UNDER THE DOME

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 3, 2003

CSAPs face cuts

DENVER - Colorado public school students would take fewer standardized tests under a budget-cutting measure that won approval Wednesday in a Senate committee.

Members of the Senate Education Committee voted 4-3 to approve Senate Bill 292, which suspends 10 Colorado Student Assessment Program tests for one year. Colorado gives 23 tests, so cutting 10 saves the state $7.28 million.

Students in grades three through eight would continue to take reading and math assessments, meaning Colorado still would meet the standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act that the U.S. Congress recently approved.

"Children would still be taking the CSAP, just in less subject areas," said Sen. Peggy Reeves, D-Fort Collins, the bill's sponsor.

No to budget bills

DENVER - The Senate Judiciary Committee defeated three budget- cutting bills Wednesday, including Senate Bill 283, a criminal- sentencing-reform measure that would have saved about $11 million.

It also defeated Senate Bill 289, which would have instituted a $10 fee for all instant criminal-background checks, such as the ones required to buy guns at gun shows.

The committee moved to kill Senate Bill 281, which would have increased the amount of earned time credit prisoners receive each month to decrease prison sentences.

The programs would have saved about $13.2 million as the state tries to cut nearly $1 billion from the proposed 2003-04 budget.

Merrifield success

DENVER - Freshman Rep. Michael Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, had his first bill signed into law last week.

Gov. Bill Owens signed into law House Bill 1034, one of six bills Merrifield sponsored during his first term in the House. All of his other bills died in committee.

The measure postpones implementation of the electronic sex- offender registration plan for one year until federal money is available to fund the program.

Cloer bill approved

DENVER - Gov. Bill Owens signed House Bill 1148 from Rep. Mark Cloer, R-Colorado Springs.

The measure reaffirms that those charged with a crime can use self- defense as a defense in criminal cases. Depending on the charges brought by a district attorney, self-defense is not always an option.

Cloer sponsored seven bills this session. Two others have been sent to the governor to sign or veto. The rest were killed in legislative committees.

- THE GAZETTE