Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:03/14/2006
ATTENDANCE
Time:10:48 AM to 12:54 PM
Benefield
X
King
X
Place:HCR 0107
Larson
*
Massey
X
This Meeting was called to order by
McKinley
X
Representative Merrifield
Penry
X
Pommer
*
This Report was prepared by
Rose
X
Cathy Eslinger
Solano
*
Todd
X
White
X
Paccione
*
Merrifield
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HJR06-1014
HB06-1375		Postponed Indefinitely
Amended, Referred to Appropriations

10:48 AM -- Call to Order

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



10:48 AM -- House Joint Resolution 06-1014

Representative Butcher, prime sponsor, requested that the committee postpone indefinitely House Joint Resolution 06-1014, concerning the adoption of a core curriculum by each school district.
BILL:HJR 06-1014
TIME: 10:49:40 AM
MOVED:Merrifield
MOTION:Moved to postpone indefinitely House Joint Resolution 06-1014. The motion passed on a 10-1-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:White
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
Excused
Massey
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Excused
Rose
Yes
Solano
No
Todd
Yes
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Not Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:58 AM -- House Bill 06-1375

Representative Pommer, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of House Bill 06-1375, concerning the financing of public schools. He walked the committee through provisions for increases in base funding and total program funding, changes to the Colorado Preschool Program, and special education funding. He discussed supplemental funding for special education that would allocated for FY 2005-06. Representative Pommer reviewed the bill's provisions for special education funding and discussed the two-tiered, temporary formula for funding children with disabilities, as well as the proposal for a new special education advisory committee through the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). He further noted the input received from special education directors in proposing the changes for special education funding, including establishment of a high-cost grant fund.

11:08 AM

Representative Pommer informed the committee of the additional slots the bill adds to the Colorado Preschool Program. He continued his review of the bill with a discussion of the manner in which funding is made to school districts for students in juvenile detention facilities. The bill also addresses calculations for unreimbursed "excess transportation costs." In his review of the bill, Representative Pommer discussed the clarifications the bill makes concerning the conditions under which a person, group, or organization will be deemed to have submitted an application to convert a private school into a charter school. In preparation for consideration of amendments, Representative King distributed two-handouts of data (Attachments A and B).


11:13 AM

Deb Godshall, Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to respond to questions regarding the cost-of-living factor. She noted that a cost-of-living study was completed in 2005, and informed the committee that the bill does not change the manner in which the cost-of-living factor is applied.

11:16 AM

Christy Chase, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions about the statutory provisions for consolidating preschool and kindergarten programs. Representative Pommer commented further on the way that the program would be implemented under the bill. Ms. Chase clarified the administration of the preschool and kindergarten program in the Colorado Department of Education.

11:19 AM

The following persons testified:

11:19 AM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in support of the bill. In her testimony, Ms. Urschel recognized Representative Pommer's work and ideas in the bill, specifically in regard to special education funding.

11:21 AM -- Tony Salazar, representing the Colorado Education Association, testified in support of the bill and expressed appreciation for Representative Pommer's work on the bill. He specified support for the State Education Fund appropriation for national board certification for teachers, which triggers a federal match.

11:24 AM -- Phil Fox, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives, testified in support of the bill and discussed an amendment addressing the threshold for use of capital reserve funds for the purchase of computers.

11:26 AM -- Dale McCall, representing the Colorado BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Services) Association and the Centennial BOCES, testified in support of the bill and expressed particular support for provisions addressing special education.

11:27 AM -- Carolena Steen, representing the Consortium of Special Education Directors, testified in support of the bill and said it takes a significant step in addressing the costs for high-needs students. She supported the proposal for a two-tier structure for funding.

11:31 AM -- Peg Long, representing the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Long responded to questions about a proposed amendment, L.002, which would restore funding for a facility summer school grant program (Attachment C).

11:34 AM -- Andre Ransom, representing the Colorado Child Care Association, testified in support of two proposed amendments, L.006 and L.008 (Attachments D and E). She discussed recent academic studies illustrating the costs and economics of providing early childhood programs. Ms. Ransom reviewed national conversations on early childhood education. She responded to questions about her testimony and the impact of school district contracting for early childhood programs.


11:44 AM

Representative King moved (Second: Rose) amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The committee discussed the amendment. The committee discussed the use of State Education Fund moneys and whether the program should be targeted to math instruction.
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 11:55:26 AM
MOVED:King
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment F). The motion passed on a 12-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Rose
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
Massey
Yes
McKinley
No
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Rose
Yes
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Not Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 11:57:45 AM
MOVED:King
MOTION:Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment C). Representative Paccione moved an amendment to L.002 (see vote sheet below). The committee voted on amendment L.002, as amended. The motion passed on a 13-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Rose
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
Not Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 11:59:45 AM
MOVED:Paccione
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment to L.002 to restore writing as a component of the program. The motion passed on a 12-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Solano
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
King
No
Larson
Yes
Massey
Yes
McKinley
Yes
Penry
Yes
Pommer
Yes
Rose
Yes
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
Yes
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Not Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:02:56 PM
MOVED:Merrifield
MOTION:Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment G). The motion passed on a 7-6 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Paccione
VOTE
Benefield
Yes
King
No
Larson
No
Massey
No
McKinley
Yes
Penry
No
Pommer
Yes
Rose
No
Solano
Yes
Todd
Yes
White
No
Paccione
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Not Final YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:08:44 PM
MOVED:King
MOTION:Moved amendment L.006 (Attachment D). The motion failed on a 3-10 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Penry
VOTE
Benefield
No
King
Yes
Larson
No
Massey
Yes
McKinley
No
Penry
No
Pommer
No
Rose
Yes
Solano
No
Todd
No
White
No
Paccione
No
Merrifield
No
Not Final YES: 3 NO: 10 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:11:15 PM
MOVED:King
MOTION:Moved amendment L.008 (Attachment E). The motion failed on a 6-7 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Rose
VOTE
Benefield
No
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
Massey
Yes
McKinley
No
Penry
Yes
Pommer
No
Rose
Yes
Solano
No
Todd
No
White
Yes
Paccione
No
Merrifield
No
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:15:35 PM
MOVED:Todd
MOTION:Moved amendment L.010 (Attachment H). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:King
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:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:16:33 PM
MOVED:King
MOTION:Moved amendment L.012 (Attachment I). The motion failed on a 5-8 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Rose
VOTE
Benefield
No
King
Yes
Larson
No
Massey
Yes
McKinley
No
Penry
Yes
Pommer
No
Rose
Yes
Solano
No
Todd
No
White
Yes
Paccione
No
Merrifield
No
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 8 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL



12:20 PM

Ms. Chase returned to the table to respond to questions regarding capital construction funding and appropriations for capital construction from the State Education Fund.
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:25:47 PM
MOVED:Pommer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.011 (Attachment J). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Paccione
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

12:27 PM

Ms. Chase returned to the table to respond to questions about the count date for preschool students.
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:28:22 PM
MOVED:Pommer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.013 (Attachment K). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Paccione
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



12:29 PM

Vody Herrmann, Colorado Department of Education, came to the table to respond to questions regarding the distribution of funds from the Public School Transportation Fund, and the manner in which transportation funding is audited and in which unexpended funds are returned by school districts upon the end of the budget year.
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:32:33 PM
MOVED:Pommer
MOTION:Moved amendment L.014 (Attachment L). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Paccione
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:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:36:03 PM
MOVED:King
MOTION:Moved amendment L.015 (Attachment M). The motion failed on a 6-7 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Rose
VOTE
Benefield
No
King
Yes
Larson
Yes
Massey
Yes
McKinley
No
Penry
Yes
Pommer
No
Rose
Yes
Solano
No
Todd
No
White
Yes
Paccione
No
Merrifield
No
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:38:45 PM
MOVED:King
MOTION:Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment N). The motion failed on a 3-10 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Rose
VOTE
Benefield
No
King
Yes
Larson
No
Massey
No
McKinley
No
Penry
No
Pommer
No
Rose
Yes
Solano
No
Todd
No
White
Yes
Paccione
No
Merrifield
No
Not Final YES: 3 NO: 10 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL
BILL:HB06-1375
TIME: 12:48:19 PM
MOVED:Pommer
MOTION:Refer HB06-1375, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 13-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Paccione
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



12:49 PM

The committee recessed.

12:54 PM

The committee came back to order. Representative Merrifield announced that House Bill 06-1283 would be laid over until the committee's next meeting. The committee adjourned.