Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB05-1088

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes:
Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motio
Moved to refer House Bill 05-1088 to the Committee		Pass Without Objection
PASS



01:38 PM -- House Bill 05-1088

Representative McFadyen reviewed the provisions of House Bill 05-1088, concerning the education of children whose parents are incarcerated. She discussed her reasons for bringing the bill and discussed Colorado data. She said that the bill would establish a commission to work with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and to make recommendations on the issue of educating students whose parent is incarcerated. She said that there would be an amendment offered on the bill. Representative McFadyen provided committee members with a folder that is on file with the Legislative Council Staff.


01:45 PM

The following persons testified:


01:45 PM -- Patti Micciche, representing the Colorado Department of Corrections, testified on the bill and said that the department was remaining neutral on the bill. Ms. Micciche discussed state statistics on the issue.

01:47 PM

Ms. Micciche responded to questions from committee members regarding literacy statistics and the corrections population.


01:48 PM -- Nicole Willis, representing the University of Houston Department of Social Work, testified in favor of the bill as an academic professional in the field. Ms. Willis discussed the impact on families and children when a parent is incarcerated. She said that she has been researching the issue for two years. Ms. Willis provided information on assumptions and myths about children of incarcerated parents. Ms. Willis continued her discussion about the likeliness of children of incarcerated parents becoming offenders if appropriate interventions and programs are not in place. She recommended that Colorado begin with an assessment of the issue.


01:58 PM

Ms. Willis continued her discussion by urging support for the bill. She responded to questions from committee members. Representative King asked questions about the recommendation for a study. Representative McFadyen responded to comments by the committee and said that she feels that the state must assess the need before going forward with other options.

02:03 PM -- Montie Malley, representing herself as a Pueblo West High School student and the child of an incarcerated parent, testified in support of the bill. She said that she is planning to attend Colorado State University in the fall and provided information on her personal experiences during her adolescent years.

02:08 PM -- Marilyn Gambrill, representing Texas-based No More Victims as its founder, testified in favor of the bill. She said that her nonprofit organization has served 500 children and that it operates out of a school. She described the statistics concerning children of incarcerated parents and discussed examples of self-destructive behavior of children whose needs are not addressed. She said that the first step in addressing the problem is discussing and acknowledging the issue.

02:15 PM

Ms. Gambrill responded to questions from members of the committee. She said that her organization still struggles for recognition in Texas and discussed trying to work with school districts. She commended Colorado legislators for discussing the issue. Ms. Gambrill said that her organization is privately funded and has not accepted any government funding.

02:20 PM -- Veronica Rogers, representing herself as a high school graduate who participated in No More Victims, testified in favor of the bill. She discussed her background as the child of two parents who were incarcerated. She encouraged the committee to support the children of incarcerated parents in Colorado by passing the bill.

02:25 PM -- Bruce Atchison, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in favor of the bill. He said that his organization produces an annual Kids Count report that presents an index of family risk factors.


BILL:HB05-1088
TIME: 02:27:47 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Pommer
VOTE
Balmer
Benefield
King
Larson
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Excused
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Excused
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB05-1088
TIME: 02:28:38 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 05-1088 to the Committee on Appropriations, as amended. The motion passed on an 11-1-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Pommer
VOTE
Balmer
Yes
Benefield
Yes
King
No
Larson
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Rose
Excused
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS