s_ed_2016a_2016-03-30t11:30:37z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 03/30/2016

11:31 AM -- SB16-148



Senator Marble, chair, welcomed the committee members and audience to the committee and explained the procedures for the meeting. Senator Hill, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 16-148 which concerns requiring students to correctly answer a portion of the civics questions on the United States Naturalization Test as part of the existing state requirement for high school students to satisfactorily complete a course on civil government before graduating from high school. He distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment A) and explained the need for and purpose of the bill.



16SenateEd0330AttachA.pdf



The following people testified on the bill:



11:41 AM -- Lucian Spataro, representing the Joe Foss Institute, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Spataro answered questions from the committee.



12:06 PM -- Matt Albright, representing the Center for American Values, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Albright read a letter of support from Drew Dix, Congressional Medal of Honor winner, into the record. Mr. Albright answered questions from the committee.



12:12 PM -- Ross Izard, representing the Independence Institute, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Izard responded to questions from the committee.



12:18 PM -- Ryan Kelly, representing the Civics Education Initiative, testified in support of the bill. He read a letter from former U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley into the record. Mr. Kelly answered questions from the committee.



12:28 PM -- Cathy Kipp, representing the Poudre School District Board of Education, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Kipp answered questions from the committee.



12:34 PM -- Peggy Altoff, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Altoff answered questions from the committee.



12:40 PM -- Michael Mazenko, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Mazenko answered questions from the committee.



12:49 PM -- Kent Willman, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Willman answered questions from the committee.



12:55 PM -- Chris Elnicki, representing the Colorado Council for Social Studies, the Colorado Council for Economics Education, and the Colorado We the People Program, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Elnicki answered questions from the committee.



01:07 PM -- Bill Fulton, representing the Civic Canopy and Colorado Civic Health Network, spoke about the bill. He stated that the organization holds a neutral position on the bill.



01:14 PM -- Jane Urschel, representing the Colorado Association of School Boards, testified in opposition to the bill.



01:18 PM -- Tracey Johnson, representing the Academy School District 20 Board of Education, testified in opposition to the bill.



01:23 PM -- Kerrie Dallman, representing the Colorado Education Association and Colorado Association of School Executives, testified in opposition to the bill.





01:26 PM



There were no more witnesses and Senator Marble closed public testimony. She laid the bill over until March 31st at 1:30 pm. The committee adjourned.