Date: 04/15/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-257

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion
Refer Senate Bill 09-257, as amended, to the Commi
Pass Without Objection
PASS



10:43 AM -- Senate Bill 09-257

Senator Schwartz, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-257, presented her bill to the committee. The bill, which was recommended by the Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth, makes a number of changes to the "Building Excellent School Today Act" (BEST) to allow for more efficient implementation of the act. Senator Schwartz explained that the bill is a clean-up of the BEST legislation that was passed in the 2008 legislative session.


10:47 AM

Senator Schwartz responded to questions from the committee.


10:48 AM

The following person testified:


10:49 AM --
Mary Wickersham, representing the Office of the State Treasurer, testified in support of the bill. She provided a handout (Attachment A) containing an analysis of BEST certificates of participation (COPs). Ms. Wickersham spoke to an earlier question from Senator Hudak about the BEST Board. She responded to comments from Senator Romer about the savings that would be realized under the provisions of the bill. Ms. Wickersham and Senator Romer discussed charter school capital construction. Ms. Wickersham talked about the statewide needs assessment required under the BEST legislation. She explained what is being funded by grants approved in February by the BEST board. She said the board expects many charter school applications in the 2010 grant cycle.

090415AttachA.pdf


10:55 AM

Committee questions for the witness continued, with Ms. Wickersham responding to a question from Senator Hudak about the list of school capital needs that was under consideration prior to the passage of BEST. Ms. Wickersham described what would be funded under the upcoming COP in June and she talked about the jobs that would be created in new school construction. Senator Schwartz weighed in on Senator Hudak's question as well. Senator Hudak also asked for information about the condition of schools that are being replaced or repaired under BEST, which Ms. Wickersham provided. Senator Schwartz described schools she visited in the San Luis Valley, talking about fire safety and air quality issues.


11:02 AM

Ms. Wickersham explained amendment L.001 (Attachment B). She responded to committee questions about the amendment, providing clarification to Senator Hudak about the effect of the amendment. Senator Bacon commented on the issues raised in the amendment as well.

090415AttachB.pdf


BILL:SB09-257
TIME: 11:06:36 AM
MOVED:Heath
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Groff
Heath
Hudak
King K.
Scheffel
Spence
Romer
Bacon
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:SB09-257
TIME: 11:07:09 AM
MOVED:Heath
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 09-257, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on an 8-0 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Groff
Yes
Heath
Yes
Hudak
Yes
King K.
Yes
Scheffel
Yes
Spence
Yes
Romer
Yes
Bacon
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS