House Committee on Education (03/02/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	03/02/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	02:38 PM to 03:29 PM	Baumgardner	E
		Benefield	E*
Place:	HCR 0112	Massey	X
		Middleton	E*
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	X
	Representative Merrifield	Peniston	X
		Priola	X
This Report was prepared by		Scanlan	E*
	Katey McGettrick	Schafer S.	X
		Summers	X
		Todd	E*
		Solano	E*
		Merrifield	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB09-1290 SB09-033		Referred to Appropriations Referred to the Committee of the Whole

02:38 PM -- Call to Order

Representative Merrifield, the chair, called the committee to order and explained that House Bill 09-1250 would be laid over until Monday, March 9.

02:39 PM -- House Bill 09-1290

Representative Nikkel, sponsor of House Bill 09-1290, concerning tuition assistance for Colorado National Guard members, presented her bill to the committee. She explained why the bill was needed and provided information on the Colorado National Guard. She shared a letter of support from the Department of Higher Education (Attachment A).

02:44 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

02:44 PM -- Toni Larsen, representing Independent Higher Education, testified against the bill and shared a position paper with the committee (Attachment B). She explained that the association opposes the bill because it takes funding away from need-based student financial aid. She also discussed other financial aid initiatives that are currently providing assistance to National Guard members.

02:48 PM

Representative Peniston asked Ms. Larsen if national guard members can receive financial aid assistance through the current need-based financial aid assistance. Ms. Larsen explained that if a student displays need, a student would get some type of financial assistance. Representative Summers asked how the legislation would work with other National Guard tuition assistance programs. Ms. Larsen explained that she believes a national guard member would have to exhaust other funding programs before tapping this program.

02:50 PM -- Anna Davis, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and shared her experience as a senior master sergeant of the Colorado Air National Guard and as a single mother raising children who have also joined the Air National Guard and would like to attend college.

02:53 PM -- Michael Lockette, representing himself, testified for the bill and shared his experience as a member of the Colorado Air National Guard and as the father of a child who has joined the Colorado Air National Guard.

02:57 PM -- Walter Paul and Allison Gard, representing the Colorado Department of Veteran and Military Affairs (DVMA), testified in support of the bill, and shared a handout with committee members (Attachment C). Mr. Paul explained that the program is the only state program that provides assistance to Colorado National Guard. He noted that the tuition assistance is only for students who attend public institutions, except for homeland security programs at a private institutions.

03:03 PM

Representative Merrifield asked if the program is need-based. Mr. Paul responded that it is not. Representative Summers asked if National Guard members are required to apply for other assistance in order to get state money. Mr. Paul replied that it is a requirement. Mr. Paul further noted that the new federal GI bill is still being implemented, and that the current federal program gives money directly to the soldier, while the state program pays for the schooling directly. Representative Middleton asked if a FAFSA is required as part of the application process. Ms. Gard explained that it is not required. Representative Middleton asked what other states provide to National Guard. Mr. Paul enumerated some of the benefits provided in other states such as free specialized license plates and park passes, and noted that there is an almanac that details each state's benefits.

03:08 PM

Representative Solano asked Representative Nikkel about the growth in the National Guard, and how she arrived at increasing the funding by $150,000. Mr. Paul replied that there has been a seven percent increase in demand for tuition assistance over the past five years because the cost of tuition has risen. He further noted that the National Guard is growing, and that there is a authorization to establish a new unit which will have 800 guardsmen.

03:11 PM

Representative Nikkel concluded her remarks and asked for the committee's support of the bill. Representative Benefield expressed her opposition of the bill because of the current state of the state's higher education budget. Representative Schafer expressed her support of the bill. Representative Merrifield stated that he believes there is need for both national guard and low-income students.


BILL:	HB09-1290
TIME:	03:14:10 PM
MOVED:	Murray
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 09-1290 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 8-4-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Priola
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	Excused
	Benefield	No
	Massey	Yes
	Middleton	No
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	No
	Priola	Yes
	Scanlan	No
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:15 PM -- Senate Bill 09-033

Representative Solano, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-033, concerning free lunch for preschool children, presented her bill to the committee, and explained the bill expands free lunch to children enrolled in state-subsidized preschool offered by public schools. She also shared a handout with the committee (Attachment D). Representative Massey asked if this could strain school district budgets in order to cover the cost of these students when state funds run out. Representative Solano explained that it could, but currently there are only 43 children that are in full-day preschool receiving reduced lunches. Representative Benefield asked if these children are primarily in the metro area. Representative Solano replied that she did not know for sure, but believes that there will be sufficient funding to cover the 43 children. Representative Summers concurred that it is unlikely that the money will run out. Representative Benefield asked if this could bring in more federal dollars. Representative Solano explained that it could, but that she could not say for sure.

03:22 PM

The following people testified on the bill:

03:22 PM -- Theresa Hafner, representing the Colorado School Nutrition Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hafner explained that hunger reduces a children's ability to learn. She also noted that in her school district participation in the reduced lunch program drops off.

03:25 PM -- Jon-Paul Bianchi, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bianchi noted that the bill does not require thst school districts provide the extra lunch assistance if their budget does not allow them to cover the cost.


BILL:	SB09-033
TIME:	03:27:49 PM
MOVED:	Solano
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-033 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 12-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Baumgardner	Excused
	Benefield	Yes
	Massey	Yes
	Middleton	Yes
	Murray	Yes
	Peniston	Yes
	Priola	Yes
	Scanlan	Yes
	Schafer S.	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Merrifield	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

03:28 PM

The committee adjourned.