House Committee on Education (04/25/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	04/25/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:39 AM to 12:41 PM	Benefield	X
		King	*
Place:	HCR 0107	Larson	*
		Massey	X
This Meeting was called to order by		McKinley	X
	Representative Merrifield	Penry	*
		Pommer	X
This Report was prepared by		Rose	X
	Cathy Eslinger	Solano	*
		Todd	X
		White	X
		Paccione	X
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB06-136 SB06-130 SB06-065		Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations Referred to Appropriations

11:40 AM -- Call to Order

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

11:40 AM -- Senate Bill 06-136

Representative Butcher reviewed the provisions of Senate Bill 06-136, concerning authorization of a nursing teacher loan forgiveness program. She provided background information and the reasons for bringing the bill.

11:42 AM

The following persons testified:

11:42 AM -- Dr. Mike Davis, representing community colleges and specifically Pueblo Community College, testified in support for the bill. He indicated that finding adequate faculty was a challenge facing the college. He testified that the bill could encourage nurses to pursue a master's degree.

11:44 AM

Dr. Davis responded to questions regarding the expenses for nursing programs and salary levels for nursing faculty. He stressed the importance of attracting and retaining quality faculty. Representative Butcher provided background information on loan forgiveness. Dr. Davis clarified issues around qualifications for faculty, including requirements for accreditation. Committee discussion continued on pursuit of a master's degree and increasing salary levels for nursing faculty.

11:51 AM -- Paula Stearns, representing the Colorado Nurses' Association, testified in support of the bill. She discussed various initiatives taking place to support and encourage the nursing sector.

11:57 AM

Representative Butcher and committee members made final comments on the bill.


BILL:	SB06-136
TIME:	11:58:08 AM
MOVED:	Merrifield
MOTION:	Refer SB06-136 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-1 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Todd
		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
Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:58 AM -- Senate Bill 06-130

Representative White reviewed the provisions of Senate Bill 06-130, concerning the restoration of funding for boards of cooperative services (BOCES). He discussed the background of BOCES and the provisions of the bill.

12:00 PM

The following persons testified:

12:00 PM -- Ed VanderTook, representing the Mountain BOCES and the Colorado BOCES Association, testified in favor of the bill. He walked the committee through the recent history of funding and statutory provisions for BOCES. He encouraged the committee to support the restoration of funding that the bill would provide.

12:02 PM -- Don Stratman, Executive Director, Colorado BOCES Association, testified in support of the bill. He indicated the resources that BOCES provide and stated that the restored funding would be an incentive for the BOCES to build capacity.

12:04 PM -- Floyd Beard, representing the East Central BOCES, testified in support of the bill. His BOCES is representative of 21 Colorado school districts. He told the committee about the services his BOCES is currently providing.

12:07 PM -- Phil Fox, Colorado Association of School Executives, and Tony Salazar, Colorado Education Association, came to the table together to testify in favor of the bill.


BILL:	SB06-130
TIME:	12:08:34 PM
MOVED:	White
MOTION:	Refer SB06-130 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on an 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Rose
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	King	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	Penry	Excused
	Pommer	Yes
	Rose	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	White	Yes
	Paccione	Excused
	Merrifield	Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:10 PM -- Senate Bill 06-065

Representative McKinley, prime sponsor, reviewed the provisions of Senate Bill 06-065, concerning the capital construction needs of Colorado public schools and discussed the background for bringing the bill.

12:10 PM

The following persons testified:

12:10 PM -- Janet Rose, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, testified in favor of the bill.

12:10 PM -- Mark Rodman, representing Colorado Preservation, Incorporated, testified in favor of the bill and discussed the importance of evaluating the state's facilities.

12:14 PM -- Mary Wickersham, representing the Donnell Kay Foundation, testified on the bill and described the codification the bill would make of some current practices through the Colorado Department of Education. She further described the need for establishment of school building standards.

12:18 PM

Ms. Wickersham responded to questions from committee members about the goals for a needs assessment. In addition, she responded to questions about the estimated fiscal impact of a needs assessment.

12:23 PM

The committee continued to discuss the cost of a needs assessment. Ms. Wickersham answered questions regarding the costs incurred when the Donnell Kay Foundation evaluated building facilities in eight school districts.

12:29 PM

Representative Penry discussed the state's obligations and priorities under the Giardino lawsuit settlement, and the potential impact of the bill.


BILL:	SB06-065
TIME:	12:34:38 PM
MOVED:	Rose
MOTION:	Moved to amend page 7, strike lines 19-27. Page 8, strike lines 1-14. The amendment was withdrawn.
SECONDED:	Penry
		VOTE
	Benefield
	King	Excused
	Larson	Excused
	Massey
	McKinley
	Penry	Excused
	Pommer
	Rose
	Solano	Excused
	Todd
	White
	Paccione
	Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 4 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:	SB06-065
TIME:	12:38:16 PM
MOVED:	Rose
MOTION:	Moved a conceptual amendment, page 7, line 22, to reflect a requirement for an update to, rather than a new statewide needs assessment at least once every five years. The amendment was withdrawn.
SECONDED:	Pommer
		VOTE
	Benefield
	King	Excused
	Larson	Excused
	Massey
	McKinley
	Penry
	Pommer
	Rose
	Solano
	Todd
	White
	Paccione
	Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 4 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:	SB06-065
TIME:	12:40:04 PM
MOVED:	McKinley
MOTION:	Refer SB06-065 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 9-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Paccione
		VOTE
	Benefield	Yes
	King	Excused
	Larson	Excused
	Massey	No
	McKinley	Yes
	Penry	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
	Rose	No
	Solano	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	White	Yes
	Paccione	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:41 PM

The committee adjourned.