Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:04/22/2009
ATTENDANCE
Time:09:46 AM to 11:28 AM
Groff
X
Heath
X
Place:SCR 354
Hudak
X
King K.
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Scheffel
*
Senator Bacon
Spence
X
Romer
X
This Report was prepared by
Bacon
X
Jennifer Thomsen
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB09-1290
HB09-1319
SB09-291		Referred to Appropriations
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


09:46 AM -- House Bill 09-1290

Senator Harvey, sponsor of House Bill 09-1290, presented his bill. The bill increases by $150,000 the maximum amount of money that the Colorado Commission on Higher Education can allocate for the purpose of providing tuition assistance to members of the National Guard.

09:47 AM

The following persons testified:

09:47 AM -- Walter Paul, representing the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), testified in support of the bill. He explained that the DMVA, which administers the Colorado National Guard Tuition Fund, has exhausted the fund.

09:50 AM -- Toni Larson, representing Independent Higher Education, testified in opposition to the bill. She expressed concern about the source of the money for the bill, saying it will mean less money is available for need-based financial aid.

09:52 AM -- David Skaggs, Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education (DHE), testified on the bill. He said the DHE and the administration support the bill. Senator Bacon asked Director Skaggs to comment on Ms. Larson's testimony. Director Skaggs also responded to a question from Senator Hudak about the impact of the bill. Senator Romer made comments about the Colorado paradox and asked Director Skaggs to respond. Committee discussion around these issues with Director Skaggs ensued.


09:59 AM

Committee discussion with Director Skaggs continued, with comments from Senator Heath about the challenges in trying to balance aid for all students who need help. Senator Harvey responded to the committee's discussion, talking about the sacrifices of National Guard members. He said many people who join the National Guard do so in order to get tuition assistance to attend school. Senator Romer asked if another funding source can be found for the bill. Director Skaggs responded to Senator Romer's comments, saying the bill went through the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) budgeting process. He suggested some other funding sources.

10:04 AM

In response to a question from Senator Heath, Director Skaggs explained how the $150,000 figure was arrived at. Senator Romer suggested laying the bill over until an alternate funding source can be found. Senator Harvey asked that the bill move forward. He said the Governor's Office has already allocated the resources for the bill. Senator Hudak made comments to the bill and to the sacrifices made by members of the National Guard. The committee discussed the overlap between National Guard members and students eligible for need-based aid.

10:10 AM

Committee members expressed their views on the bill. Mr. Paul returned to the table to talk about eligibility for the Colorado National Guard Tuition Fund.
BILL:HB09-1290
TIME: 10:13:32 AM
MOVED:King K.
MOTION:Refer House Bill 09-1290 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

10:15 AM -- House Bill 09-1319

Senator Williams, sponsor of House Bill 09-1319, presented her bill. The bill concerns concurrent enrollment of public high school students in courses offered by institutions of higher education.


10:24 AM

Senator Heath commented on Senate Bill 09-285, which he said is a companion to House Bill 09-1319. Senator Romer expressed concern that the focus would be shifted away from at-risk students. He said he would offer an amendment extending the program to a sixth year for students that qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch.

10:28 AM

The following persons testified:

10:28 AM -- Matt Gianneschi, representing the Governor's Office, testified in support of the bill. He explained that the bill is the result of a recommendation of the Governor's P-20 Council. He talked about the three postsecondary enrollment paths currently in statute: High School Fast Track program; Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act; and the Fast College Fast Jobs Act. Dr. Gianneschi spoke to earlier committee questions about access and the financial impact on school districts. He explained how the tuition rates are capped.

10:33 AM

Dr. Gianneschi responded to committee questions, including a question from Senator King about how early colleges fit into the bill. He also responded to a question from Senator Hudak about the impact of the repeal of the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act. Dr. Gianneschi talked about how contract courses would be impacted by the bill.

10:40 AM -- Bruce Caughey, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), and Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Caughey provided the perspective of a rural school superintendent, who feels concurrent enrollment is an important tool for rural high schools. Mr. Caughey expressed a concern about the advisory board created in the bill, saying it is important to have K-12 representation on the board. Dr. Urschel said the bill is one of CASB's highest priorities in the current legislative session. She said Senate Bill 09-285 is an important piece of the concept. Dr. Urschel echoed Mr. Caughey's concerns about the make-up of the advisory committee.

The witnesses responded to committee comments and questions.

10:46 AM -- David Skaggs, Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education (DHE), and Julie Carnahan, Chief Academic Officer at DHE, testified in support of the bill. Director Skaggs provided two handouts: a time line for implementation of Senate Bill 08-212 and a memorandum describing the department's support of the bill as well as its concerns (Attachments A and B). He spoke to earlier committee questions around the make-up of the advisory board. He described a proposed amendment, L.026, which addresses the concurrent enrollment interdepartmental working group. He responded to committee questions about the amendment.

090422AttachA.pdf090422AttachB.pdf

10:54 AM

Dr. Carnahan spoke to the questions related to the amendment. She talked about the committees that would be involved with the concurrent enrollment program created in the bill. Discussion between Senator King and Dr. Carnahan about the amendment ensued. Senator Heath commented on the amendment as well, expressing concerns about it.




10:58 AM -- Linda Bowman, representing the Community College System, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Bowman described the parties involved in the creation of the program set forth in the bill and talked about their work. She talked about the advisory board established in the bill. Dr. Bowman responded to committee questions, including one from Senator Spence about the proposed amendment L.026.

11:02 AM -- Frank Waterous, representing the Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout containing his testimony (Attachment D). Dr. Waterous talked about what the Bell Policy Center sees as the most critical elements of the bill: expansion of the mission of concurrent enrollment to serve a wider range of students; focus on student success and readiness; and establishment of an understandable, predictable, and consistent funding process.

11:05 AM -- Elisa and Tania Diaz, representing Metro Organization for People (MOP), testified in support of the bill. They talked about why MOP supports concurrent enrollment.

11:07 AM -- Scott Groginsky, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill. He said the bill exemplifies the P-20 concept. Mr. Groginsky talked about the work of the Children's Campaign around concurrent enrollment. He said the bill expands access and affirms funding streams that promote equal access. Mr. Groginsky responded to a question from Senator Romer about the documentation status of students participating in the concurrent enrollment program.
BILL:HB09-1319
TIME: 11:12:35 AM
MOVED:Romer
MOTION:Moved a conceptual amendment that would provide that if student is free or reduced-price lunch eligible, and is within 15 credits of an associate's degree at the end of his or her fifth year in high school, the student can get a waiver in order to remain in the program for one additional semester. Senator Bacon announced that the bill would be laid over until Thursday, April 23, at which time the amendment would be considered.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Groff
Heath
Hudak
King K.
Scheffel
Spence
Romer
Bacon
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE

11:17 AM -- Senate Bill 09-291

Senator Bacon, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-291, presented the bill. The bill concerns the state share of district total program for school districts that have obtained voter approval to be exempt from the constitutional revenue limit but then obtain voter approval to again be subject to the limit.


11:19 AM

Senator Bacon responded to committee questions and comments. Senator King expressed a number of concerns about the bill and asked Senator Bacon to talk about how the bill might impact the provision of a "thorough and uniform" education as required by the state constitution. Senator Romer also responded to Senator King's question, saying voters will know prior to casting their vote that the state will not backfill lost local funding. Discussion between Senator King and Senator Bacon on constitutional issues ensued.
BILL:SB09-291
TIME: 11:26:35 AM
MOVED:Bacon
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 09-291 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 5-3 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Groff
Yes
Heath
Yes
Hudak
Yes
King K.
No
Scheffel
No
Spence
No
Romer
Yes
Bacon
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:28 PM

The committee adjourned.