Date: 02/16/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1264

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 09-1264 to the CommitteePASS



01:50 PM -- House Bill 09-1264

Representative Benefield, sponsor of House Bill 09-1264, concerning higher education costs for state inmates, presented her bill to the committee.


01:52 PM

The following people testified on the bill:


01:52 PM --
Doug Wilson, representing the State Public Defender and the Colorado Juvenile Justice Commission, testified in support of the bill.


01:54 PM

Representative Solano asked if the bill applies to vocational and technical education, in addition to college-level coursework. Mr. Wilson deferred to Mr. Zavaras of the Department of Corrections to answer the question. Representative Benefield replied that currently, criminal offenders cannot apply for federal or private funding to pay for college coursework. Representative Solano asked if that means there is also money for vocational and technical education. Representative Benefield explained that is does.


01:57 PM --
John Karakoulakis, representing the Department of Higher Education, testified in support of the bill because the department believes providing inmates access to education reduces recidivism.


01:57 PM --
Ari Zavaras, representing the Department of Corrections, testified in support of the bill. He explained that the department is the second largest producer of GED certificates in the state.


01:59 PM

Representative Massey asked about the success of the faith-based programs and whether there would be financial assistance from those programs for education. Mr. Zavaras replied that he was not aware of funding from those groups, and that the faith-based programs are provided on a volunteer basis, but have been very effective. Representative Peniston asked how programs are currently paid for. Mr. Zavaras explained that on an individual basis, inmates have been able to afford education program, if they had personal or family finances available to them. Representative Schafer asked what would happen if a foundation decided it did not want the funding to go to inmates. Mr. Karakoulakis explained that would be the prerogative of the foundation. Representative Todd commented that providing this opportunity to inmates is important because they will eventually be out in the community. Mr. Zavaras replied that it is matter of public safety.


BILL:HB09-1264
TIME: 02:04:17 PM
MOVED:Benefield
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 09-1264 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 13-0 vote.
SECONDED:Todd
VOTE
Baumgardner
Yes
Benefield
Yes
Massey
Yes
Middleton
Yes
Murray
Yes
Peniston
Yes
Priola
Yes
Scanlan
Yes
Schafer S.
Yes
Summers
Yes
Todd
Yes
Solano
Yes
Merrifield
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS