSLI, described her personal experiences. Representative Wilson responded to questions from the committee.

12:19 PM -- Kirsten Kochheiser, a student participant in COSLI, described her personal experiences.

12:20 PM -- Holly Fink, a student participant in COSLI, described her personal experiences.

12:23 PM -- Angelica Ochoa, a student participant in COSLI, described her personal experiences.

12:25 PM -- Elliott Anderson, a student participant in COSLI, described his personal experiences.

12:28 PM -- Isaac Carlos, a student participant in COSLI, described his personal experiences.

12:29 PM -- Ge'Swan Swanson, a student participant in COSLI, described his personal experiences.

12:33 PM -- Angel Dominguez, a student participant in COSLI, described his personal experiences.

12:33 PM -- Brendan Harris, a student participant in COSLI, described his personal experiences.

12:37 PM -- Mimi Carson, a student participant in COSLI, described her personal experiences.

12:41 PM -- Emma Brode, a student participant in COSLI, described her personal experiences. She responded to questions regarding civic engagement requirements.

12:42 PM -- Sam Willett, a student participant in COSLI, described his personal experiences.

12:44 PM -- Jason Hanson, representing the Center of the American West and a board member of COSLI, spoke in support of the bill. He described the benefits to the state of keeping students in Colorado.


12:48 PM

Representative Wilson described the changes Amendment L.001 (Attachment B) makes to the bill. Committee discussion ensued.
BILL:HB15-1146
TIME: 12:48:57 PM
MOVED:Wilson
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed on a vote of 10-1.
SECONDED:Lee
VOTE
Everett
Yes
Fields
No
Garnett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
Yes
Moreno
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

































01:00 PM
BILL:HB15-1146
TIME: 01:00:52 PM
MOVED:Wilson
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1146, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 10-1.
SECONDED:Priola
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


01:07 PM

The committee adjourned.