Three Republican senators united in committee today behind a bill by a freshman Democrat that will require English language competency of all students before graduating high school.

Senate Bill 73, by Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, 5-3, as two Democrats joined the trio of Republicans. The measure is headed to the full Senate for consideration.

“This is a good bill,” said This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , R-Fort Collins. “People who are graduating in Colorado need the assurance of the English language.”

GOP Senators This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , of Littleton, and This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , of Wray, joined with Johnson, as did Senators Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, and President Pro-tem Peter Groff, also of Denver, in approving the bill. Democrat Senators Sue Windels, of Arvada, Stephanie Takis, of Aurora, and Abel Tapia, of Pueblo, voted against the proposal.

“My concern is ‘what is competency?’” said Tapia. “Would I have been able to pass it?”

Windels said she was all for English competency but suggested that the state does a poor job of funding such programs.

SB 73 aims to help Coloradans who are hindered by their second-language status to better assimilate into the workforce after graduating high school. Navigating business, commerce and safety all require knowledge of the English language, argues supporters.

“It's time the Legislature recognized what immigrants throughout our nation's history have recognized,” said Kopp. “If you want to succeed in an English-based school system and an English-based economy, you need to learn to speak English. Every parent in Colorado can get behind this bill.”

The bill's sponsor also made a human rights argument for the bill.

“Death rates for Hispanic workers are 20 percent higher than those of other workers on job sites,” said Romer. “English competency can help reduce death rates at workplaces.”

If it becomes law, SB 73 – which asks for no funding – will go into effect in 2012. That should give schools time to experiment with tactics and realign their resources in order to meet the requirements, said Romer.

School districts will get to individually define “competency,” which is critical because needs vary by district. However, it is certain that SB 73 ups the ante on districts to focus on English language acquisition and competency.