Date: 04/13/2009

Final
SUMMARY for HJR09-1013

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved House Joint Resolution 09-1013 to the Commit
Moved to postpone indefinitely House Joint Resolut		FAIL
PASS



01:33 PM -- House Joint Resolution 09-1013


Representative Weissmann, sponsor of House Joint Resolution 09-1013, concerning the creation of an interim committee to consolidate the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado Department of Higher Education, presented the resolution to the committee. Representative Merrifield asked that David Skaggs, Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education (DHE), come to the table to answer questions from the committee.


01:35 PM

Representative Middleton asked Mr. Skaggs if other states have consolidated the two departments. Mr. Skaggs replied that he believes seven states have consolidated the departments.


01:37 PM

Representative Weissmann noted that Colorado has consolidated departments pertaining to health and human services in the past . Representative Massey asked if any of the states leading in education reform for the Race to the Top funds have consolidated departments. Mr. Skaggs replied that he was not sure if any of them did or not. Representative Merrifield asked Dr. Julie Carnahan, Dhief Academic Officer of the DHE, to come to the table to respond to the question. Dr. Carnahan replied that the seven states with consolidated departments are: Delaware, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, New York, and Florida. She further noted that five of them are smaller states, and that New York and Florida are not known for being leaders in education reform, with Florida currently looking to separate the two departments.


01:42 PM

Representative Benefield asked if the department could share the pluses and minuses of consolidating the two departments. Mr. Skaggs noted that the pluses have been realized through the implementation of Senate Bill 08-212 and the resulting strengthened relationship between the two departments. He noted that the consolidation presents political complications, including the need to run a constitutional amendment and how to alter the governance structure of the two systems. He stated that it would be a window dressing change rather than a substantive change.


01:45 PM

Representative Peniston asked Representative Weissmann about the number of interim committees that would be funded by the legislature. Representative Weissmann explained that there will be funding for three interim committees. Representative Middleton questioned the benefit of studying this issue because of the strength of the state's P-20 Council.


01:52 PM

Representative Weissmann noted that it has not always been the case that the two departments are collegial with each other. Representative Merrifield echoed the remarks of Representative Weissmann. Representative Middleton raised concern about the cost and time to the department staff who would be participating in the interim committee.


01:56 PM

Representative Benefield asked if the title of the resolution is broad enough to include a study of higher education governance. Representative Weissmann replied that it was.


01:57 PM

Representative Weissmann concluded his remarks on the resolution, and asked for the committee's support.


02:01 PM

Committee members shared their positions on the resolution.


BILL:1013
TIME: 02:04:03 PM
MOVED:Merrifield
MOTION:Moved House Joint Resolution 09-1013 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion failed on a 5-7-1 vote.
SECONDED:Solano
VOTE
Baumgardner
No
Benefield
Yes
Massey
No
Middleton
No
Murray
Yes
Peniston
No
Priola
Excused
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
No
Summers
No
Todd
No
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Not Final YES: 5 NO: 7 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:1013
TIME: 02:05:07 PM
MOVED:Solano
MOTION:Moved to postpone indefinitely House Joint Resolution 09-1013. The motion passed on a 6-4-3 vote.
SECONDED:Merrifield
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Benefield
No
Massey
Yes
Middleton
Yes
Murray
Excused
Peniston
Yes
Priola
Excused
Scanlan
No
Schafer S.
Excused
Summers
Yes
Todd
No
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
No
Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:06 PM

The committee adjourned.