House Committee of Reference Report
Committee on Education
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April 7, 2025
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends the following:
HB25-1320 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee on Appropriations with favorable recommendation:
Page 1, Line 1Amend printed bill, page 4, line 17, after "pressures." insert "If the
Page 1, Line 2general assembly is unable to fulfill this obligation mandated by section
Page 1, Line 317 of article IX of the Colorado Constitution, then a group will be formed
Page 1, Line 4to address the issue of how to accurately track a potential shortfall to
Page 1, Line 5public education funding in the future.".
Page 1, Line 6Page 5, after line 16 insert:
Page 1, Line 7"SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-30.5-112.2,
Page 1, Line 8amend (2)(a) and (3); and add (2)(c) and (5) as follows:
Page 1, Line 922-30.5-112.2. Charter schools - at-risk supplemental aid -
Page 1, Line 10definitions - legislative declaration - repeal. (2) (a) For the 2012-13
Page 1, Line 11budget year and each budget year thereafter through the 2024-25
Page 1, Line 12budget year, the general assembly shall appropriate to the department
Page 1, Line 13of education for allocation to school districts the amount calculated for
Page 1, Line 14at-risk supplemental aid for those school districts and district charter
Page 1, Line 15schools described in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2) subsection
Page 1, Line 16(2)(b) of this section. For the 2025-26 budget year and the 2026-27
Page 1, Line 17budget year, the general assembly shall appropriate to the
Page 1, Line 18department of education for allocation to school districts the
Page 1, Line 19amount determined for supplemental aid for those school
Page 1, Line 20districts and district charter schools described in subsection
Page 1, Line 21(2)(c) of this section. The at-risk supplemental aid is additional funding
Page 1, Line 22and does not supplant any other funding provided pursuant to this article.
Page 1, Line 23(c) For the 2025-26 budget year, each school district and
Page 1, Line 24district charter school's at-risk supplemental aid is the same
Page 1, Line 25amount that it received in the 2024-25 budget year. For the
Page 1, Line 262026-27 budget year, each school district and district charter
Page 1, Line 27school's at-risk supplemental aid is fifty percent of the amount
Page 2, Line 1that it received in the 2024-25 budget year.
Page 2, Line 2(3) If the appropriation to the department of education is
Page 2, Line 3insufficient to fund one hundred percent of the at-risk supplemental aid
Page 2, Line 4calculated pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection (2) determined
Page 2, Line 5pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the department of education
Page 2, Line 6shall reduce each school district's and each district charter school's at-risk
Page 2, Line 7supplemental aid proportionately.
Page 2, Line 8(5) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2028.
Page 2, Line 9SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-30.5-513, amend
Page 2, Line 10(4.5)(a) and (4.5)(d); and add (4.5)(b.5) and (4.5)(e) as follows:
Page 2, Line 1122-30.5-513. Institute charter schools - funding - at-risk
Page 2, Line 12supplemental aid - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal.
Page 2, Line 13(4.5) (a) For the 2012-13 budget year and each budget year thereafter
Page 2, Line 14through the 2024-25 budget year, the general assembly shall
Page 2, Line 15appropriate to the charter school institute the amount calculated for at-risk
Page 2, Line 16supplemental aid pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (4.5)
Page 2, Line 17subsection (4.5)(b) of this section for each institute charter school
Page 2, Line 18whose percentage of at-risk pupils is less than the percentage of at-risk
Page 2, Line 19pupils in the accounting district. For the 2025-26 budget year and the
Page 2, Line 202026-27 budget year, the general assembly shall appropriate to
Page 2, Line 21the charter school institute for allocation to institute charter
Page 2, Line 22schools the amount described in subsection (4.5)(b.5) of this
Page 2, Line 23section. At-risk supplemental aid is additional funding and does not
Page 2, Line 24supplant any other funding allocated pursuant to this section. The charter
Page 2, Line 25school institute shall pass through one hundred percent of an institute
Page 2, Line 26charter school's at-risk supplemental aid to the institute charter school.
Page 2, Line 27(b.5) For the 2025-26 budget year, each institute charter
Page 2, Line 28school's at-risk supplemental aid is the same amount that it
Page 2, Line 29received in the 2024-25 budget year. For the 2026-27 budget year,
Page 2, Line 30each institute charter school's at-risk supplemental aid is fifty
Page 2, Line 31percent of the amount that it received in the 2024-25 budget
Page 2, Line 32year.
Page 2, Line 33(d) If the appropriation to the charter school institute is
Page 2, Line 34insufficient to fund one hundred percent of the at-risk supplemental aid
Page 2, Line 35calculated determined pursuant to this subsection (4.5), the charter
Page 2, Line 36school institute shall reduce each institute charter school's at-risk
Page 2, Line 37supplemental aid proportionately.
Page 2, Line 38(e) This subsection (4.5) is repealed, effective July 1, 2028.
Page 2, Line 39SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 22-54-136.
Page 2, Line 40SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-30.5-408, amend
Page 2, Line 41(2)(a) as follows:
Page 2, Line 4222-30.5-408. Replenishment of qualified charter school debt
Page 2, Line 43service reserve funds - additional responsibilities - state treasurer -
Page 3, Line 1qualified charter schools - definitions.
Page 3, Line 2(2) (a) If the Colorado educational and cultural facilities authority
Page 3, Line 3has issued qualified charter school bonds on behalf of any a qualified
Page 3, Line 4charter school that fails immediately to restore its qualified charter school
Page 3, Line 5debt service reserve fund to the applicable qualified charter school debt
Page 3, Line 6service reserve fund requirement, the board of directors of the authority
Page 3, Line 7shall submit to the governor a certificate certifying any the amount of
Page 3, Line 8money required to restore the qualified charter school debt service reserve
Page 3, Line 9fund to the applicable qualified charter school debt service reserve fund
Page 3, Line 10requirement. The governor shall submit a request for appropriations in an
Page 3, Line 11amount sufficient to restore any or all qualified charter school debt
Page 3, Line 12reserve funds to their respective qualified charter school debt service
Page 3, Line 13reserve fund requirements, and the general assembly may, but is not
Page 3, Line 14required to, appropriate money for said that purpose. If, in its sole
Page 3, Line 15discretion, the general assembly appropriates any money for said that
Page 3, Line 16purpose, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of bonds for which
Page 3, Line 17money may be appropriated for said that purpose must not exceed seven
Page 3, Line 18hundred fifty million one billion dollars.".
Page 3, Line 19Renumber succeeding sections accordingly.
Page 3, Line 20Page 10, line 19, strike "and (4);" and substitute "(4), and (12)(d);".
Page 3, Line 21Page 17, after line 23 insert:
Page 3, Line 22"(I.5) If the general assembly is required to implement a
Page 3, Line 23smoothing factor pursuant to subsection (4)(d)(I) of this section,
Page 3, Line 24then prior to the smoothing factor's implementation, the
Page 3, Line 25general assembly shall consult a statewide association that
Page 3, Line 26represents school districts regarding the development and
Page 3, Line 27implementation of a smoothing factor. The consultation must
Page 3, Line 28include and consider the opinions of superintendents and chief
Page 3, Line 29financial officers of small rural school districts, rural school
Page 3, Line 30districts, suburban school districts, and urban school
Page 3, Line 31districts.".
Page 3, Line 32Page 19, after line 8 insert:
Page 3, Line 33"(e) If the department of education determines that a
Page 3, Line 34district's pupil enrollment or operating institute charter
Page 3, Line 35school's pupil enrollment for a preceding budget year included
Page 3, Line 36pupils who were not reported as multi-district online pupils, but
Page 3, Line 37were determined by the department of education to have been
Page 3, Line 38educated in a setting that was equivalent to a multi-district
Page 3, Line 39online program, the department of education shall use the
Page 4, Line 1adjusted district pupil enrollment or operating institute
Page 4, Line 2charter school's pupil enrollment for that preceding budget
Page 4, Line 3year when determining funded pupil count pursuant to this
Page 4, Line 4subsection (4).
Page 4, Line 5(12) District locale factor funding. (d) A district's classification,
Page 4, Line 6as described pursuant to subsection (12)(b) or (12)(c) of this section, is
Page 4, Line 7determined by the latest classifications or classification criteria issued by
Page 4, Line 8the national center for education statistics in the institute of education
Page 4, Line 9sciences of the United States department of education education's
Page 4, Line 10latest classification criteria or the classification criteria
Page 4, Line 11issued immediately prior to the latest classification criteria,
Page 4, Line 12whichever is the greater percentage.".
Page 4, Line 13Page 20, line 1, after "(7)(i)" insert "and (7)(j)".
Page 4, Line 14Page 20, after line 20 insert:
Page 4, Line 15"(j) If the department of education determines that a
Page 4, Line 16district's pupil enrollment or operating institute charter
Page 4, Line 17school's pupil enrollment for a preceding budget year included
Page 4, Line 18pupils who were not reported as multi-district online pupils, but
Page 4, Line 19were determined by the department of education to have been
Page 4, Line 20educated in a setting that was equivalent to a multi-district
Page 4, Line 21online program, the department of education shall use the
Page 4, Line 22adjusted district pupil enrollment or operating institute
Page 4, Line 23charter school's pupil enrollment for that preceding budget
Page 4, Line 24year when determining funded pupil count pursuant to this
Page 4, Line 25subsection (7).".
Page 4, Line 26Page 22, after line 4 insert:
Page 4, Line 27"SECTION 11. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-43.7-104,
Page 4, Line 28amend (1) and (2)(d)(I) as follows:
Page 4, Line 2922-43.7-104. Public school capital construction assistance fund
Page 4, Line 30- creation - crediting of money to fund - use of fund - emergency
Page 4, Line 31reserve - creation - reserve account - creation and use - definition.
Page 4, Line 32(1) (a) The public school capital construction assistance fund is hereby
Page 4, Line 33created in the state treasury. Subject to the limitation set forth in
Page 4, Line 34subsection (1)(b)(I) of this section, the principal of the assistance fund
Page 4, Line 35shall consist consists of all moneys money transferred or credited to the
Page 4, Line 36assistance fund pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. Except as
Page 4, Line 37otherwise provided in subsection (1)(b)(I) of this section, all
Page 4, Line 38interest and income earned on the deposit and investment of moneys
Page 4, Line 39money in the assistance fund shall be is credited to the assistance fund
Page 5, Line 1and shall not be is not transferred to the general fund or any other fund
Page 5, Line 2at the end of any fiscal year.
Page 5, Line 3(b) (I) (A) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, and each state
Page 5, Line 4fiscal year thereafter, the total amount of revenue credited in
Page 5, Line 5the state fiscal year to the assistance fund pursuant to this
Page 5, Line 6section must not exceed one hundred fifty million dollars,
Page 5, Line 7which amount must be annually adjusted for inflation for each
Page 5, Line 8state fiscal year thereafter and must include the lesser of the
Page 5, Line 9first forty million dollars or all the money received from the
Page 5, Line 10excise tax on retail marijuana that is required to be credited to
Page 5, Line 11the assistance fund pursuant to section 16 (5)(d) of article XVIII
Page 5, Line 12of the state constitution.
Page 5, Line 13(B) For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, and each state fiscal
Page 5, Line 14year thereafter, the state treasurer shall credit to the state
Page 5, Line 15public school fund created in section 22-54-114 (1) any amount of
Page 5, Line 16revenue that exceeds in the state fiscal year one hundred fifty
Page 5, Line 17million dollars, as adjusted annually for inflation for state
Page 5, Line 18fiscal years commencing on or after July 1, 2026, that otherwise
Page 5, Line 19would be credited to the assistance fund pursuant to this
Page 5, Line 20section.
Page 5, Line 21(II) As used in this subsection (1)(b), "inflation" means the
Page 5, Line 22annual percentage increase in the United States department of
Page 5, Line 23labor's bureau of labor statistics consumer price index, or a
Page 5, Line 24successor index, for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood for all items
Page 5, Line 25paid for by urban consumers.
Page 5, Line 26(2) (d) (I) (A) For the state fiscal year commencing July 1, 2018,
Page 5, Line 27the state treasurer, as provided in section 39-28.8-305 (1)(a), shall credit
Page 5, Line 28to the assistance fund the greater of the first forty million dollars received
Page 5, Line 29and collected from the excise tax on retail marijuana imposed pursuant to
Page 5, Line 30part 3 of article 28.8 of title 39 or ninety percent of the money received
Page 5, Line 31and collected from the tax. For the state fiscal year commencing July 1,
Page 5, Line 322019, and for each state fiscal year thereafter except for the state fiscal
Page 5, Line 33year commencing July 1, 2020, the state treasurer, as provided in section
Page 5, Line 3439-28.8-305 (1)(a), shall annually credit to the assistance fund all of the
Page 5, Line 35money received and collected from the excise tax on retail marijuana
Page 5, Line 36imposed pursuant to part 3 of article 28.8 of title 39. For the state fiscal
Page 5, Line 37year commencing July 1, 2020, the state treasurer, as provided in section
Page 5, Line 3839-28.8-305 (1)(a), shall credit to the assistance fund the lesser of the first
Page 5, Line 39forty million dollars received and collected from the excise tax on retail
Page 5, Line 40marijuana imposed pursuant to part 3 of article 28.8 of title 39 or all of
Page 5, Line 41the money received and collected from the tax. For state fiscal years
Page 5, Line 42commencing before July 1, 2019, the state treasurer shall credit twelve
Page 5, Line 43and five-tenths percent of the amount annually credited pursuant to this
Page 6, Line 1subsection (2)(d) to the charter school facilities assistance account, which
Page 6, Line 2account is created within the assistance fund. For each state fiscal year
Page 6, Line 3commencing on or after July 1, 2019, the state treasurer shall credit to the
Page 6, Line 4charter school facilities assistance account a percentage of the amount
Page 6, Line 5credited pursuant to this subsection (2)(d) that is equal to the percentage
Page 6, Line 6of pupil enrollment, as defined in section 22-54-103 (10), statewide
Page 6, Line 7represented by pupils who were enrolled in charter schools for the prior
Page 6, Line 8school year. The department of education shall notify the state treasurer
Page 6, Line 9of the applicable percentage no later than June 1 of the immediately
Page 6, Line 10preceding fiscal year For the state fiscal year commencing July 1,
Page 6, Line 112019, and for each state fiscal year thereafter, the state
Page 6, Line 12treasurer, as provided in section 39-28.8-305 (1)(a), shall
Page 6, Line 13annually credit to the assistance fund all of the money
Page 6, Line 14received and collected from the excise tax on retail marijuana
Page 6, Line 15imposed pursuant to part 3 of article 28.8 of title 39, subject to
Page 6, Line 16the limitation set forth in subsection (1)(b)(I) of this section.
Page 6, Line 17(B) There is created within the assistance fund the
Page 6, Line 18charter school facilities assistance account. For the 2019-20
Page 6, Line 19state fiscal year, and each state fiscal year thereafter, the
Page 6, Line 20state treasurer shall credit to the charter school facilities
Page 6, Line 21assistance account a percentage of the amount credited
Page 6, Line 22pursuant to this subsection (2)(d) that is equal to the
Page 6, Line 23percentage of pupil enrollment, as defined in section 22-54-103,
Page 6, Line 24statewide represented by pupils who were enrolled in charter
Page 6, Line 25schools for the prior school year. The department of education
Page 6, Line 26shall notify the state treasurer of the applicable percentage no
Page 6, Line 27later than June 1 of the immediately preceding state fiscal year.
Page 6, Line 28SECTION 12. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1209, amend
Page 6, Line 29(7) as follows:
Page 6, Line 3022-7-1209. State board - rules - department - duties.
Page 6, Line 31(7) Beginning in the 2019-20 budget year, the department shall contract
Page 6, Line 32with an entity to develop and implement a public information campaign
Page 6, Line 33to emphasize the importance of learning to read by third grade and to
Page 6, Line 34highlight the local education providers that are achieving high
Page 6, Line 35percentages of third-grade students who demonstrate reading competency.
Page 6, Line 36The public information campaign must be disseminated statewide and
Page 6, Line 37must emphasize the important roles that educators and parents have in
Page 6, Line 38teaching children to read and in providing a school and home
Page 6, Line 39environment that promotes reading. The department is encouraged to
Page 6, Line 40work with the public and private library agencies throughout the state in
Page 6, Line 41developing and implementing the public information campaign.
Page 6, Line 42SECTION 13. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-1-102, amend
Page 6, Line 43(88) and (88.5)(a); and add (60.2) as follows:
Page 7, Line 142-1-102. Definitions. As used in articles 1 to 4 of this title 42,
Page 7, Line 2unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 7, Line 3(60.2) "Multifunction school activity bus" means a motor
Page 7, Line 4vehicle that is designed and used specifically for the
Page 7, Line 5transportation of school children to or from a school-related
Page 7, Line 6activity, whether the activity occurs within or outside the
Page 7, Line 7territorial limits of a school district and whether or not the
Page 7, Line 8activity occurs during school hours. A "multifunction school
Page 7, Line 9activity bus" must comply with all federal motor vehicle safety
Page 7, Line 10standards and regulations applicable to school buses, except
Page 7, Line 11any standard or regulation requiring the installation of
Page 7, Line 12official traffic control devices.
Page 7, Line 13(88) "School bus" means a motor vehicle that is designed and used
Page 7, Line 14specifically for the transportation of school children to or from a public
Page 7, Line 15or private school or a school-related activity, whether the activity occurs
Page 7, Line 16within or without outside the territorial limits of any a school district
Page 7, Line 17and whether or not the activity occurs during school hours. "School bus"
Page 7, Line 18does not include informal or intermittent arrangements, such as sharing
Page 7, Line 19of actual gasoline expense or participation in a car pool, for the
Page 7, Line 20transportation of school children to or from a public or private school or
Page 7, Line 21a school-related activity A "school bus" must comply with all
Page 7, Line 22federal motor vehicle safety standards and regulations
Page 7, Line 23applicable to school buses.
Page 7, Line 24(88.5) (a) "School vehicle" means a motor vehicle, including, but
Page 7, Line 25not limited to, a school bus or multifunction school activity bus,
Page 7, Line 26that is owned by or under contract to a public or private school and
Page 7, Line 27operated for the transportation of school children to or from school or a
Page 7, Line 28school-related activity.
Page 7, Line 29SECTION 14. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-707, amend
Page 7, Line 30(1)(a) introductory portion and (5) introductory portion; and add (5)(a.5)
Page 7, Line 31as follows:
Page 7, Line 3242-4-707. Certain vehicles must stop at railroad grade
Page 7, Line 33crossings - definitions. (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this
Page 7, Line 34section, the driver of a school bus, as defined in subsection (5)(b) of this
Page 7, Line 35section or the driver of a multifunction school activity bus, as
Page 7, Line 36defined in subsection (5)(a.5) of this section, carrying any
Page 7, Line 37schoolchild the driver of a vehicle carrying hazardous materials that is
Page 7, Line 38required to be placarded in accordance with rules issued under section
Page 7, Line 3942-20-108, or the driver of a commercial vehicle, as defined in section
Page 7, Line 4042-4-235, that is transporting passengers, before crossing at grade any
Page 7, Line 41tracks of a railroad:
Page 7, Line 42(5) For the purposes of As used in this section:
Page 7, Line 43(a.5) "Multifunction school activity bus" means a
Page 8, Line 1multifunction school activity bus that is required to bear on
Page 8, Line 2the front and rear of the bus the words "ACTIVITY BUS"
Page 8, Line 3pursuant to section 42-4-1903 (2)(a.5).
Page 8, Line 4SECTION 15. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-1901, amend
Page 8, Line 5(2)(b) as follows:
Page 8, Line 642-4-1901. School buses - equipped with supplementary brake
Page 8, Line 7retarders. (2) (b) The general assembly encourages school districts to
Page 8, Line 8consider installing only electromagnetic retarders or state-of-the-art
Page 8, Line 9retarders for purposes of supplementing service brake systems of school
Page 8, Line 10buses when such retarders are acquired on or after April 17, 1991. The
Page 8, Line 11general assembly also encourages school districts to consider purchasing
Page 8, Line 12only those new school buses which that are equipped with external
Page 8, Line 13public address systems and retarders of appropriate capacity for purposes
Page 8, Line 14of supplementing any service brake systems of such school buses.
Page 8, Line 15SECTION 16. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 42-4-1902
Page 8, Line 16as follows:
Page 8, Line 1742-4-1902. School vehicle drivers - special training required.
Page 8, Line 18On and after July 1, 1992, the driver of any a school vehicle as defined
Page 8, Line 19in section 42-1-102 (88.5) owned or operated by or for any a school
Page 8, Line 20district in this state shall have successfully completed training approved
Page 8, Line 21by the department of education, concerning driving on mountainous
Page 8, Line 22terrain, as defined in section 42-4-1901 (3)(a), and driving in adverse
Page 8, Line 23weather conditions.
Page 8, Line 24SECTION 17. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-1903, amend
Page 8, Line 25(1)(a), (2)(a) introductory portion, and (3); and add (2)(a.5) as follows:
Page 8, Line 2642-4-1903. School buses - stops - signs - passing. (1) (a) The
Page 8, Line 27driver of a motor vehicle upon any highway, road, or street, upon meeting
Page 8, Line 28or overtaking from either direction any school bus that has stopped, shall
Page 8, Line 29stop the vehicle at least twenty feet before reaching the school bus if
Page 8, Line 30visual signal lights as specified in subsection (2) of this section have been
Page 8, Line 31actuated on the school bus. The driver shall not proceed until the visual
Page 8, Line 32signal lights are no longer being actuated. The driver of a motor vehicle
Page 8, Line 33shall stop when a school bus that is not required to be equipped with
Page 8, Line 34visual signal lights by subsection (2) of this section stops to receive or
Page 8, Line 35discharge schoolchildren.
Page 8, Line 36(2) (a) Every school bus as defined in section 42-1-102 (88), other
Page 8, Line 37than a small passenger-type vehicle having a seating capacity of not more
Page 8, Line 38than fifteen twelve, used for the transportation of schoolchildren shall
Page 8, Line 39must:
Page 8, Line 40(a.5) Every multifunction school activity bus as defined
Page 8, Line 41in section 42-1-102 (60.2) must bear on the front and rear of the
Page 8, Line 42bus the words "ACTIVITY BUS" in black letters not less than
Page 8, Line 43eight inches in height.
Page 9, Line 1(3) Every school bus used for the transportation of schoolchildren,
Page 9, Line 2except those small passenger-type vehicles described in subsection (1) of
Page 9, Line 3this section and multifunction school activity buses, shall must be
Page 9, Line 4equipped with school bus pedestrian safety devices that comply with 49
Page 9, Line 5CFR 571.131 or its successor regulation.".
Page 9, Line 6Renumber succeeding section accordingly.