Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:04/18/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:12:01 PM to 01:01 PM
Benefield
*
King
*
Place:HCR 0107
Larson
X
Massey
X
This Meeting was called to order by
McKinley
X
Representative Merrifield
Penry
*
Pommer
*
This Report was prepared by
Rose
X
Cathy Eslinger
Solano
X
Todd
X
White
X
Paccione
*
Merrifield
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB06-1397Amended, Referred to Appropriations


12:02 PM -- Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Representative Merrifield.

12:02 PM -- House Bill 06-1397

Representative Solano, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1397, concerning the creation of a statewide system of early childhood councils and distributed a hand-out (Attachment A).

12:06 PM

The following persons testified:

12:07 PM -- Arn Menconi, representing the Colorado Counties Inc., Steering Committee, testified in favor of the bill.

12:10 PM -- Carol Boigon, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in favor of the bill and described the impact of the program.

12:11 PM -- Leslie Bulicz, representing the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care, came to the table to respond to questions about available federal funds.

12:15 PM

Ms. Boigon responded to additional questions from committee members about the distribution of resources among providers at the local level.


12:18 PM

There was additional committee discussion of the bill's provisions, with Ms. Boigon discussing the planned transitions from county-based pilot programs to the councils across the state. In response to questions, she noted that longitudinal study is included in the bill.

12:21 PM -- Gretchen Davidson, representing Arapahoe County, and Wendy Watson, representing Larimer County, came to the table to discuss the consolidated pilot programs. A hand-out was distributed (Attachment B). She said that local control of the program helps retain flexibility and collaboration.

12:24 PM -- Gerrit Westervelt, representing Qualistar Early Learning, testified in support of the bill. He provided a hand-out to the committee (Attachment C).

12:26 PM -- Bruce Atchison, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in favor of the bill. He discussed several pieces of data that he felt were relevant to the bill, specifically pertaining to the success of investment in early childhood education.

12:33 PM

The committee discussed longitudinal study of the child care programs and student outcomes. Mr. Atchison also responded to questions about the planning for funding of the program.
BILL:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:37:29 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
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:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:37:57 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
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:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:39:23 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


12:40 PM

Jane Ritter, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to table to respond to questions regarding the amendments.
BILL:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:41:02 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment G). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
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:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:41:35 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.005 (Attachment H). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


12:42 PM

Ms. Ritter responded to additional questions regarding the amendments.
BILL:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:42:47 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.006 (Attachment I). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

12:44 PM

Ms. Ritter clarified the provisions of amendment L.006.
BILL:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:44:33 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.007 (Attachment J). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
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:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:45:05 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved amendment L.008 (Attachment K). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


12:46 PM

Representative Solano responded to remaining questions from committee members about the bill.

12:50 PM

Ms. Boigon returned to the table to address concerns that were raised about ensuring the widest possible access for providers to information and resources.
BILL:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:52:29 PM
MOVED:Pommer
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment on page 12, add a new paragraph to the duties of the early childhood councils to require that they reach out to as many child care centers to make them aware that money is available through the program. The motion passed on a 9-4 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Penry
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
No
Massey
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Rose
No
Solano
No
Todd
No
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Not Final YES: 9 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:HB06-1397
TIME: 12:56:02 PM
MOVED:Paccione
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment to specify that students participating in the program will be assigned a unique state student identifier. The amendment was withdrawn.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Benefield
King
Larson
Massey
McKinley
Penry
Pommer
Rose
Solano
Todd
White
Paccione
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE

12:57 PM

Ms. Boigon responded to questions raised around the amendment.


12:59 PM

The committee discussed potential language for second reading amendments.
BILL:HB06-1397
TIME: 01:00:49 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Refer HB06-1397, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 13-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Todd
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
Massey
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Rose
Yes
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:01 PM

The committee adjourned.