March 20, 2026 · 1,465 words · 2 speakers · 28 segments
I'm seeing a bunch of green lights. I'm doing the thing where I talk slow so the person listening in can make sure my audio working. It is 9.02 a.m. on March 20th and SCR 354. We'll go around and introduce ourselves. My name is Matthew Beck with White Isle of Council staff. Jacob Bouse, Office of Legislative legal services Dina Puente Terrence Carroll and Ben Larson counsel for the proponents all right this is the review and comment hearing for proposed initiative measures 2025 2026 278 279 280 and 281 concerning expanding public school options section 1-40-105 subsection 1 colorado revised statutes requires the directors of the legislative council staff and the office of legislative legal services to review and comment on initiative petitions for proposed laws and amendments to the colorado constitution we hereby submit our comments and questions to you regarding the appended proposed initiative the purpose of this statutory requirement of the directors of legislative council staff and and the Office of Legislative Legal Services is to provide comments and questions intended to aid designated representatives and the proponents they represent in determining the language of their proposal and to avail the public of the contents of the proposal. Our first objective is to be sure we understand your intended purposes of the proposal. We hope that the comments and questions in this memorandum provide a basis for discussion and understanding of the proposal. Discussion between designated representatives or their legal representatives and employees of the legislative council staff in the Office of Legislative Legal Services is encouraged during review and comment meetings, but comments or discussion from anyone else is not permitted. Proposed initiatives 278, 279, 280, and 281 were submitted by the same designated representatives as a series of proposed initiatives. The comments and questions raised in this memorandum address proposed initiatives 278 279 280 and 281 Earlier versions of these proposed initiatives 278 279 280 and 281 um earlier versions of these proposed initiatives proposed initiatives 229 230 and 231 submitted by the same designated representatives were the subjects of a memorandum dated february 17th 2026 and were discussed at a public meeting on february 20th 2026. the comments and questions raised in this memorandum do not include comments and questions that were addressed in the earlier memorandum or at the earlier meeting except as necessary to fully understand the issues raised by the revised proposed initiatives prior comments and questions that are not restated in this memorandum continue to be relevant and are considered part of this memorandum okay the proposed purpose for 278 the major purpose of the proposed amendments to the colorado revised
statutes appears to be to prohibit an appeal of the local school board's denial of a charter school
application or renewal and subsequently require the charter schools release to the state charter school institute which may deny or approve the charter schools application. Is that your
intent? The major purpose is to expand applicants access to Colorado's charter school institute to provide an alternative mode for authorizing charter schools as outlined in the legislative
declaration. Propose initiative 279. The major purpose of the proposed amendments to the Colorado revised statutes appears to be to require a charter schools release to the state charter school institute which may deny or approve the charter schools application if the charter school does not appeal the local Board of Education's decision to deny the application or renewal. Is that your
intent? The intent is the same as with 278, which I'll just put on the record. The major purpose is to expand applicants' access to Colorado's Charter School Institute to provide an alternative mode
for authorizing charter schools as outlined in the legislative declaration. Purposes for 280. The major purposes of the proposed amendments to the Colorado revised statutes appear to be, first, to prohibit tuition for public schools. Second, prohibit public school fees that are excessive or not rationally related to the cost of the service or item provided. Third, prohibit an appeal of the local school board's denial of a charter school application or renewal. And subsequently require the charter school's release to the state charter school institute, which may deny or approve the charter school's application. And fourth to require enrollment priority for students who apply to a school or program in which they were enrolled the prior year Is this your intent There are two that I want to clarify with respect to purpose two in the memorandum
The intent is to prohibit excessive fees, with an excessive fee being one that is not rationally related. And this will be cleaned up in the language. And with respect to number three, the purpose is to provide access to Colorado's Charter School Institute to provide an alternative mode for authorizing charter schools as outlined in the legislative declaration.
And finally, proposed initiative 281, the major purposes of the proposed amendments to the Colorado revised statutes appear to be, first, to prohibit tuition for public schools. second prohibit public school fees that are excessive or not rationally related to the cost of the service or item provided third to require a charter schools release to the state charter school Institute which may deny or approve of the charter schools application if the charter school does not appeal the local Board of Education's decision to deny the application or renewal and fourth to require enrollment priority for students who apply to a school or program in which they were enrolled the prior year. Is that your intent?
The same clarifications apply with respect to number 280. So number two, the intent is to prohibit excessive fees with an excessive fee being one that is not rationally related, which will again be cleaned up with revised language. And number three, again, the major purpose is to expand applicants access to Colorado's charter school Institute to provide an alternative mode for authorizing charter schools as outlined in the legislative declaration.
Okay thank you. All right we'll move to substantive comments and questions. The substance of the proposed initiatives raises the following comments and questions. One the following question relates to Proposed Initiative 278. Article 5, Section 1, 5.5 of the Colorado Constitution requires all proposed initiatives to have a single subject. What is a single subject of the proposed initiative?
Expanding access to Colorado's charter schools. Okay, number two. The following question relates
to Proposed Initiative 279 Article 5 Section 1 5 of the Colorado Constitution requires all proposed initiatives to have a single subject What is the single subject of this proposed initiative Expanding access to Colorado charter schools Okay. Three, the following question relates to proposed initiative 280, Article 5, Section 1, 5.5 of the Colorado Constitution requires all proposed initiatives to have a single
subject. Was the single subject of the proposed initiative?
Expanding public school options. Number four, the following question relates to proposed initiative number 281. Article 5, Section 1, 5.5 of the Colorado Constitution requires all proposed initiatives to have a single subject.
What is the single subject of this proposed initiative?
Expanding public school options. All right, and number five, Section 2 of proposed initiatives 278, 279, 280, and 281 states that, quote, notwithstanding the Charter Schools Act, Part 1 of Article 30.5 of this title, unquote, if a local board of education denies a charter school's application or renewal, the State Board of Education was required to, quote, release the charter school to the Colorado Charter School Institute, unquote. A, the Charter Schools Act contains five parts under Article 30.5 of Title 22. By specifying Part 1 only, how are Parts 2 through 5, especially Part 5, which concerns Institute Charter Schools of the Charter Schools Act intended to interact with this new requirement.
Thank you for that comment and clarification. The proponents mean for this provision to apply, notwithstanding anything, to the contrary in the Charter School Act and will make the following change, quote, notwithstanding the Charter Schools Act under Article 30.5 of this title.
Does that solve that problem? Thank you. I think it helps add the clarity of the scope of what you're trying to get at.
Thank you.
And then finally, what do the proponents intend release to mean?
Release to apply to CSI, the Chartered School Institute, if the applicant chooses to with CSI, then approving or denying any such application.
Are you all good?
I'm good.
We have technical comments. Would you like to go over the technical comments?
We don't have to.
No, they're understood, and thank you for that. All right. All right. Thank you. Appreciate it. All right. If everyone's all good, then that is the end of this review and comment hearing. Thank you.
Thank you very much.