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Capitol Update – May 2, 2014

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  • Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) Overhaul: HB 14-1317 (Duran/Nicholson, Kefalas) received bipartisan approval in the Senate, passing 20-15 this week. Early Friday, the House concurred with the Senate’s amendments and the bill now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Thank you to everyone who wrote their legislators to urge support for this legislation. The bill now includes a study of provider participation in CCCAP, strives to improve reimbursement rates as appropriations are available, and also clarifies a number of provisions to aid in county implementation of the bill. CCCAP is an essential piece of the early learning landscape and these changes, coupled with new investments, represent an exciting step towards ensuring more Colorado kids have access to stimulating experiences that let them discover, explore and grow. Please click here to see supporters, including advocates, providers, counties and business leaders, and read more about the bill.
  • Student Success Act: HB 14-1292 (Hamner, Murray/Johnston, Ulibarri), was approved by the Senate 33-2. An amendment was passed to restore funding for struggling readers, however, the negotiations are ongoing regarding how to structure a budget transparency system to help parents and taxpayers understand how education funds are spent within the public education system. The bill received significant debate on the Senate floor, which concluded with Republicans and Democrats joining together to pass the increased funding for education. The bill now moves back to the House for consideration of Senate amendments. It is unclear at this point if the negotiations around the budget transparency sections in this legislation could force the bill into a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the final versions of this bill that passed each chamber. Read more about the hearing and our position on reinvesting in K-12 education.
  • School Finance Act: HB 14-1298 (Hamner, Buckner/Kerr, Steadman) The annual school funding legislation was passed by the Colorado Senate with a bipartisan vote of 23-12 earlier this week. The annual roadmap for public school spending this year builds on last year’s innovative proposal to allow more children to enroll in the Colorado Preschool Program and full-day kindergarten, known as ECARE, the Early Childhood At Risk Enhancement program. Children’s Campaign Vice President of Education Initiatives, Reilly Pharo, testified in support of the ECARE provision along with the additional funding for English Language Learners. Like the Student Success Act, the School Finance Act now returns to its chamber of origin, the House, for consideration of Senate Amendments. It is uncertain at this time whether one or both of the substantial school funding bills will move into a conference committee to reconcile the different versions that were passed by the House and Senate. Together, the School Finance Act and Student Success Act seek to make nearly $500 million in additional investments into Colorado’s public education system when compared to current spending levels.It is important to note that leading state economists in the Governor’s office and some lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee have expressed concerns that this level of investment could require too much spending of State Education Fund reserve dollars. The Hickenlooper administration has prioritized increasing reserve fund balances, including the State Education Fund, to prevent the need for substantial cuts should the state face another downturn in the economy. Therefore, both the Student Success Act and the School Finance Act face uncertain paths forward in the remaining three days of the legislative session. The bills may receive some cuts in order to adhere to the Governor’s revenue limit request.
  • CCCAP Cliff Effect Pilot: SB 14-003 (Nicholson/Pettersen) was approved by the Senate 35-0 and by the House Health, Insurance and Environment Committee with bipartisan support. It helps counties launch pilot programs to mitigate the impact of the cliff effect on a family’s child care benefits. Bill Jaeger, Vice President of Early Childhood Initiatives, testified in support of the bill Thursday. “Solving the Cliff Effect is an important issue for helping adults move to self-sufficiency and promoting the economic development of our state,” Jaeger said. “But it is just as important for helping young and vulnerable children maintain access to quality early learning opportunities.” The bill now moves to House Appropriations and then the House floor for consideration. Click here to learn more.
  • School Closure Guidelines: HB-1381 (Fields/Todd) was approved by the Senate Education Committee by a party line vote of 4-3. Children’s Campaign Director of Government Affairs, Dan O’Connell, testified in support of this measure, which seeks to ensure that evidence-backed practices are put into place when students, parents, educators, and communities face the difficult transitions that stem from the closure of chronically underperforming schools. While it is important that school closure remains an option to preserve strong accountability in Colorado’s public education system and ensure that students have access to quality schools, it is important that such an important transition such as a school closure is clearly communicated and includes supports to minimize harmful impacts on students, educators and communities.

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