Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:04/15/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:11:22 AM to
Everett
X
Fields
X
Place:HCR 0112
Garnett
X
Lee
*
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:
HB15-1326
SB15-173		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only


11:23 AM -- HB15-1326

Representative Pettersen, Vice-Chair, called the meeting to order. She announced that there will be a special meeting Friday afternoon, April 17, if the committee does not complete its agenda. Representative Moreno, co-sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1326, which prevents colleges and universities from using a school district's accreditation status against students in the admissions process. He discussed the reasons for his sponsorship of the bill. Representative Esgar, co-sponsor, discussed the impact of the bill on her constituents. The co-sponsors responded to questions from the committee.


11:33 AM

The following people testified:

11:33 AM -- Kiera Hatton, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. She described her family's decision to enroll her daughter in a different school district based on Pueblo school district 70's pending loss of accreditation. She discussed the needs of her community and how the school district's loss of accreditation impacts students and families, especially as they consider college attendance. She explained the impact on the local economy as family-owned businesses leave the area to move into accredited school districts. Ms. Hatton responded to questions from the committee.











11:39 AM

Representative Esgar responded to questions from the committee. She described the bill as a safety net for students as districts in turnaround status enter the fifth year of the time clock.

11:41 AM -- Sophia San Miguel, representing herself, spoke about the bill.


11:43 AM

Representative Moreno introduced amendment L.002 (Attachment A), which incorporates changes requested by the Department of Higher Education.

15HouseEd0415AttachmentA.pdf15HouseEd0415AttachmentA.pdf
BILL:HB15-1326
TIME: 11:43:58 AM
MOVED:Moreno
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Garnett
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

















11:44 AM

Representatives Moreno and Esgar offered closing comments to the bill.
BILL:HB15-1326
TIME: 11:46:51 AM
MOVED:Moreno
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1326, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 9-2.
SECONDED:Priola
VOTE
Everett
No
Fields
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Lee
Yes
Lundeen
No
Moreno
Yes
Priola
Yes
Wilson
Yes
Windholz
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Buckner
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


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.