Date: 02/10/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-155

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENERGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt Amendment L.002 (Attachment D). The motion
Adopt Amendment L.003 (Attachment F). The motion
Adopt Amendment L.007 (Attachment E). The motion
Postpone Senate Bill 09-155 indefinitely. The mot
Refer Senate Bill 09-155 to the Committee of the W		FAIL
PASS
PASS
PASS
FAIL



03:07 PM -- Senate Bill 09-155

Senator Keith King, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-155, which authorizes metropolitan districts to finance the design, construction, equipment, and maintenance of new school buildings within its boundaries. According to the bill, these schools can be operated as a charter school by a public or private entity. A metropolitan district that chooses to build a school must consult with the school district board of education concerning the school's proposed location. Senator King made introductory remarks about the bill. He distributed and spoke to amendments L.002 and L.007 (Attachment D and E, respectively). Senator King addressed questions from the committee.

09SenateLoc0210AttachD.pdf 09SenateLoc0210AttachE.pdf

The following people testified on the bill:

03:22 PM -- Ms. Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, spoke in opposition to the bill. Ms. Urschel said it is not a good time to build new schools in the current economic climate. Discussion ensued about the impact of potential amendments. Discussion continued about charter schools and the authority of school districts in regards to charter schools.

03:32 PM -- Mr. John Barry and Mr. Jim Bittle, representing Aurora Public Schools, spoke in opposition to the bill. Mr. Barry told the committee that there will be continued and significant growth in Aurora school districts. He explained that the bill would effectively split Aurora into two districts: a district of haves and have nots.

03:38 PM -- Ms. Mary Wickersham, representing the State Treasurer's Office, spoke to Amendment L.007 and Section 8 of the introduced bill, both of which concern the Charter School Debt Service Reserve Fund. Ms. Wickersham addressed questions about bonding limits for public school districts.

03:46 PM -- Mr. Bruce Caughey, representing the Colorado Association of School Executives, spoke in opposition to the bill. Mr. Caughey said having many different entities involved in K-12 building construction decisions is difficult.

03:49 PM -- Ms. JoAnn Soker, representing the Colorado Education and Cultural Facilities Authority, spoke in opposition to Section 9 of the bill, which concerns the acquisition of property by an educational or cultural institution. Ms. Soker spoke in support of Amendment L.007.

03:51 PM -- Mr. Evan Goulding, representing the Special District Association of Colorado, spoke about the bill. Mr. Goulding explained how the bill expands the authority of special districts in the state.

03:53 PM -- Mr. Larry Hudson, representing the Colorado League of Charter Schools, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Hudson spoke to Sections 5, 7, 8, and 9. He explained that these sections are critical tools for charter schools. He noted that the critical need for charter schools is access to funds for capital projects.


03:57 PM

Senator King made some concluding remarks about the bill and distributed and spoke to Amendment L.003 (Attachment F).

09SenateLoc0210AttachF.pdf
BILL:SB09-155
TIME: 03:58:32 PM
MOVED:Cadman
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 09-155 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. The motion failed on a vote of 3-4.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Hodge
No
Kester
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Newell
No
Foster
No
Schwartz
No
Not Final YES: 3 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

Prior to vote, Senator King made some concluding remarks about the bill and Amendments L.002 and L007.
BILL:SB09-155
TIME: 04:08:25 PM
MOVED:Foster
MOTION:Postpone Senate Bill 09-155 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 5-2-0.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
No
Hodge
Yes
Kester
Yes
Lundberg
No
Newell
Yes
Foster
Yes
Schwartz
Yes
Final YES: 5 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
BILL:SB09-155
TIME: 04:06:01 PM
MOVED:Cadman
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.007 (Attachment E). The motion passed on a vote of 4-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Hodge
Yes
Kester
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Newell
No
Foster
No
Schwartz
No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Prior to the vote, Senator King briefly explained Amendment L.007.
BILL:SB09-155
TIME: 04:00:39 PM
MOVED:Lundberg
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.003 (Attachment F). The motion passed on a vote of 6-1.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Hodge
Yes
Kester
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Newell
Yes
Foster
No
Schwartz
Yes
Not Final YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

Prior to the vote, Senator Foster expressed some concerns with the bill. Senator King spoke to Amendment L.003. Ms. Urschel returned to the table and said she still opposes the bill, even with Amendment L.003.
BILL:SB09-155
TIME: 03:58:50 PM
MOVED:Cadman
MOTION:Adopt Amendment L.002 (Attachment D). The motion failed on a vote of 3-4.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Yes
Hodge
No
Kester
Yes
Lundberg
Yes
Newell
No
Foster
No
Schwartz
No
Not Final YES: 3 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

Prior to the vote, Senator King suggested other potential amendments.


04:09 PM

The committee recessed.