Date: 04/29/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1369

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer House Bill 15-1369 to the Committee of the WPASS



11:53 AM -- HB15-1369

Representative Hamner, chair, welcomed the committee. Representatives Pettersen and Esgar, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 15-1369, which changes state law so that homeless and unaccompanied youth need only prove one year of residency in Colorado to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. Representative Pettersen spoke about the bill's compliance with federal law and provided the committee with background as to why she sponsored the bill. She explained the barriers to unaccompanied homeless youth and emancipated minors and how federal financial aid policies impact these youth. Representative Esgar spoke about the difference between dependent youth and unaccompanied youth as far as in-state tuition policies are concerned in Colorado. She explained the importance of higher education in combating poverty. Representatives Pettersen and Esgar responded to questions from the committee.


12:04 PM

The following people testified:

12:04 PM -- Dana Scott, representing the Colorado Department of Education (CDE); Judith Martinez, representing CDE; Celina Duran, representing the Department of Higher Education (DHE); and Chris Venable, representing Urban Peak homeless youth shelter, came to the table to respond to questions from the committee. They discussed how homeless or unaccompanied youth could provide verification of a year of domicile in Colorado, legislation in other states, and how the state can determine how many individuals might take advantage of in-state tuition rates each year.

12:14 PM -- Cian Richardson, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He described his personal experiences as an unaccompanied student.

12:20 PM -- Pauline Bialick, representing herself, spoke in support of the bill. She described her personal experiences including abuse resulting in homelessness and how her attempts to enlist her parents' help in enrolling in higher education led to increased abuse.

12:23 PM -- Angel Colon, representing himself, spoke in support of the bill. He described his experiences with homelessness and how several public colleges denied him in-state tuition rates because he lacked proof of 3-year residency. He described his time living at the Denver Rescue Mission.


12:25 PM

The preceding three witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

12:34 PM -- Kirsten Schuchman, representing the University of Colorado (CU), spoke in support of the bill. She spoke about relevant federal legislation and about how CU handles unaccompanied students.

12:36 PM -- Benjamin Waters, representing Mile High United Way, spoke in support of the bill.


12:36 PM

The preceding two witnesses responded to questions from the committee about the alignment of federal and state law.

12:38 PM -- Celina Duran, representing DHE, came back to the table to respond to questions from the committee.

12:40 PM -- Angel Colon, representing himself, came back to the table to respond to questions from the committee.


12:41 PM

No further witnesses being present, Representative Hamner closed public testimony.
BILL:HB15-1369
TIME: 12:41:23 PM
MOVED:Pettersen
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1369 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
Hamner
Yes
Pettersen
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS