Final
Bill B

SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM

Votes:
Action Taken:
Amend Bill B to state that the proficiency adjustm
Amend page 4, lines 9-24, strike and substitute su
Moved to amend the title to read "Concerning profi
Page 3, line 11, amend to strike "encouraged" and
Renewed his motion to approve and recommend Bill B		PASS
PASS
Pass Without Objection
FAIL
PASS



11:02 AM -- Bill B

In bringing Bill B to the committee, Representative Merrifield requested that Esther van Mourik, Office of Legislative Legal Services, come to the table as the bill drafter. Representative Merrifield discussed the provisions in Bill B, concerning a proficiency adjustment to the public school finance formula for calculating districts' total program (Attachment C). He discussed the flexibility that he feels that the bill provides for the General Assembly and for school districts. Representative Pommer discussed the possibility of having school districts report on the proficiency adjustment through the accreditation report.


11:08 AM

Senator Anderson asked why the bill was a better alternative to increasing the statewide base funding amount. She commented on the potential for increasing the base if Referendum C passes. Representative Merrifield responded to Senator Anderson's comments. Representative King raised concerns about the formula in the bill. Ms. van Mourik responded to questions to adding a new factor under Amendment 23. Ms. van Mourik stated that she feels that the bill makes it clear that the factor is not a part of the statewide base.


11:14 AM

Christy Chase, Office of Legislative Legal Services, discussed the different interpretations of requirements under Amendment 23 for increasing the statewide base and whether the required increase in the base needs to include the factors. Senator Anderson said that the proficiency adjustment concept should either establish a new category of funding or increase the statewide base. Representative Merrifield said, in response to questions, that he does not feel that the bill is contingent upon the passage of Referendum C. Representative Pommer commented on the bill. Senator Anderson argued that the proficiency funding should not be part of the school finance act formula.


11:23 AM

Representative Merrifield made further comments on the bill he was proposing. Senator Bacon said that he feels the legislative declaration recognizes that there are new mandates and new requirements being placed on school districts.

11:25 AM

Pat Steadman, representing a coalition of school districts, came to the table to comment on discussions that had been held concerning the proficiency adjustment as provided in the bill and as opposed to adding funding to the statewide base. Mr. Steadman said that he feels the bill preserves flexibility for the state and school districts. Committee discussion continued on the provisions of the bill.


11:31 AM

Representative Penry asked about the requirements for such an adjustment if it were established as a categorical. Ms. Chase responded to further questions from Representative Penry and Senator Windels. She told the committee that Amendment 23 makes requirements for increases based on total categorical program.

11:33 AM

Representative Merrifield moved to approve and recommend Bill B, as amended, to the Legislative Council as an interim committee bill.

BILL:Bill B
TIME: 11:35:27 AM
MOVED:Pommer
MOTION:Amend page 4, lines 9-24, strike and substitute subsection (2), to require that each school district shall report annually to the Colorado Department of Education on how it intends to spend the money and how it has spent the funding, to become part of the annual accreditation report. The motion passed on a 10-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Anderson
Yes
Bacon
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Spence
Yes
Tupa
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Windels
Yes
Not Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


11:42 AM

Senator Anderson made further comments on potential funding streams and adding funding to the statewide base. Senator Tupa responded with further comments. There was committee discussion about making the provisions for a proficiency adjustment into a grant program. Representative Merrifield commented further on his goals and perceptions of the bill. Ms. van Mourik asked whether the committee wished to consider a change to the title, to read "Concerning proficiency funding for school districts."

BILL:Bill B
TIME: 11:46:12 AM
MOVED:Tupa
MOTION:Amend Bill B to state that the proficiency adjustment shall not be funded from moneys in the State Education Fund and if Referendum C passes, shall be funded from the general fund exempt account. The motion passed on a 6-4 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Anderson
No
Bacon
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
No
Penry
No
Pommer
Yes
Spence
No
Tupa
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Windels
Yes
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:Bill B
TIME: 11:55:06 AM
MOVED:Windels
MOTION:Moved to amend the title to read "Concerning proficiency funding for school districts." The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Anderson
Bacon
Benefield
King
Penry
Pommer
Spence
Tupa
Merrifield
Windels
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:Bill B
TIME: 11:55:33 AM
MOVED:King
MOTION:Page 3, line 11, amend to strike "encouraged" and substitute "required". The motion failed on a 4-6 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Anderson
Yes
Bacon
No
Benefield
No
King
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
No
Spence
Yes
Tupa
No
Merrifield
No
Windels
No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:Bill B
TIME: 11:56:59 AM
MOVED:Merrifield
MOTION:Renewed his motion to approve and recommend Bill B, as amended, to the Legislative Council as an interim committee bill. The motion passed on a 6-4 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Anderson
No
Bacon
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
No
Penry
No
Pommer
Yes
Spence
No
Tupa
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Windels
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



11:57 AM

Representative Merrifield will sponsor the bill, and Senator Tupa will sponsor the bill in the Senate.


11:58 AM

The committee recessed.


01:33 PM

The committee came back to order.


01:33 PM

Senator Windels made several announcements.