Date: 02/19/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1270

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment H), amended (see
Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment I). The motion
Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment J). The motion
Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment K). The motion
Moved to postpone House Bill 09-1270 indefinitely.
FAIL
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
Pass Without Objection
PASS



03:19 PM -- House Bill 09-1270

Representative Waller, sponsor of House Bill 09-1270, concerning postsecondary enrollment options (PSEO) for private home school students, presented his bill to the committee and discussed the amendment that strikes everything below the enacting clause (SEBEC). Representative Merrifield asked where the funding from the bill would come from. Representative Waller explained that it would be through the Colorado Department of Education.


03:24 PM

Representative Benefield asked how the strike below changes the original bill. Representative Waller explained that the bill gives private and home schooled kids the same opportunities as public school children. He noted that under current law, the student must enroll in the high school for the sole purpose of registering in the postsecondary enrollment options program.


03:30 PM

The following people testified on the bill:


03:30 PM --
Lyndon Burnett, representing CASB, testified against the bill, and presented the organization's concerns on the bill.


03:33 PM

Representative Merrifield read a letter from Adams 12 Five Star School District, in opposition to the bill.


03:34 PM --
Afton Paris, representing herself as a home-schooled high school student, testified in support of the bill, discussing the savings she believed would be realized with the passage of the bill.


03:38 PM --
Josh Dasher, representing himself as a high school student, testified in support of the bill and shared his experience in trying to participate in the postsecondary enrollment options, and discussed the benefits of the bill to the state higher education system.


03:41 PM

Representative Todd asked Mr. Dasher if he is enrolled in classes at the charter school. Representative Scanlan asked how many credit hours he was enrolled in.


03:42 PM --
Cosette Davis, representing herself, testified in support of the bill because it addresses three specific needs: access to college, savings to the state, and the value of a college education.


03:44 PM

Representative Scanlan asked about the cost savings that the students have mentioned. Representative Waller responded that students would be allowed to take six credit hours per semester of concurrent enrollment paid for by the state. Representative Scanlan asked if that would be a less attractive option for the students who have testified. Committee discussion ensued about the potential cost savings in the bill. Representative Solano asked who is teaching the students.


03:50 PM --
Andrew Edwards, representing Evangelical Christian Academy, testified in support of the bill.


03:51 PM

Representative Merrifield asked Mr. Edwards about his position on the separation between private, religious schools and public funds. Representative Waller explained that the funds would be used to pay for college credits. Representative Peniston noted that the definition includes non-public higher education institutions.


03:54 PM --
Kristopher Austin Garcia-Poskey, representing himself, testified in support of the bill, and stressed the importance of home schoolers receiving equal support as their public school counterparts.


03:58 PM

Representative Middleton stated that there are flaws with the current PSEO program, and there are legislative proposals to fix the program. She asked if the home schooled students have attempted to establish Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the community colleges instead of legislation. Representative Waller explained that the legislation does not address changing the postsecondary enrollment program, rather the goal is to provide equal access to all students.


04:02 PM --
Suzanne Jackson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill, and shared her experience as a home school parent and as the proprietor of homeschoolcollegehelp.com.


04:08 PM --
Jade Panaman, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and shared her experience as a homeschooled student.


04:12 PM --
Brian Newberg, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.


04:13 PM --
Donna Lorrig, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.


BILL:HB09-1270
TIME: 04:18:52 PM
MOVED:Baumgardner
MOTION:Moved amendment L.001 (Attachment H), amended (see vote sheets below). The motion failed on a 4-9 vote.
SECONDED:Massey
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Benefield
No
Massey
No
Middleton
No
Murray
Yes
Peniston
No
Priola
Yes
Scanlan
No
Schafer S.
No
Summers
Yes
Todd
No
Solano
No
Merrifield
No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 9 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

090219AttachH.pdf

BILL:HB09-1270
TIME: 04:20:10 PM
MOVED:Murray
MOTION:Moved amendment L.002 (Attachment I). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Baumgardner
VOTE
Baumgardner
Benefield
Massey
Middleton
Murray
Peniston
Priola
Scanlan
Schafer S.
Summers
Todd
Solano
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


090219AttachI.pdf
BILL:HB09-1270
TIME: 04:21:23 PM
MOVED:Summers
MOTION:Moved amendment L.003 (Attachment J). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Baumgardner
VOTE
Baumgardner
Benefield
Massey
Middleton
Murray
Peniston
Priola
Scanlan
Schafer S.
Summers
Todd
Solano
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


090219AttachJ.pdf
BILL:HB09-1270
TIME: 04:22:01 PM
MOVED:Summers
MOTION:Moved amendment L.004 (Attachment K). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Priola
VOTE
Baumgardner
Benefield
Massey
Middleton
Murray
Peniston
Priola
Scanlan
Schafer S.
Summers
Todd
Solano
Merrifield
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

090219AttachK.pdf

BILL:HB09-1270
TIME: 04:46:39 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved to postpone House Bill 09-1270 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 8-5 vote.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Baumgardner
No
Benefield
Yes
Massey
No
Middleton
Yes
Murray
No
Peniston
Yes
Priola
No
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Summers
No
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 8 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




04:47 PM

The committee adjourned.