H_ED_2017A 02/06/2017 01:30 PM Committee Summary

01:32 PM -- HB17-1131



Representative Kraft Tharp and Representative Saine presented and summarized House Bill 17-1131. Under current law, the college opportunity fund program (COF) is administered by the Colorado student loan program (College Assist). This bill, recommended by the Legislative Audit Committee, allows College Assist to contract with the Department of Higher Education (DHE) or another state entity to administer the COF, on or after July 1, 2015. Representative Saine distributed a handout (Attachment A).



17HouseEd0206AttachA.pdf



01:34 PM -- Kachina Weaver, Colorado Department of Higher Education, spoke in favor of the bill.

01:40 PM -- HB17-1041



Representative Covarrubias presented and summarized House Bill 17-1041 concerning measures to inform students of education opportunities leading to jobs. He distributed and summarized amendment L.001 (Attachment B).



17HouseEd0206AttachB.pdf



The members discussed the amendment.



Representative Covarrubias answered questions from the committee regarding job opportunity programs currently offered by the state.

01:54 PM



The committee recessed.





01:59 PM



The committee came back to order.





01:59 PM -- HB17-1001



Representative Buckner presented and summarized House Bill 17-1001 concerning the ability of an employee of an employer who employs at least fifty employees to take up to eighteen hours of leave from work for purposes of attending his or her child's academic activities.



Representative Buckner answered questions from the committee regarding the sunset of previous law regarding employee leave for parents. She also discussed changes in technology and parental participation.























02:09 PM



Representative Buckner answered questions regarding negative impacts to businesses. She also answered questions from the committee regarding the number of districts that don't accommodate flexible times for conferences and academic activities.



Representative Buckner answered questions from the committee regarding nontraditional work hours.





02:19 PM



Representative Buckner answered questions from the committee regarding unpaid leave. She also discussed parental involvement and the impact on student achievement.



The committee members discussed school accommodation and parental involvement in academic activities.





02:29 PM



Representative Buckner continued to answer questions regarding impact to businesses.



The committee members discussed the impact to employers.



02:37 PM -- Sally Augden, League of Women Voters of Colorado, spoke in favor of the bill.



02:40 PM -- Judith Marquez, Nine to Five, spoke in favor of the bill. She told stories about parents who have not been able to attend their children's academic activities due to constraints by their employer.



02:45 PM -- Xavier Manzunares, representing himself, spoke in favor of the bill. He shared a personal story about the impact of not having his parents present for his academic activities.



Ms. Marquez answered questions from the committee.



02:50 PM -- Sue Brown, Colorado Women's Lobby, spoke in favor of the bill. She discussed the importance of providing parents time to attend academic activities.



02:52 PM -- Kit Cabonor, Junior League of Denver, spoke in favor of the bill.



02:55 PM -- Shawna Fritzler, Colorado Parent Teacher Association, spoke in favor of the bill.





02:59 PM



Representative Buckner provided closing comments on the bill.



The committee members provided closing comments on the bill.

03:07 PM



The committee adjourned.