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Senate passes bill requiring higher-education academic-adjustment policies after debate over costs
Summary
The Colorado Senate on March 3 passed Senate Bill 87, which directs higher-education institutions to create and adopt formal policies for academic adjustments for students with disabilities.
The Colorado Senate on March 3 passed Senate Bill 87, a bill that requires institutions of higher education to develop and implement policies for academic adjustments to support students with disabilities. Supporters said the measure will provide clearer processes for students to request accommodations and improve retention and graduation rates; opponents questioned the fiscal implications for institutions.
Senator Marchman, sponsor of SB87, described the bill as a tool to reduce barriers for students with disabilities and to ensure institutions have accessible, consistent mechanisms for adjustments and appeals. "This bill will improve educational outcomes, boost our workforce, and reduce inequality. I urge you to support this bill today for a stronger, more inclusive Colorado," Marchman said on the floor.
Senator Rich and other critics focused on the bill's fiscal note. Rich told the Senate the University of Colorado indicated the bill would require new policies and processes that could impose costs; she said that the university estimated the change would have a material cost and that the budget analyst had acknowledged those potential line-item impacts. A member identified in the transcript as the minority leader urged a no vote, citing the fiscal note's departmental difference that the floor record characterized as "a million 115,000 per year and up to 9 FTE to implement the bill" and argued the session faced broader budget priorities.
Marchman and supporters said institutions could leverage existing resources and that the bill includes consultation requirements with disability services and advocacy groups. The sponsor and backers argued the long-term economic and social benefits of increased graduation and workforce participation outweigh upfront costs.
The Senate adopted an Education Committee amendment (L004) on the floor before final passage. The transcript records the outcome as "the ayes have it, and that bill is adopted."
SB87 will move forward under the legislative process after the Senate's passage.
