More work for another day

A number of interesting education bills were on legislative floor calendars Monday, but most were laid over for later consideration.

Among the delayed were the bill on charter school access to vacant district buildings (House Bill 11-1055), the measure increasing the state stipend for some private college students (House Bill 11-1168) and the mandatory physical activity bill (House Bill 11-1069).

The Senate actually started preliminary debate on HB 11-1069, the discussion turning out to be a reprise by Senate Education Committee members of what they’d already talked about during the committee hearing.

But, the debate dragged in, wandering into gender differences and joking about why girls perform better in school than boys. Senate Majority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, finally interrupted the fun, saying, “Amendments are flying around and whatnot, so I’m going to lay this bill over until tomorrow.”

Later in the day the House Education Committee Monday voted 12-0 to pass an amended version of Senate Bill 11-012, the measure that would allow school districts to adopt their own policies on student carrying and self-administration of prescription drugs.

A couple of amendments were added, one of which limits students to carrying just enough medicine for one day or event.

Representatives of Colorado Association of School Nurses and the American Academy of Pediatrics testified that they still have concerns with the bill, specifically that it might mean less supervision by medical professionals of student prescription use.

Current state law lays out a detailed procedure for parents who want their students to be able to carry asthma inhalers and allergic reaction injection devices at school. The bill is intended to make things easier for parents and administrators in smaller districts who may find following the law cumbersome. The measure would allow districts to opt out of the law and create their own systems, within certain parameters.

A raft of lower profile bills did move along Monday. Here’s a rundown:

House preliminary approval

  • Senate Bill 11-061 – Streamlining of special education appeals
  • Senate Bill 11-106 – Repeal of science and technology grants board
  • Senate Bill 11-029 – Improved reporting by State Land Board
  • Senate Bill 11-101 – Continuation of fixed rate and fee program

Senate final approval

  • House Bill 11-1017 – Vacancy procedures for student and faculty advisors to Auraria board
  • House Bill 11-1060 – Staggering of UNC trustee terms

Senate preliminary approval

  • House Bill 11-1074 – Technical measure on School of Mines financial aid

Use the Education Bill Tracker for links to bill texts and status information