Community College Pay and Benefits Equity Act of 2014 (HB 14-1154)
NOTE: March 8, 2016
More detail on the lobbyists hired by the Colorado Community College System administration to defeat the bill, as well as detail on lobbyists hired by other Colorado institutions to help defeat the bill. This report also includes detail on those who supported the bill and those who monitored it.
NOTE: Oct. 2, 2015
Lobbyists under contract to the Colorado Community College System administration (JLH Consulting & Public Affairs, LLC and the Capstone Group, LLC) were paid $62,497 to oppose HB 14-1154, according to the Colorado Secretary of State's office. To help defeat a second equal-pay-for-equal-work bill the next year (SB15-094), the same lobbyists were paid by the CCCS $69,579. To read what new research reveals about the CCCS, see The 2015 CCCS Adjunct Index published yesterday by the AAUP Chapters of the CCCS.
Colorado Secretary of State's Office Lobbyist Report for HB 14-1154 lists which lobbyists the CCCS administration hired to defeat the bill and what CCCS administration paid the lobbyists. A second report lists other institutions, such as the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, the Metro North Chamber of Commerce and Aims Community College, who paid their lobbyists to help CCCS administration defeat HB 14-1154.
Obstacles met creating The 2015 CCCS Adjunct Index Tips described in post published by the AAUP Academe blog:
Think outside the box and publish an index
Bill update and history:
Latest news and bill history updated 4/13/2014
Audio recording of final hearing of HB 14-1154 (House Appropriations, 4/10/2014)
Fiscal note (Zero, 2014; slightly slower rate of growth, 2015-2020.)
Read the pre-amended version of the bill (3/27/2014)
Read the original of the bill:
Community College Pay and Benefits Equity Act of 2014 (HB 14-1154)
How to fund HB 14-1154: Analysis of CCCS finances
Write to your legislators: "Say YES to HB 14-1154 to strengthen our community colleges!"
State Affairs Committee hears the Bill, Feb. 3, 2014
State Affairs Committee passes HB 14-1154 by a 7-4 vote.
Audio Recording of State Affairs Committee Hearing of HB 14-1154
AAUP President Rudy Fichtenbaum, left, with Rep. Randy Fischer, testifies in regard to CCCS finances, and in support of the measure.
Professors Larry Eson, left, and Melinda Myrick confer before the hearing.
Coverage of the hearing, Feb. 3, 2014:
Chronicle of Higher Education: (Feb. 4, 2014)
Colorado Lawmakers Take Up Sweeping Overhaul of Adjunct Working Conditions
Ft. Collins Coloradoan: (Feb. 3, 2014)
Pay raises for community college adjunct faculty moves ahead in Colorado legislature
Coverage of the bill:
KGNU Radio: Host Liz Lane (Feb. 20, 2014)
interviews Don Eron of the AAUP, and Rep. Randy Fischer, bill sponsor
Ft. Collins Coloradoan: (Feb. 2, 2014)
Legislation proposes pay raise, benefits for part-time faculty at Colo. community colleges
The Denver Post: (Feb. 3, 2014)
Bill raises pay for adjunct profs at Colorado community colleges
Editorials:
The Grand Junction Sentinel (April 13, 2014)
by Caprice Lawless
Legislators who squelched HB 14-1154 maintained gross enequity for faculties of community colleges
The Grand Junction Sentinel (April 11, 2014)
by Charles Ashby
Bill addressing adjunct prof pay proves too costly
The Boulder Daily Camera (March 9, 2014)
Equity bill can fix community college system
by Don Eron, AAUP Colo. Conf. Exec. Committee and National AAUP Committee A
Ft. Collins Coloradoan (March 7, 2014)
Some community college faculty have been swept under the rug
by Stephen Mumme, AAUP Colo. Conf. Co-President
The Denver Post (Feb. 5, 2014)
By the Denver Post Editorial Board
Rebuttals by Eric Easley, Don Eron and Larry Eson
The Denver Post (Feb. 14, 2014)
The plight of adjunct instructors is real by Francis Wardle
Blog posts:
Academe, by Don Eron, AAUP Colo. Conf. Exec. Committee (Feb. 14, 2014)
Colorado community college equity act song and video
Press Conference: Rep. Randy Fischer, Jan. 17, 2014
Background on the bill: