7441A9550AD30778872583BD0079428D Hearing Summary

The committee recessed.

The committee came back to order.

Representative Coleman presented House Bill 19-1187, concerning increasing student aid application completion rates. The bill requires that the General Assembly appropriate $250,000 per year in FY 2020-21 through FY 2022-23 for the State Board of Education to distribute to local education providers (LEP) that receive a school counselor corps grant. Representative Coleman distributed a letter in support from the Colorado School Counselor Association (Attachment J), information about the bill (Attachment K), and Amendment L.001 (Attachment L). Representative Coleman explained Amendment L.001 and answered committee questions.

The following people provided testimony:

Molly O'Connor, Students for Education Reform, testified in support of the bill.

Prateek Dutta, Education Reform Now, testified in support of the bill.

Charley Olena, New Era Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Stephanie Ricker, Colorado Department of Higher Education, testified in support of the bill.

The panel responded to questions from the committee.

Misti Ruthven, Colorado Department of Education, responded to committee questions, and the panel also continued to respond.

Representative Coleman discussed Amendment L.001 and answered committee questions.

Representative Coleman made concluding comments on the bill, and committee discussion ensued.