Tax credits, PERA trustees up tomorrow in House

HB-1048, by Rep. Spencer Swalm (R-Centennial) and Sen. Kevin Lundberg (R-Berthoud), would create tax credits for families to send their children to private or religious schools or to be home schooled. CEA opposes the bill. It would create a tax credit equal to half the state’s average per-pupil funding amount; a $1,000 tax credit for home-schooled children; and a tax credit for people to give scholarships to students to attend private schools, equal to the scholarship amount or half the state average per-pupil funding amount, whichever is less.

We oppose HB 1048 because we do not believe in using public dollars for private and religious schools.

Coloradans defeated a private school tax credit measure (Amendment 17) in 1998 by 60%. Similar bills have died in the Legislature since then.

The bill’s sponsors are trying to sell the bill as a way to save the state money. Really.

HB 1048 was scheduled for a hearing in House Education yesterday, but it was instead referred to House Finance where it will be heard tomorrow afternoon.

The PERA Trustees bill, HB 1008, will also be heard tomorrow in House Finance. The bill was to have been heard last week, but it was delayed.

The bill would modify the composition of the PERA Board. Currently there are 15 trustees, 11 of whom are PERA members elected by PERA members (3 State, 4 School, 1 Local Govt, 1 Judicial, 2 Retirees) plus the State Treasurer and three Governor appointees who are not PERA members. The bill proposes 15 trustees, six of whom would be PERA members elected by PERA members (2 School, 1 State, 1 Local Govt, 1 Judicial, 1 Retiree) plus the State Treasurer and eight trustees appointed by the Governor who are not PERA members or retirees.

CEA opposes HB 1008. Increasing the number of political appointees on the PERA Board of Trustees would politicize the board which acts responsibly in carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities.

And here’s some good news. The Wyoming State Senate killed a bill today that would have eliminated continuing contract status for teachers under the state’s teacher employment law. Watch a short Wyoming EA video to see what Senators had to say.

Explore posts in the same categories: Colorado Legislature, K-12 Funding, PERA, Public Education, public employee retirement, Public Schools, School Funding, School Vouchers, Taxes, Teachers

Tags: CEA, Colorado Education Association, Colorado Legislature, defined benefit pension plan, K-12 funding, PERA, public education budget cuts, public employee retirement, retirement security, school employee retirement, teacher pensions, teacher retirement

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