Bill Summary for Bill Number HB12-1218

Date: 02/20/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB12-1218

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt prepared Amendment L.003, severed section A Adopt prepared Amendment L.003, severed section B Refer House Bill 12-1218, as amended, to the Commi	FAIL Pass Without Objection PASS

01:33 PM -- House Bill 12-1218

Representative Massey, Chair, made opening remarks and announced that House Bill 12-1225, which appears on the day's agenda, was laid over. He invited Representative Peniston to the table to present her bill.

Representative Peniston, sponsor of House Bill 12-1218, presented the bill. The bill continues the Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission through July 1, 2017, and allows for members of the commission to receive per diem and reimbursement of expenses. The bill requires that Legislative Council Staff and the Office of Legislative Legal Services assist the commission in its duties. The commission is to meet at least four times per year. Previously, the commission operated without staff support from the legislative services agencies, and members have served without compensation or reimbursement. Under current law, the commission is scheduled to expire on July 1, 2012.

Representative Massey commented that he is thrilled to see this bill come forward, and that it will provide more legislative oversight to early childhood issues. He added that the commission has been previously staffed by personnel from the Colorado Children's Campaign. Representative Todd commented that the commission has the potential to be one of the most important interim committees out there. Representative Joshi asked who would take over the work of the commission if it is not extended. Representative Peniston stated that she does not know who would do the work and that is why we need this bill. Representative Summers asked clarifying questions about the commission's work.

The following persons testified:

01:47 PM -- Mark Neuman-Lee, Government Affairs Director, Colorado Children's Campaign, expressed support for the bill. Mr. Neuman-Lee stated that he is also authorized to express support for the bill on behalf of the Junior League of Denver and Qualistar. Mr. Neuman-Lee discussed the importance of investing in early childhood education and services. He added that it is critical that the commission continue its work.

Representative Massey asked Mr. Neuman-Lee to express his thanks to the board of directors at Colorado Children's Campaign for providing support and staff to the commission.

01:49 PM -- Bruce Atchison, representing himself, expressed support for the bill. He distributed two handouts to the members of the committee (Attachments A and B). Mr. Atchison gave background of his work in early childhood issues. He described his most recent work touring the state to find out from over 450 superintendents, university presidents, business leaders, and early childhood councils what is working and what is not working in the area of early childhood education and services. He referred the committee to the handout (Attachment A). He stated that all of the groups represented on the wheel have some stake in early childhood issues. Mr. Atchison referred the committee to his second handout (Attachment B) and stated that the sheet provides the top recommendations for improving early learning in Colorado; things he learned while touring the state. He added that there are all kinds of early childhood issues that the commission can take up.

Mr. Atchison responded to questions from the committee.

The committee was provided a handout from the Junior League of Denver (Attachment C), expressing support for the bill.

02:05 PM

Representative Summers moved Amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion was seconded by Representative Ramirez. Representative Summers explained the amendment, which requires that the four legislative members who serve on the Early Childhood Leadership Commission also serve as members of the Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission. Committee discussion surrounding the amendment ensued.

02:12 PM

Representative Summers stated that he did not realize that the Early Childhood Leadership Commission is slated to expire in July 2013. Representative Summers withdrew his motion to adopt Amendment L.001 (Attachment D), and Representative Ramirez withdrew his second of the motion.

02:16 PM

Representative Summers moved Amendment L.003 (Attachment E). He explained the amendment, stating that it recognizes parent involvement as the first step in dealing with early learning issues.

Representative Massey asked clarifying questions concerning the definition of early childhood that is currently in statute. Julie Pelegrin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to respond.

Representative Peniston requested that Amendment L.003 (Attachment E) be severed. Representative Massey severed the amendment as follows: line 1 is Amendment L.003 severed section A; and lines 2 through 5 make up Amendment L.003 severed section B.


BILL:	HB12-1218
TIME:	02:16:14 PM
MOVED:	Summers
MOTION:	Adopt prepared Amendment L.003, severed section A (Attachment E). The motion failed on a vote of 6-7.
SECONDED:	Beezley
		VOTE
	Hamner	No
	Holbert	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kerr A.	No
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	No
	Ramirez	Yes
	Schafer S.	No
	Solano	No
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	No
	Beezley	Yes
	Massey	No

YES: 6 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	HB12-1218
TIME:	02:24:32 PM
MOVED:	Summers
MOTION:	Adopt prepared Amendment L.003, severed section B (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Beezley
		VOTE
	Hamner
	Holbert
	Joshi
	Kerr A.
	Murray
	Peniston
	Ramirez
	Schafer S.
	Solano
	Summers
	Todd
	Beezley
	Massey

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	HB12-1218
TIME:	02:25:24 PM
MOVED:	Peniston
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 12-1218, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 8-5.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	No
	Joshi	No
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Ramirez	No
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Summers	No
	Todd	Yes
	Beezley	No
	Massey	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

02:28 PM

Representative Massey made closing remarks and the committee adjourned.