Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-230

Date: 02/26/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-230

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment D). The motion Moved to amend the bill, page 4, line 2, after "sc Refer Senate Bill 09-230, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection TIE PASS

03:19 PM -- Senate Bill 09-230

Senator Spence, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-230 with President Groff, presented the bill to the committee. The bill allows charter schools to offer meals to students by allowing them to become school food authorities or contract with a school food authority. Senator Spence said a "school food authority" is defined in amendment L.001. She said the bill will allow charter schools that are designated as school food authorities, or who contract with a school food authority, to participate in the federal School Lunch Program.

03:26 PM

Senator Spence responded to committee questions.

03:33 PM

Committee discussion of the bill continued, with further questions for Senator Spence.

03:35 PM

Vody Herrmann, Colorado Department of Education (CDE), came to the table to speak to the bill. Ms. Herrmann explained that the intent of the bill is to provide options to charter schools in providing meals, and to give school districts first right of refusal in providing food service.

Ms. Herrmann responded to committee questions. She said the bill provides a one-year start-up, and through rules of the State Board of Education, CDE would identify a few charter schools who could manage school food authorities. She said there is federal money for one FTE for the start-up year, if the program expands in future years, another FTE would be needed.

03:42 PM

Senator Spence asked Ms. Herrmann to speak to the issue of identifying students who are eligible for free and reduced price lunch in charter schools. Committee discussion on this issue ensued.

03:45 PM

The following persons testified:

03:45 PM -- Christina Burton, representing Global Village Academy in the Aurora Public Schools, testified in support of the bill. She provided information about her school, and said it is unable to provide meals because the district requires a full-service kitchen, which the school does not have. She said many states are making charter schools school food authorities. Ms. Burton said the school currently has no options for providing food for her students, and the bill will provide options.

03:49 PM -- Randy DeHoff, representing the Charter School Institute, testified in support of the bill. He described the genesis of the bill. Mr. DeHoff said the bill allows charter schools to approach school districts about food, and if an agreement cannot be reached, it allows the charter school other options. He said charters are in a catch-22 situation in that they want to serve more at-risk students, but cannot feed those students lunch.

Mr. DeHoff responded to committee questions.

03:54 PM -- Scott Groginsky, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Groginsky said the Children's Campaign has participated in policy-making proposals for charter school meals, and described that work. He said the bill is consistent with work on the issue in other states.

03:57 PM

The committee discussed an amendment proposed by Senator Heath (see vote sheet below).

Richard Sweetman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, came to the table to speak to the amendment. Mr. Sweetman explained that the bill gives the district the choice to do (a) or (b), and the proposed amendment changes the meaning of that provision. The committee discussion continued. Mr. Sweetman said he could draft an amendment for second reading to address Senator Heath's issue.


BILL:	SB09-230
TIME:	04:10:08 PM
MOVED:	Heath
MOTION:	Moved to amend the bill, page 4, line 2, after "school", insert "or those mutually agreed upon". The amendment was WITHDRAWN.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff
	Heath
	Hudak
	King K.
	Scheffel
	Spence
	Romer
	Bacon

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:	SB09-230
TIME:	04:11:49 PM
MOVED:	Groff
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment D). 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:	SB09-230
TIME:	04:12:41 PM
MOVED:	Groff
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-230, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. 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