To see final enacted legislation click on the link for each bill.

 Senate Bill 010 Encouraging the Use of Automated External Defibrillators.  Sponsored by Senator Spence. 
SB 010 grants immunity from liability to any person who provides emergency care to another individual in good faith and without compensation with an external defibrillator. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 3/25.

Senate Bill 022 State Board of Land Commissioners. Sponsored by Representative Solano and Representative Bacon.
Beginning in 2009-10 and every year after, SB 022 increases the payments from the public school lands that is credited to the State Board of Land Commissioners Investment and Development Fund from $1M to $5M. It authorizes the State Land Board to allow a portion of state or school lands to be incorporated, annexed, or included within a county, municipality, or other local gov't entity. It exempts State Land Board from certain requirements regarding professional services contracts as they relate to expenditures from the Investment and Development Fund.  State fiscal impact: State Revised Fiscal Impact: State Revenue Cash Funds Public School Fund (Permanent Fund) FY09-10 $263,250, FY10-11 $723,775, FY11-12 $1,358,500 ; Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund FY09-10 $141,750, FY10-11 $389,725, FY11-12 $731,500 ; State Transfers or Diversions Diversion from the Public School Fund (Permanent Fund) to the State Board of Land Commissioners Investment and Development Cash Fund FY09-10 $(2,000,000), FY10-11 $(3,000,000), FY11-12 $(4,000,000) ; State Expenditures Cash Funds State Board of Land Commissioners Investment and Development Fund FY09-10 $2,000,000, FY10-11 $3,000,000, FY11-12 $4,000,000. Signed by the Governor 5/14.

Senate Bill 032 Creation of Education Innovation Institute at University of Northern Colorado.  Sponsored by Senator Groff, Representative Marostica and Representative Todd
SB 032 changes UNC's role and mission to allow them to be an education innovation institute and conduct 3rd party research on education issues. Funded through gifts, grants and donations.  State fiscal impact: Bill includes statutory language authorizing funding to support the institute through gifts, and donations, and appropriations made by the General Assembly. Signed by the Governor 3/18.

Senate Bill 033Expanding School Lunch Program Early Childhood Education.  Sponsored by Senator Sandoval 
SB 033 makes eligible students enrolled in state-subsidized early childhood education programs administered by school districts, and who are eligible for reduced-cost lunch, for free lunches under the Child Nutrition School Lunch Protection Program. State and local fiscal impact: The CDE has identified 1,143 children who quality for reduced cost lunches under this bill, of which, approximately 43 receive full-day services. Providing all of the 43 full-day preschoolers lunch for 180 days the cost will be $2,880. If every eligible child took advantate of the program the cost would be approximately $83,000.  Signed by Governor 3/25.

Senate Bill 062 Incentives for Armed Forces Veterans Entering the Teaching Profession. Sponsored by Senator B. Shaffer and Representative Apuan. 
SB 062 modifies the Teach for Colorado grant scholarship initiative to include veterans entering teaching. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 4/40.

Senate Bill 066 Consolidation of Public Employee Retirement Plans under PERA.  Sponsored by Senator Tochtrop and Representative Primavera.
SB 066 merges the state public officials' and employees' defined contribution plan into the PERA defined contribution plan.  State fiscal impact: None.  Signed by the Governor 3/31.

Senate Bill 070Clarification to Workers' Compensation Procedures. Sponsored by Senator Foster and Representative Acree.
SB 070 states that the first installment of workers' compensation shall be paid no later than the date that liability for the claim is admitted by the insurance carrier or self-insured employer. It repeals the statute that ends workers' compensation payments at age 65. State and local fiscal impact: None Signed by Governor 3/24.

Senate Bill 089 State Charter School Institute.  Sponsored by Senator K. King,  Representative Middleteon
SB 089 allows the State Charter Institute (CSI) Board to be exempt from the procurement code; authorize an institute charter school that will operate statewide with a designation as an alternate education campus regardless of where the physical facilities will be located; and create a process where districts may appeal the decision. It directs CDE to forward PPOR funding for institute schools from an account created for CSI schools and not from the state's share of total program funding. It reduces the amount of funding CDE can retain. It also directs the CSI board and representatives from CSI schools to review CSI funding and recommend changes. SB 089 creates CSI contingency reserve fund and creates CSI capital construction assistance grant fund consisting of 1% of CSI PPOR. It allows a CSI school to request the state treasurer or the institute to withhold moneys otherwise repayable to the CSI school and apply the money to the repayment of bonds issued on behalf of the CSI.  State fiscal impact: Original bill had a $5.5m fiscal note due to the creation of a separate line item for CSI schools and the need to fund one institute charter school that is located in a district without enough state share. It was amended in Senate Education to remove the fiscal note and funding source, but must go to appropriations to formally remove the fiscal note. Signed by the Governor 6/4.

Senate Bill 090 Parental Involvement in Public Education.  Sponsored by Senator Hudak, and Representative Merrifield and Representative Benefield
Final Summary.  State fiscal impact: State revenue cash funds parent involvement in Education cash fund - potential gifts, grants and donations; State expenditures general fund cash funds parent involvement in educaiton cash fund FY 09/10 $3,200 1.0 FTE, FY 10/11 $3, 200 1.0 FTE. Signed by the Governor 5/21.

Senate Bill 123Healthy Choices Dropout Prevention Pilot Program.  Sponsored by Representative Williams and Senator Todd.
SB 123 creates the Health Choices Dropout Prevention Pilot Program in CDE. The purpose of of the program is to promote student health and achievement which will result in improved student attendance and graduation rates. It directs CDE to solicit applications for participation from at least one school in each at-risk school district defining "at risk school" to mean a school serving 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and meeting criteria around student absentee rate, free lunch population, percentage of students meeting certain body mass index levels, and student dropout rate. CDE is to determine recipient schools and amount of grant monies each school will receive. Recipient schools must measure the body mass index of every student and have a coordinated school health team. It also specifies permissible uses of grant monies. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 5/21.

Senate Bill 175 Group Special License Plate Retirement.  Sponsored by  Representative Primavera.
SB 175 extends the date to July 1, 2010, that various special license plates, including the "Support Public Education" and "Colorado Kids First," may be issued. It clarifies that individuals in possession of the plates after July 1, 2010, can continue to use them. Signed by the Governor 5/4.

Senate Bill 176 Charter School District Bond Elections.  Sponsored by Senator Spence. 
SB 176 specifies the date by which a school district shall invite each charter school of the district to participate in discussions concerning participation by the charter school in an upcoming district bond election. It removes the requirement that a district board of education review a charter school's capital construction plan to determine the need for capital construction, the viability of the capital construction plan, and the need to obtain revenues through bonded indebtedness or from a special mill levy. It also removes the requirement that a district board of education consult with the charter school with respect to the amount of, and repayment schedule for, the bonds proposed to be sold to finance the charter school's capital construction. SB 176 clarifies that a district board of education may submit a question to eligible electors of a district concerning contracting bonded indebtedness for the land and facilities needs of a charter school of the district and charter school capital construction. It requires that a district include a charter school's capital construction needs in a bond election unless the district and the charter school agree otherwise. It removes the requirement that the charter school enter into a contract with the district specifying that the ownership of any construction financed through bonded indebtedness automatically revert to the district if the charter school loses its charter, fails to pay for the capital construction, or no longer operates as a charter school.  State fiscal impact: Local Conditional Fiscal Impact: This bill requires that school districts include the amount requested for district charter school capital construction in any bond election conducted for their own capital construction needs. Requiring the school district to include the needs of charter schools may increase the total amount requested in a ballot question. Any change to revenue or expenditures for school district capital construction is conditioned on voter approval of the bonds. Signed by the Governor 5/14.

Senate Bill 181 Elimination of SEF Available funds for Appropriations.  Sponsored by Representative Marostica and Senator Tapia. 
SB 181 eliminates the requirement that the general assembly adopt a resolution to certify the amount of moneys in the SEF that should be considered available for appropriations for the next state fiscal year. Practice has been that the legislature largely ignores the resolution.  State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 4/20.

Senate Bill 185 Supplemental Reducation for Department of Education.  Sponsored by Senator Keller and Representative Pommer.
SB 185 refinances $26.5m for School Finance Act forumula MOE and approximately $33m for categoricals from the General Fund to the State Education Fund. It eliminates state aid related to BIA's $418,016,  and reduces Read-to-Achieve grant program by $150K to reflect actual tobacco settlement revenues received. It also reduces professional development and instructional support Closing the Achievement Gap program and finances with SEF $1.7m. SB 185 funds CDE content specialists with SEF $433K, suspends STEM program $300K, science and technology center grant $197k, civic education $197K, summer school grant program $973k, military 2nd Count $1.8m.  State and local fiscal impact: See Summary Signed by Governor 3/18.

Senate Bill  208  Augmentation of General Fund 08-09 Fiscal Year.  Sponsored by Representative Pommer and Senator Tapia. 
SB 208 transfers moneys from cash funds to the general fund. Signed by the Governor 4/20. 

Senate Bill  213  Appropriation for the Alternative Teacher Compensation Grant Program.  Sponsored by Representative Pommer and Senator Tapia.  
SB 213 repeals the 2008-09 appropriation of the $1 million for the alternative teacher compensation plan grant program. Governor signed into law 2/26.

Senate Bill  214  Appropriation for the Quality Teacher Program.  Sponsored by Representative Pommer and Senator Tapia.  
SB 214 repeals the 2008-09 $1.2 million appropriation for the Quality Teacher Program created in 2008. It requires the Legislature to annually determine whether to fund this program. Governor signed into law 3/18.

Senate Bill  215  Supplemental Reduction for the Department of Education.  Sponsored by Representative Pommer and Senator Keller. 
SB 215 reduces the statewide base to $5,250.41 and eliminates from the base $19.72. It takes funding for the CDE school finance unit off the top of the School Finance Act. It also reduces funding for charter school capital construction by $4.8M and delays the declining enrollment study by one year. State Fiscal Impact: TBD. Signed by the Governor 4/17.

Senate Bill  217  Transfers of Limited Gaming Fund Moneys.  Sponsored by Representative Ferrandino and Senator White.  
SB 217 reduces the transfer to the Colorado travel and tourism promotion fund, the state council on the arts cash fund, the new jobs incentives cash fund, and the film incentives cash fund from the portion of limited gaming fund moneys that would otherwise be transferred to the general fund after the transfer to the local government limited gaming impact fund.  State Fiscal Impact: TBD. Signed by the Governor 4/2.

Senate Bill  218  Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund Transfer.  Sponsored by Representatives Marostica and Court and Senator Morse.  
SB 218 reduces the controlled maintenance trust fund moneys to $2.3M for 08-09  State Fiscal Impact: TBD. Passed Senate Appropriations 2/17. Governor signed into law 3/1.

Senate Bill 219 General Fund Reserve Required for the 2008-09 State Fiscal Year.  Sponsored by Representative Farrandino and Senator Tapia. 
For the 2008-09 fiscal year, SB 219 reduces the statutorily required General Fund reserve from 4% to 2% of the amount appropriated for the expenditure from the General Fund. Signed by the Governor 6/1.

Senate Bill 226  School Food Allegy Policy Education. Sponsored by Senator Sandoval.
SB 226 creates the Health Choices Dropout Prevention Pilot Program in CDE. Purpose of program is to promote student health and achievement which will result in improved student attendance and graduation rates. It directs CDE to solicit applications for participation from at least one school in each at-risk school district. It defines "at risk school" to mean a school serving 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and meeting criteria around student absentee rate, free lunch population, percentage of students meeting certain body mass index levels, and student dropout rate. CDE is to determine recipient schools and amount of grant monies each school will receive. Recipient schools must measure the body mass index of every student and have a coordinated school health team. It specifies permissible uses of grant monies. State fiscal impact: FY 2009/10 $6,451; FY 10/11 $6,000 for CDE travel/outreach to districts and legal fees. Signed by the Governor 5/14.

Senate Bill  228 Arveschough-Bird Modification.  Sponsored by Representatives Marostica and Court and Senator Morse.  
SB 228 repeals the statutory 6%. State Fiscal Impact: State and Local Fiscal Impact: Transfers and diversions from the General Fund to transportation and capital construction may be altered by the bill. In addition, the bill may alter transfers from the Limited Gaming Fund to the State Council on the Arts Cash Fund, the Film Incentives Cash Fund, the New Jobs Incentives Cash Fund, the Colorado Travel and Tourism Promotion Fund, and the Clean Energy Fund. The bill will not increase total state expenditures, but it may change the purposes for which state money is spent. Signed by the Governor 6/3.

Senate Bill 230 Charter School Food Authority.  Sponsored by Senator Spence, Representative May
SB 230 requires a school board to either allow a district charter school to transfer the maintenance, supervision, and operation of the charter's food service facility from the school district to a school food authority, or to agree to provide food services to the charter according to the terms they request. It requires the State Charter Institute to either allow an institute charter school to transfer the maintenance, supervision, and operation of the charter's food service facility from the Institute to a school food authority or to agree to provide food services to the charter according to the terms they request. It allows a charter school to apply to CDE for authorization as a school food authority, and requires the State Board of Education to promulgate rules around timeline and rules for granting/denying application. It requires CDE to review each charter school granted provisional authorization and to grant or deny authorization prior to expiration of provisional authority. State and Local Fiscal Impact: State Expenditures General Fund Federal Funds FY 09-10 $ 95,548 1.9 FTE; FY 10-11 $ 79,550 and 87,816 1.9 FTE . Signed by the Governor 5/4.

Senate Bill 237Grounds for Mandatory Expulsion.  Sponsored by Representative Acree and Representative Lundberg.
SB 237 permits, rather than requires, a school district to suspend or expel a student for brandishing an artificial firearm. It permits a school district to suspend a student while determining whether the student's conduct could be grounds for suspension or expulsion. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 4/21.

Senate Bill 256 School Finance.  Sponsored by  Representative Romer, Representative Bacon and Senator Pommer, and Senator Scanlon. 
SB 256 amends the "Public School Finance Act of 1994". Final Summary.  Signed by the Governor 5/21.

Senate Bill 257 Amendments to BEST Act for Better Implementation.  Sponsored by Representative Fischer and Senator Schwartz. 
SB 257 makes the following changes to BEST for more efficient implementation: clarifies statute regarding use of state monies and local matching monies, allows the Legislature to transfer monies from another source to make lease payments if necessary, eliminates requirement that the Director of the Division of Public School Capital Construction Assistance serve as a nonvoting ex officio member of the Assistance Board, extends period for Assistance Board to develop an annual timeline for the BEST financial assistance application. Signed by the Governor 6/4

Senate Bill  259   The Long Bill.  JBC
Allocates the funding of 09-10 fiscal year; other bills moving through the porcess affect this legislation. The legislature is required to pass a balanced budget. State Fiscal Impact: None released. Governor action, partial veto 5/1.

Senate Bill  260 State Public School Lands Money Transfer.  Sponsored by Representatives Pommer and Senator White.  
For FY 2008-09 and FY 2009-10 only, SB 260 transfers income from the state school lands for school finance rather than being deposited to the Public (Permanent) School Fund. The bill reduces appropriations from the State Education Fund by an equal amount. State Fiscal Impact: Total state revenue will be reduced by $1.3 million in FY 2008-09, $4.3 million in FY 2009-10, and $7.4 million in FY 2010-11. The bill diverts $24.6 million in FY 2008-09 and $39.0 million in FY 2009-10 from the Public School Fund to the State Public School Fund. Signed by the Governor 5/1.

Senate Bill  267  Payment of Costs of Children in Residential Child Care Facilities.  Sponsored by Representatives Pommer and Senator White.  
Under current law, counties are required to pay 10 percent of the cost of services for children placed in residential child care facilities in FY 2009-10. The county contribution increases to 20 percent on July 1, 2010. SB 268 moves the date for the higher contribution rate forward by six months. Effective January 1, 2010, the bill changes the local contribution that counties must pay for children in the child welfare system who are placed in residential child care facilities in FY 2009-10 from 10 to 20 percent. State Fiscal Impact: Decreases General Fund expenditures in the Department of Human Services (DHS) by $4,028,564. Signed by the Governor 5/1.

Senate Bill  268  Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem in Cases Involving Children. Sponsored by Representatives Pommer and Senator Tapia.  
SB 268 makes a number of clarifications regarding the appointment of professionals in court cases involving children. It allows the court to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) in truancy proceedings only in cases where the appointment is found to be necessary due to exceptional and extraordinary circumstances. It also requires the court to make specific findings that the appointment of a GAL in certain delinquency cases is necessary to serve the child's best interests. State Fiscal Impact: Decreases General Fund expenditures by $97,000. Signed by the Governor 5/1.

Senate Bill  276  Homestead Exemption. Sponsored by Representatives Pommer and Senator White.  
For the 2009 and 2010 property tax years, SB 276 eliminates the homestead property tax exemption for qualifying senior citizens and disabled veterans. State Fiscal Impact: Reduce state General Fund expenditures by $91.4 million in FY 2009-10, and $97.6 million in FY 2010-11. Reduces state General Fund revenue by $1.7 million in FY 2010-11. Signed by the Governor 6/4.

Senate Bill  277  General Fund Reserve Requirement for 09/10. Sponsored by Representatives Marostica and Senator Tapia.  
SB 277 reduces the General Fund reserve from 4 percent of General Fund appropriations to 2 percent for FY 2009-10. The General Fund reserve will increase back to 4 percent for FY 2010-11. State Fiscal Impact: $134.3 million in the General Fund available for spending; reserve is required to be refilled back to the 4 percent level in FY 2010-11. Signed by the Governor 5/1.

Senate Bill  279  Augmentation of General Fund through Transfers. Sponsored by Representatives Pommer and Senator Tapia.  
SB 279 makes over $247 million available for appropriation from the General Fund over 3 fiscal years: $112.7 million in FY 2008-09; $109.3 million in FY 2009-10; and $25.0 million in FY 2010-11. It transfers from two funds include money that must be repaid to the federal government. These funds, the Risk Management Fund and Self-Insured Property Fund, consist of reappropriated money paid by other state agencies for central services provided by the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA). Under federal fiscal rules, federal funds that are not used for their originally intended purpose must be repaid to the federal government. The transfers occur in FY 2008-09, so the liability to repay the money accrues in FY 2008-09. However, actual repayment may not occur until FY 2009-10. State Fiscal Impact: $112.7m general fund revenue. Signed by the Governor 6/1.

Senate Bill  281  Pinnacol Assurance as a Political Subdivision of the State. Sponsored by Representatives Weissmann and Senator Shaffer.  
SB 281 repeals the authority of the Pinnacol Assurance (Pinnacol) chief executive officer to act as the head of a private insurance company. The "Worker Safety and Injury Compensation Study Group" is created as a 10-member interim committee to study, make recommendations and report its findings on the operations of Pinnacol, workers' compensation premiums, worker safety, and compensation for injured workers. The committee is to consider the feasibility of the continued operation of, or sale of Pinnacol. Pinnacol is required to pay a dividend to its small employer policyholders equal to 5 percent of its surplus funds. The State Auditor is directed to conduct a performance audit of Pinnacol in 2009, and has continuing authority to conduct subsequent audits. State Fiscal Impact: $31,508; 0.4 FTE to staff the interim committee. Signed by the Governor 6/1.

Senate Bill 282 DPSRS/PERA Merger  Sponsored by  Representative A Kerr and Senator Sandoval.
SB 282 merges and transfers assets of the Denver public schools (DPS) retirement system into the public employees' retirement association (PERA) as of Jan 1, 2010. It creates a separate Denver public schools division and trust fund within PERA, incorporates the provisions of the existing DPS plan into statute, and requires the PERA board to administer the provisions of the plan for DPS members. It allows benefits to be portable between the Denver public schools division and the other divisions of PERA. Entity Fiscal Impact: The bill establishes 2 separate DPS divisions within PERA — one for retirement benefits and one for health care benefits. It also sets a contribution rate to be paid by DPS and DPS-affiliated charter schools of 13.75 percent of payroll through December 31, 2012, and 14.15 percent of payroll thereafter. Currently, DPS pays an employer contribution rate of 7.58% of payroll for its retirement system, plus a variable rate on $400 million of pension certificates of participation (PCOPS) issued in April 2008. Under the bill, DPS may offset its required contributions by the amount it pays for the PCOPS, which could actually reduce its contributions from current projected levels. Signed by the Governor 5/21.

Senate Bill 285 CTE Concurrent Enrollment.  Sponsored by Representative Solano and Senator Heath. 
SB 285 makes changes to HB09-1319 which permits students in grades 9 through 12 to enroll in courses at institutions of higher education and apply earned credits toward the requirements for both high school graduation and a postsecondary degree. It clarifies that concurrent credits may be earned in career and technical education courses and permits students to apply credits toward either an academic degree or a career and technical certificate. It also adds representatives of career and technical program providers to the concurrent enrollment advisory board. School districts and BOCES that are approved as a career and technical education program provider cannot include concurrently enrolled students for the purpose of calculating state aid for career and technical education that the district or BOCES receives under current law. The bill takes effect upon the enactment of HB09-1319.  State Fiscal Impact: None. Signed by the Governor 6/4.

Senate Bill 291 School Finance for School District that Readopt TABOR  Sponsored by  Representative Middleton and Senator Bacon.
SB 291 requires that any school district that has obtained voter approval to retain and spend revenues in excess of the property tax revenue limitation imposed by the taxpayer's bill of rights and that obtains voter approval to again become subject to such limitation shall receive state aid as if the district levied the number of mills that it would have levied had the district maintained its authority to retain and spend revenues in excess of such revenue limitation. Signed by the Governor 6/1.

Senate Bill  297  Expedite Federal Stimulus Act Projects. Sponsored by Representatives Judd and Senator Sandoval.  
SB 297 allows state departments to request a waiver from the state procurement code where necessary to expedite the use of federal stimulus monies. State Fiscal Impact: None.  Signed by the Governor 5/20.

Senate Joint Resolution 044  Interim Commission Study Fiscal Stability.  Sponsored by Representatives Weissmann and Senator B. Schaffer.  
SJR 044 forms a commisssion to study the fiscal stablity of the state. Signed by the Speaker of the House 5/20.

Senate Joint Resolution 056  Colorado's Use of "Race to the Top" Monies.  Sponsored by Representatives Middleton and Senator Romer.  
If Coloardo is awarded federal "Race to the Top" monies, SJR 056 encourages the monies to be spent on initiatives like continued expansion of preschool and kindergarten, incentive pay, and improved state data system, and programs that elevate student achievement.  State Fiscal Impact: None. Signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House 5/20.

House Bill 1046 Procedures to Implement the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Assessments Pilot Program.  Sponsored by Representative Scanlan
A vendor participating in the CAP4K postsecondary and workforce assessment pilot program shall provide assessment information to CDE directly. Removes the restriction that the assessments must be administered in the spring in 8th and 9th grade. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 3/20.

House Bill 1057 Parental Involvement in K-12 Education.  Sponsored by Senator Bacon, and Representative A. Kerr
HB 1057 allows an employee of an employer with at least 10 employees in the state to take unpaid leave to attend parent-teacher conference or other academic activities related to the educational advancement of the employee's child. It limits the unpaid leave to 6 hrs/month and 40 hrs in any academic year. It allows the employer to limit the leave to no greater than 3 hour increments and requires written verification from the school or district. HB 1057 requires the employee to provide 3 days notice in advance and directs the employee to make reasonable attempts to schedule activities or conferences outside of work. It allows an employee to substitute accrued paid vacation leave, personal leave, or other types of paid leave for unpaid leave. An employer that provides comparable leave to its employees is deemed in compliance with the Act and does not have to provide additional leave. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 6/1.

House Bill 1065 Quality of Teachers Commission in Connection with Creating an Educator Identifier Pilot Program.  Sponsored by Representative Benefield and Senator Spence
HB 1065 creates the Educator Identifier Pilot Program to provide unique identifications to teachers and principals in participating districts. At least 3 districts to be selected by CDE by September 2009 for participation if they have indicated interest; participation is optional. It specifies that data from pilot will be used to study the teacher gap issue at the state level. It prohibits use of data for purposes of sanctioning individual teachers, principals, school districts, or teacher preparation programs. It also specifies that the program must use state protocols to ensure confidentiality of data; states that data will be shared with varying degrees of access at state, district, and individual levels. HB 1065 requires any participating district to submit a report summarizing experience with educator identification and recommended policy changes to address the teacher gap issue. State and local fiscal impact: State Revenue Cash Funds Educator Identifier Fund-Gifts, grants and donations; State expenditures cash Funds Education Identifer Fund FY 09-10 up to $1,093,222-3.0 FTE, FY 10-11 up to $331,538-3 FTE.  Signed by the Governor 5/21.

House Bill 1082 Recordings of Board of Education Public Meetings.  Sponsored by Senator Tochtrop Representative Peniston.
HB 1082 requires school boards to make a recording, using the best technology currently available to the district (at least audio recording), of each regular and special meeting available to the public. It requires the requesting entity to pay the cost of providing a copy of the recording. It also requires school boards to retain all recordings for 2 years.  State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 3/25.

House Bill 1094 Cell Phone Prohibitions for Drivers.  Sponsored by  Senator Bacon and Representative Levy
HB 1094 prohibits school bus drivers, persons under 18, and motor vehicle carriers regulated by the PUC from using cell phones while driving, except in the event of an emergency. It prohibits any driver over 18 from using a cell phone while driving unless it is equipped with a hands-free accessory. It also exempts emergency and safety personnel. HB 1094 makes any violation of these provisions a Class A traffic infraction. State and local fiscal impact: State Revenue Cash Funds Multiple Cash Funds Penalities and Surcharges FY 09/10 $430,000, FY 10/11 $1,036,000; State Expenditures General Fund FY 09/10 $42,000, Cash Funds State Highway Fund FY 09/10 $571,168, FY 10/11 $37,440. Signed the Governor 6/1.

House Bill 1125 Limitations for Incentives to Participate in Public Education Programs.  Sponsored by Representative Merrifield.
HB 1125 pohibits a school district, BOCES, public school, or the State Charter School Institute from offering a financial benefit or any incentive or reward for enrolling in or attending an educational program. It makes certain exceptions for activities on school grounds, some field trips, and items $20 or less.  State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 4/16.

House Bill 1214 Education Data Reporting Requirements.  Sponsored by Representative Benefield and Senator Bacon
HB 1214 clarifies that EDAC is directed to review reporting requirements by all state and federal agencies and is required by 09/15/09 to submit to the legislature a list of requirements that are not cost-effective, duplicative, obsolete, inefficient, or not used for repeal. It changes the 90-day time period to a single rather than a rolling time period and directs the state board to update the state interpretation of FERPA and to align the state's interpretation of federal data collection and reporting with neighboring states. HB 1214 suspends the reporting requirements for a program that is cut financially by the state. It directs EDAC to review proposed statutory or regulatory data reporting requirements to determine the estimated cost to the school districts and public schools of complying with the proposed requirements and whether those requirements already exist in statute or regulation. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 4/30.

House Bill 1236 Driver Stop Distance When School Bus Signals a Stop.  Sponsored by  Representative Primavera.
HB 1236 requires drivers to stop at least 25 feet behind a school bus when the bus indicates it is stopping with brake lights, or when the bus is loading or unloading passengers. State and local fiscal impact: State Revenue Cash Funds Multiple Cash funds Penalities and Surcharges FY 09/10 $5,000; FY 10/11 $5,000. Signed by the Governor 4/2.

House Bill 1237 Coordinated Payment System for Early Intervention Services.  Sponsored by Representative Primavers and Senator B. Schaffer
HB 1237 clarifies that mandatory coverage for early intervention services includes contracts for health insurance and renewed plans. It specifies that a child's private insurance plan will be accessed first to pay for early intervention services prior to the use of state or federal funds and requires all private plans to submit payment to the Department of Human Services to be deposited in the Early Intervention Services Trust Fund.  State fiscal impact: State Revenue Cash Funds-Early Intervention Services Trust Fund FY 09-10 $3,561,000, FY 10-11 $4,044,750; State Expenditures Cash Funds Early Intervention Services Trust Fund (Custodial Funds) FY 09-10 up to $3,561,000 - 1.0 FTE, FY 10-11 up to $5,044.750 - 2.0 FTE. Signed by the Governor 5/2.

House Bill 1240 Creating the Colorado Teacher of the Year Program.  Sponsored by Representative Foster and Senator Miklosi
HB 1240 creates the Colorado Teacher of the Year Program in CDE; specifies that it shall be coordinated with the national Teacher of the Year Program. It directs the State Board of Education to promulgate rules for the program that includes the awards and opportunities afforded the recipient, such as a teaching sabbatical, supplies for the individual's classroom, a cash gift, etc. State fiscal impact: State Revenue Cash Funds Colorado Teacher of the Year Fund - Potential gifts, grants and donations. Signed by Governor 5/5.

House Bill 1243 Raise Graduation Rate in Colorado Public Schools.  Sponsored by Representative Middleton, Representative Masses and Senator Bacon.
HB 1243 creates the Office of Dropout Prevention and Re-engagement (Office) in CDE to work with districts to reduce the student dropout rate. It requires the Office to identify high priority and priority districts with a high dropout rate; requires those districts to conduct a comprehensive assessment of current practices aimed at decreasing the dropout rate. It also requires those districts to develop a Student Graduation and Completion Plan (Plan); specifies that the plan must be publicly posted. Other school districts are encouraged but not required to conduct a practice assessment and create a plan. HB 1243 creates a grant program in CDE to support districts in their efforts to engage students who have dropped out of school or may drop out. It repeals mandates that districts expel a habitually truant student and allows suspension instead.  State fiscal impact: Amended to be funded with grants and donations. Signed by the Governor 5/21.

House Bill 1250 Federal Money Allocation to Public School on Behalf of Counties.  Sponsored by Representative Merrifield.
HB 1250 raises the required allocation by recipient counties to school districts of monies under the federal Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act from a minimum of 5% to a minimum of 50%. State fiscal impact: Local fiscal impact-The question relevant to this fiscal note is; how are counties currently distributing money and how will this bill impact that distribution? At the time of writing no data regarding current county distribution trends have been found. Anecdotally, some counties are known to distribue more than the 50 percent to public schools, as required by this bill, many distribute less. Signed by the Governor 5/11.

House Bill 1280 Adoption of a Youth Challenge Corps Program in Colorado.  Sponsored by Representative Looper.
HB 1280 authorizes the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to operate a residential youth challenge corps program for at risk youth. At risk youth defined as anyone age 15-20 who has been suspended or expelled from school, is habitually truant, or is otherwise habitually disruptive in school. The program is to be operated through contract personnel and national guard facilities and equipment for the purpose of helping at risk youth obtain their GED, increase their employment potential, and enhance their life skills. Existing appropriations or federal monies to be used to start the program. State fiscal impact: State Conditional Fiscal Impact: State Revenue Cash Funds Youth Challenge Corps Program Fund - potential gifts, grants, and donations; State Expenditures Multiple State Funding Sources - FY 10-11 up to $1.12 million Federal funds FY 10-11 up to 1.68 million, 45.0 FTE. Signed by the Governor 6/2.

House Bill 1285 Government Data Sharing.  Sponsored by Representative Benefield and Senator King. 
HB 1285 replaces the Data Protocol Development Council with the Government Data Advisory Board. Specifies rules for Board, including development and maintenance of interdepartmental data protocol and best practices re: data sharing. It specifies that a school district and school board member must be included on the Board. It also states that Board shall be repealed July 2019. HB 1285 creates the Education Data Subcommittee of the Board and specifies duties, particularly advising about the ongoing efforts to create a P-20 data system. State fiscal impact: Potential State revenue increase in FY 10-11 due to fees. Signed by the Governor 4/30.

House Bill 1296 Extension Reading Assistance Grant Program.  Sponsored by Senator Hudak and Representative Green
HB 1296 extends the repeal date of the Reading Assistance Grant Program from July 1, 2009 to July 1, 2010. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 4/22.

House Bill 1319 Concurrent Enrollment Public School Students.  Sponsored by Representative Merrifield and Senator Williams
State fiscal impact: State Expenditures General Fund FY 09-10 $30,030-0.3 FTE, FY 10-11 $22,896-0.3 FTE.  Signed by the Governor 5/26.

House Bill 1151 Designation of Department of Public Safety to Oversee School Building Inspections.  Sponsored by  Representative Todd
HB 1151 replaces the Department of Labor and Employment with the Department of Public Safety as the oversight agency responsible for school building code inspections. State fiscal impact: None. Signed by the Governor 5/4.

House Bill 1343 Early Childhood Legislative Oversight Committee.  Sponsored by Representative Benefield and Senator Spence.
HB 13434 creates a legislative oversight committee to research and oversee issues related to early childhood education and early childhood education readiness. It specifies committee membership and frequency of meetings. Signed by the Governor 6/1.

House Bill 1346 Recovery and Reinvestment Finance Act.  Sponsored by Senator Shaffer and Representative Carroll.
HB 1346 estabishes the means by which public entities can finance public projects by issuing or entering into stimulus obligations authorized by ARRA, including qualified school construction bonds.  Signed by the Governor 6/2.