NOTE: The governor signed this measure on 4/21/2016.
      
      
      HOUSE BILL 16-1198
      
      
      BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Pabon and Wilson, Arndt, Duran, Fields,
      Garnett, Hamner, Kraft-Tharp, Lee, Lontine, Melton, Mitsch Bush,
      Pettersen, Priola, Rosenthal, Ryden, Salazar, Singer, Tyler, Williams,
      Winter, Young, Hullinghorst;
      also SENATOR(S) Tate and Kerr, Carroll, Guzman, Heath, Jones, Kefalas,
      Newell, Todd, Ulibarri.
      
      
      Concerning computer science courses fulfilling certain
           graduation requirements.
       
      
      Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
      
           SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-32-133.5 as
      follows:
      
           22-32-133.5.  Computer science courses - legislative declaration.
      (1)  The general assembly finds that:
      
           (a)  Computer science and computer coding skills are widely
      recognized as valuable assets in the current and future job
      market;
      
           (b)  Students in Colorado would benefit from taking
      computer science and coding courses in high school;
      
           (c)  High school students who are exposed to computer
      science and coding courses in high school are more likely to take
      such courses in college;
      
           (d)  Many high school students are not taking computer
      science and coding courses because they are elective courses and
      do not count toward graduation requirements;
      
           (e)  According to the Code.org Advocacy Coalition, in
      states that count a computer science course as either a math or
      science credit toward graduation, the average class size is
      fifty-three percent bigger than in states where computer science
      is only an elective; and
      
           (f)  More high school students would take computer science
      and coding courses if they fulfilled a graduation requirement in
      mathematics or science.
      
           (2)  All school districts are encouraged to offer in every
      high school one or more courses in computer science and coding.
      
           (3)  All school districts are encouraged to and may elect
      to treat computer science and coding courses as a mathematics or
      science course and count completion of a computer science or
      coding course toward the fulfillment of any mathematics or
      science graduation requirement.
      
           SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1005, add (2.5)
      as follows:
      
           22-7-1005.  Preschool through elementary and secondary
      education - aligned standards - adoption - revisions. (2.5)  On or
      before July 1, 2018, the state board shall adopt standards that
      identify the knowledge and skills that a secondary student
      should acquire related to computer science, including computer
      code writing, in one or more courses that qualify as a graduation
      requirement in either mathematics or science. Local education
      providers may elect to implement the standards adopted
      pursuant to this subsection (2.5).
      
           SECTION 3.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
      takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
      ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
      10, 2016, if adjournment sine die is on May 11, 2016); except that, if a
      referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
      constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
      such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
      approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2016
      and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
      the vote thereon by the governor.
      
      
      
      
      ________________________________________________________
      Dickey Lee Hullinghorst                Bill L. Cadman
      SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                     PRESIDENT OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Marilyn Eddins                            Effie Ameen
      CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                 SECRETARY OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
                  APPROVED________________________________________
      
      
      
      
      
                                    _________________________________________
                                    John W. Hickenlooper
                                    GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO