[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6110545,"mediaKeyId","2757646-4e81656dd9f916674d62ec7824afd663","parentId",2757646,"title","House panel advances bill to add opioid-overdose education, allow naloxone funding pathways for high schools","audioSeconds",47,"startMs",4309000,"endMs",4356000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2757646-4e81656dd9f916674d62ec7824afd663&start=4309&end=4356","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2757646-4e81656dd9f916674d62ec7824afd663/thumbnail_4309000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6110545/Colorado/House-panel-advances-bill-to-add-opioid-overdose-education-allow-naloxone-funding-pathways-for-high-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110545-ff9723a4fcc026eb2b4bf5eb36eb040c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161930&Signature=espqsfEiXgDpe-Oo1tIV5Qj7WrsuZSzlQHuICPj0~ifDvq5eifaFQZAWVLcx4IQbHlF1zWvezVDiY4K2JbXiXTOb7j47LuG4SVyp9hYKXL-Ys-fLW1gDHmbY14ZQWIk2ndObcZQxziufz0PXWVmcBGeYGmHByuxcv3xML-O6zrdLmMImdHndo9QYqAf0T7Lp7mYWmgTfm8icGe~h63MRV-9uFIMJ63RtRMElpiJwuBV-ExORMo0PjVxgTrgo69inNUUsN~vPnfrIbBG4DGL3rKCXyamCtk5O4NIw9m1OIclJhVaJWbp~MwDsGwTj-EPzQCDQ~JZUBdxiV7NA94ETvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colorado State Legislature","date","2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 1293, sponsored by Representative Dena Jackson, took a step forward in the Colorado House Education Committee after supporters said the measure would expand students’ ability to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses and opponents warned it could let pharmaceutical money influence school supplies.

Jackson framed the bill as a 2‑pronged approach: \"First, through education and prevention. . . . Second, access to life‑saving medication,\" she told the committee, saying the State Board of Education would be required to integrate evidence‑based overdose prevention into high‑school health standards and that the board could seek public or private funding for opioid antagonists such as naloxone.

Why it matters: Supporters said opioids, particularly fentanyl, are appearing in the teen drug supply and that students and bystanders need consistent, evidence‑based information and access to reversal medication. Opponents, including providers who deliver harm‑reduction and behavioral‑health services, said schools already partner with local experts and receive naloxone through a state bulk‑purchase fund and voiced particular concern about private donations and the danger of higher‑dose products.

Committee debate and changes: Sponsors brought amendments during the hearing to address several concerns raised in stake‑holding. Representative Jackson and Minority Leader Brett Pugliese said they removed a training requirement that would have been tied to student access to naloxone so the bill remained consistent with pending Senate action. The sponsors also added a deadline amendment that would let the State Board implement standards off cycle if $20,000 in non‑general‑fund gifts or grants were received by July 1, 2027; if not, the standards would enter the regular 2028 review cycle.

Who spoke: Supporters included Jackson and Pugliese (bill sponsors), medical students and physician groups, Mental Health Colorado and Parent Teacher Association representatives. Opposition testimony featured Bria Kinsella, CEO of the Colorado Providers Association; Betsy Craft of Colorado Drug Policy Coalition; Lisa Rayville of the Harm Reduction Action Center; and other behavioral‑health and peer‑led groups. Kinsella told the committee, \"There is no urgent gap in access that this bill addresses,\" arguing that the state bulk purchase fund already supplies naloxone to schools. Rayville and others warned the bill could create a route for higher‑dose naloxone to reach schools.

Funding and oversight: Sponsors said the bill contains a fiscal note tied only to an off‑cycle implementation ($20,000) that would be met with gifts, grants or donations; they stressed the bill will not go into effect on the standard schedule unless the money is raised. Legislative Council staff explained the timing mechanics in response to member questions; sponsors said appropriations would confirm fiscal impacts before floor action.

Committee action and next steps: The committee approved amendments and moved the bill to the Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation. The committee record shows the bill passed the Education Committee unanimously and will go to Appropriations for further review.

What remains open: Opponents urged stronger language to require that community harm‑reduction providers and peers be explicitly included in standards development and to limit private donations as a source of naloxone for schools. Sponsors said they are open to further amendments and stakeholder input as the bill advances.

Votes at a glance
House Education Committee—HB 1293 (as amended): moved to Appropriations with favorable recommendation; committee recorded the bill as passing the Education Committee and headed to Appropriations (unanimous on the floor of the committee; detailed roll‑call tally not specified in the transcript).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education [Mar 20, 2025]","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 1293, sponsored by Representative Dena Jackson, took a step forward in the Colorado House Education Committee after supporters said the measure would expand students’ ability to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses and opponents warned it could let pharmaceutical money influence school supplies.","taxTitle","Education, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Colorado","taxId",43263,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110535,"House panel lays over bill to ban seclusion after lengthy testimony from parents, educators and advocates",1844,10241000,12085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2757646-4e81656dd9f916674d62ec7824afd663&start=10241&end=12085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2757646-4e81656dd9f916674d62ec7824afd663/thumbnail_10241000.jpg","/articles/6110535/Colorado/House-panel-lays-over-bill-to-ban-seclusion-after-lengthy-testimony-from-parents-educators-and-advocates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110535-73fd1d468efb2e0c485925e808f9dfee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161930&Signature=jALvr3~gV~JQk6ql-UNF9RqC6Vr2arP58IszvQ3b3KEnE7BZBAkWF9hsTyDdBDL5Iil-7twRszvDwJ1QJRHsaxXAzP9QAifI3DOcncVtBqF8Exbq~afuz3ZMX8DYfxhuTLXbFly96VxUGsKeh~1CznqYBdCzMdmF8E9jDjDcAcWCReHFQaQxBp-gATKm5AVHJs~gSRG0vCtIE40S7wb-EQNOx9D6-rcS~ihYB3pmLUTc62Zz3i7w8Bniic-aj92RCMz1V9YcRAj9T9X8GIJntYyxVneyVyEElkvl0CtvqTCoj0hk4VJWTqUWUD5X7A7eIMGny-KRVCgkOPygDF9IYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Meg English introduced a bill to prohibit the routine use of seclusion in Colorado public schools and to require clearer reporting and oversight; after extensive oral testimony, the House Education Committee laid the measure over for action only, leaving the amendment phase open for further work.

What the bill seeks to do: English told the committee the bill would ban seclusion practices that leave a student alone in a room or area from which egress is involuntarily prevented. She said the statute referenced a separate definition (C.R.S. § 26‑21‑02) and that committee work must clarify the difference between trauma‑informed de‑escalation spaces and locked seclusion.

Why it matters: Supporters, including disability advocates and parents, described long‑term harm from seclusion. Several witnesses said seclusion can cause PTSD‑like symptoms and cited cases in which children later required hospitalization or repeatedly experienced nightmares after being placed in small locked spaces. \"He has frequent nightmares about being locked in a small room,\" a parent‑witness said of her son who was later hospitalized.

Opposition and operational concerns: Special‑education leaders and district staff told the committee they use de‑escalation and sensory rooms and described rare circumstances in which seclusion was used to protect students and staff from acute harm — particularly where physical restraint would risk injury. Witnesses described buildings and training practices: some districts use supervised, impact‑resistant rooms with staff monitoring at the door; others described last‑resort scenarios in which restraints led to injuries and seclusion had been used to reduce continued harm.

Key technical issues raised in testimony
- Definition and boundary problems: Several witnesses and members asked for a clear statutory definition that differentiates a supervised, voluntary de‑escalation area (student can freely enter and exit) from involuntary seclusion (student is alone and prevented from egress). English acknowledged the text needed clarification and flagged statutory cross‑references (for example, section 26‑21‑02) that the committee should reconcile.
- Data and reporting: Testimony showed districts vary widely in how they record seclusion and restraint. Some districts reported few seclusion incidents; others showed more frequent use of de‑escalation rooms. Several witnesses called for stronger reporting and oversight so misuse could be detected.
- Training and staffing: District leaders emphasized shortages of staff trained to de‑escalate students. Several superintendents and principals said removing seclusion without clear, funded alternatives would increase risk to educators and classmates and could push more students into restraints, arrest or out‑of‑home placements.

Committee action: Representative English asked that the bill be laid over for action only to allow additional drafting and stakeholder work. The committee granted that request and left the amendment phase open. English and advocates said they will continue to work with educators, parents and rule‑makers to tighten language and clarify reporting and enforcement.

Proponents and opponents: Proponents included parents, disability‑rights advocates and community groups (The Arc of Colorado, Advocacy Denver and family‑led organizations) who called seclusion a form of incarceration in schools. Opponents and cautionary witnesses included the Consortium of Directors of Special Education, district special‑education directors and school principals who said bans without funded alternatives and training could create safety risks for students and staff.

What’s next: The bill was laid over for further amendment and stakeholder work; sponsors and advocates said they will continue negotiations on precise statutory language, reporting metrics, and transitions to alternatives and staff training.","Representative Meg English asked the House Education Committee to ban school seclusion; after hours of testimony from parents, advocates, principals and special‑education directors, the committee laid the measure over for further drafting and stakeholder work.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110540,"House committee backs bill to ease documentation for college disability accommodations",2333,4078000,6411000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2757646-4e81656dd9f916674d62ec7824afd663&start=4078&end=6411","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2757646-4e81656dd9f916674d62ec7824afd663/thumbnail_4078000.jpg","/articles/6110540/Colorado/House-committee-backs-bill-to-ease-documentation-for-college-disability-accommodations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110540-e140b0376dc142f05f4f997df1026cff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161930&Signature=j-Z8Ow~UJnOuSHi455jawzZdKMDb4wjon5xqXzklFZ0eoHvfB61jlw1T7hWhakOOxnbsESXnHnDQU-ml9~JNkD8lyO2PyYpqvKrUD9IcohxEKcQh42nGA57AD6WlUaqZF90HYyPDLbqlxkFPl64blD657ZH0ECs~iZWtZ0SFn7FReUNKk3AOH5p6idQy8N42nrxMQLncD0DoNpP51S1u6Szub2jx1z3Sc~TVViPotc-TwPTcR3G6ebs3vOt62jgobe5yNKqbM~LpQjIOR71wYrvc4xbxqySTSq14kNA4YkOrr8ZACO0~qLar719QrETqxlFyGEpdyDRR9B0vR7Hz6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee voted 12‑1 to advance Senate Bill 87 after sponsors said the measure would ease a common administrative hurdle for students transitioning from K‑12 to higher education: duplication of disability documentation.

The sponsors, Representative Alice Stewart and Representative Rhett Brooks, told the committee the bill is narrowly focused on documentation hurdles that can delay a student's access to accommodations. \"This is an adjustment, not a modification request,\" Stewart said, citing the federal regulatory distinction: academic adjustments ensure access but do not fundamentally change curriculum or credentials.

Why it matters: Colleges and universities generally provide academic adjustments after a student self‑discloses a disability and supplies documentation. Sponsors said many students arrive with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 plan developed in K‑12 and then face new documentation demands at the postsecondary level — expense and delay that can prevent prompt support.

Major points and amendments: Sponsors said the bill would identify best practices, including accepting a single well‑developed IEP or 504 plan as initial documentation to start an accommodation request. Higher‑education representatives sought and won a clarifying amendment (L5) to limit the bill’s effect to students admitted to institutions (to avoid triggering costs for already enrolled caseloads) and to align statutory language with federal definitions; sponsors said the amendment responded to university requests and reduced concerns about unfunded mandates.

Support and testimony: Students who are identified as twice‑exceptional and representatives from disability advocates testified in support. Venice Mitchell, a student with dyslexia and other processing disabilities, told the committee she and her siblings faced repeated testing and thousands of dollars in redundant evaluations when seeking college accommodations. Jack Johnson of Disability Law Colorado explained the federal law’s standard that schools need not make “fundamental alterations” to curriculum and said the bill addresses gaps in how institutions apply federal rules in practice.

Opposition and concerns: Some institutions raised questions about implementation costs and internal capacity; legislative staff and sponsors said most institutions anticipated covering administrative steps from existing budgets and the L5 amendment was intended to address those concerns.

Committee action: The committee adopted the clarifying amendment and voted 12‑1 to send the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation. Representative Johnson cast the sole recorded no vote.

What the bill does not do: Sponsors and witnesses repeatedly stressed the bill does not expand what constitutes an academic credential or lower professional or licensure standards; it does not mandate fundamental curricular changes. Instead, it aims to streamline the intake and documentation process so students can request accommodations promptly when they arrive on campus.

Votes at a glance
House Education Committee—Senate Bill 87 (as amended): moved to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; committee vote recorded 12 yes, 1 no.","The House Education Committee voted 12‑1 to send Senate Bill 87 to the Committee of the Whole after sponsors said the bill would set best practices to make it easier for students with disabilities to receive academic adjustments in college, and stakeholders pressed for clarifying language and protections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House panel advances bill to add opioid-overdose education, allow naloxone funding pathways for high schools

House panel lays over bill to ban seclusion after lengthy testimony from parents, educators and advocates

House committee backs bill to ease documentation for college disability accommodations