Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION
Date:
01/20/2005
ATTENDANCE
Time:
02:29 PM
to
04:25 PM
Balmer
X
Benefield
X
Place:
HCR 0107
King
X
Larson
X
This Meeting was called to order by
McKinley
X
Representative
Merrifield
Penry
X
Pommer
X
This Report was prepared by
Rose
X
Cathy Eslinger
Solano
X
Todd
X
White
X
Paccione
X
Merrifield
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed:
Action Taken:
HB05-1024
HB05-1026
HB05-1087
Amended and Referred to the Committee on Finance
Amended and Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Amended and Referred to the Committee of the Whole
02:30 PM -- Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Representative Merrifield.
02:31 PM -- House Bill 05-1024
Representative Solano reviewed the provisions of House Bill 05-1024, concerning the creation of the dropout prevention activity grant program for the reduction of the student dropout rate, and in connection therewith, She discussed statistics on Colorado's high school dropout rate. She distributed a hand-out based on attrition from the Colorado Class of 2003 (Attachment A). She discussed her concern with the issue.
02:36 PM
Representative Solano discussed the type of program that would be funded through a tax check-off program.
02:38 PM
The following persons testified on the bill:
02:38 PM --
Van Scholes, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, introduced himself and noted that he oversees education reform initiatives for the Colorado Children's Campaign. He expressed support for the bill and discussed the challenges he feels the state faces in regard to the high school drop-out rate. He said that the bill could help strengthen some existing drop-out prevention programs, which are often community-based.
02:40 PM --
Ken Seeley, representing the Colorado Foundation for Families and Children, discussed the impact of after-school programs and the existing research into the issue. He voiced support for the bill and discussed the impact of these types of programs. Mr. Seeley also discussed the circumstances under which truant students sometimes engage in after-school programs.
02:45 PM
Mr. Seeley responded to questions about the reporting of drop-out rates. He said that the count is generally made when the student does not appear at school and there is not a subsequent and corresponding request for school records. He said there is a discrepancy between the official drop-out rate and the number of students who are not in school. She said that requests for after-school programs are growing. She voiced support for the bill.
02:47 PM --
Lucy Trujillo, representing the Colorado After-School Alliance, discussed the entities and goals of the Alliance and voiced support for the bill.
02:52 PM --
Margene Drost, representing herself, discussed her support for the bill and discussed the need in rural areas of the state. She said that the impact of arts education in rural areas is significant. She responded to questions about the drop-out rate in rural areas and said that the rate can be very high. She noted the Alamosa area as an example of a rural area that has struggled with high drop-out rates.
02:55 PM --
Larry Botnick, representing himself as a mental health care professional, discussed his support for the bill. He said that many high school dropouts end up in detention centers and students there often feel that their needs were not being met in public schools. He said that his son is a pupil at the Denver School for the Arts, where the demand for enrollment is very high relative to the space available at the school.
02:57 PM --
Ken Barela, Mayor of Fountain, Colorado, and the Executive Director of Aspen Diversified Industries testified in support of the bill. He described the demographics in the Fountain community. He said that there is interest and need in helping children who need alternative educational opportunities . He said that his company, Aspen Diversified Industries, employs persons with disabilities, but also has a vocational program in which School District #8 can earn high school credits. He said that program has proven very successful, and that other school districts are looking at the program. He also noted a high graduation rate of 97 percent at Fountain-Fort Carson School District. He attributes the district's success to programs such as his.
03:02 PM
Representative Solano responded to several additional questions from committee members. Representative Solano discussed the current tax check-off list and the issues raised in the fiscal note. Representative Pommer noted that there was room for one additional tax check-off on the state income tax return, and that the House Committee on Finance would be considering bills with an income tax check-off.
BILL:
HB05-1024
TIME:
03:10:21 PM
MOVED:
Solano
MOTION:
Moved amendment .001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
Paccione
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
3:10 PM
Representative Solano discussed the provisions in amendment .001 and responded to several more questions about the bill. Representative Paccione noted that the bill gives rule-making authority to the State Board of Education.
BILL:
HB05-1024
TIME:
03:14:16 PM
MOVED:
Solano
MOTION:
Moved amendment .002 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
Paccione
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
3:14 PM
Representative Solano explained amendment .002, which defines "qualified community organization" and sets forth the partnership agreement that would be a part of a grant.
03:17 PM
There was additional committee discussion regarding the priority given to applications, as set forth in the bill.
BILL:
HB05-1024
TIME:
03:17:52 PM
MOVED:
Pommer
MOTION:
Moved a conceptual amendment page 8, lines 5-13, to give first consideration to applications to fund programs at school that have high drop-out rates, and then consider the percentage of students who are minority or at-risk students. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
Balmer
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
BILL:
HB05-1024
TIME:
03:19:08 PM
MOVED:
White
MOTION:
Moved to amend page 5, line 19, after "MAINTENANCE", insert "DRIVER'S TRAINING,". The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
Larson
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
BILL:
HB05-1024
TIME:
03:22:23 PM
MOVED:
Solano
MOTION:
Moved to refer House Bill 05-1024 to the Committee on Finance, as amended. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
Paccione
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Rose
Excused
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES:
12
NO:
0
EXC:
1
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
03:27 PM -- House Bill 05-1026
Representative King reviewed the provisions of House Bill 05-1026, concerning educator licensure. He noted that the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) was requesting provisions in the bill. Representative King said that the bill addressed the endorsement in special education and a complaint procedure when a complaint is lodged against persons applying for or holding an educator license or certificate.
03:30 PM
Representative King discussed a proposed amendment, amendment .001 (Attachment D). He discussed the issue of professional development and what constitutes professional development for purposes of the teacher's endorsement area.
03:33 PM
The following persons testified:
03:34 PM --
Dorothy Gotlieb, representing the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), discussed provisions of the bill and stated her support for the bill. She spoke about prior bills passed by the General Assembly that addressed educator licensure. Ms. Gotlieb walked the committee through several sections of the bill in a specific manner. She discussed provisions addressing temporary authorization for teaching in the area of special education.
03:41 PM
-- Ryan Wulff, representing the Colorado Education Association, stated his organization's support of the bill.
BILL:
HB05-1026
TIME:
03:43:00 PM
MOVED:
King
MOTION:
Moved amendment .001 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
Paccione
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Excused
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
1
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
BILL:
HB05-1026
TIME:
03:43:21 PM
MOVED:
King
MOTION:
Moved to refer House Bill 05-1026 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended. The motion passed on an 11-0-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
Paccione
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Excused
Rose
Excused
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES:
11
NO:
0
EXC:
2
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
03:45 PM -- House Bill 05-1087
Representative Lindstrom reviewed the provisions of House Bill 05-1087, concerning the provision of international education opportunities in public schools. The bill requires the State Board of Education to establish an international education advisory council to make recommendations to the State Board of Education.
03:49 PM
Representative Lindstrom responded to questions regarding funding the program through gifts, grants, and donations received. Representative King asked about the potential success for the program without a stable funding source. Representative Larson asked further questions about funding for the program and the advisory council.
03:53 PM
The following persons testified:
03:55 PM --
Mark Montgomery, representing the University of Denver, came to the table and voiced support for the bill. He provided information on results from a survey of what young adults know about international affairs and geography. He discussed the importance of international education and provided specific examples of students involved in international education programs. He said that Colorado should join 22 other states that have commissions or councils on international education.
04:03 PM
Mr. Montgomery responded to questions regarding language in the bill that requires the State Board of Education to survey school districts.
04:08 PM --
James Reis, representing the Rocky Mountain World Trade Association, spoke in support of the bill and said that he represented the business community in Colorado. He discussed the benefits that Colorado receives from international trade.
04:12 PM --
Joe Rice, representing himself, spoke in support of House Bill 05-1087. He said that increased international education will enhance the climate of the state. He spoke about his experience as a member of the Army Reserves and as a member of a team advising and assisting in the formation of local councils in Iraq.
04:17 PM --
Martie Semmer, representing herself as a foreign language teacher, testified in support of the bill and distributed a hand-out (Attachment E). She spoke about the challenges teachers face in meeting required standards in certain areas and said the bill has the potential to strengthen K-12 education.
BILL:
HB05-1087
TIME:
04:21:35 PM
MOVED:
King
MOTION:
Moved amendment .001 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
McKinley
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES:
0
NO:
0
EXC:
0
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
Pass Without Objection
BILL:
HB05-1087
TIME:
04:22:39 PM
MOVED:
Paccione
MOTION:
Moved to refer House Bill 05-1087 to the Committee of the Whole, as amended. The motion passed on an 11-0-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
Larson
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Excused
Rose
Excused
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES:
11
NO:
0
EXC:
2
ABS:
0
FINAL ACTION:
PASS
04:25 PM
The committee adjourned.