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Committee fixes compact citations to protect military‑connected students’ access to school services
Summary
Lawmakers advanced HB 26 12 94 to correct federal citation language in the Military Interstate Children’s Compact statute, a technical change sponsors and compact officials said will prevent confusion about eligibility for military students transferring between states.
The State Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee voted to advance House Bill 26 12 94, which makes targeted statutory edits to the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Act references so Colorado’s law cites the correct federal provisions and preserves educational continuity for military‑connected students.
Representative Espinosa, sponsor of the measure, said the change replaces references to “section” with “chapter” in federal citations so Colorado’s statute points to the correct authority. Witnesses representing the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission said the edit is technical, consistent with similar corrections made in other member states, and intended to avoid any latent ambiguity that could affect a child’s access to educational services when a family relocates.
Antonio Huerta, a state liaison for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, told the committee Colorado houses thousands of National Guard and active‑duty families tied to installations such as Fort Carson and the academy; he said the compact helps ensure students moving midyear do not lose academic progress. Christie McGee, a representative of the state compact, and Samantha Nance, general counsel for the Commission, echoed that the change is housekeeping to maintain accurate federal cross‑references and asked for support.
Representative Espinosa moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; the committee polled and the chair announced the bill passed unanimously.
