Legislative Bills

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HB0197 | Income Tax Rate Modifications

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends the income tax rates.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
12 ▸amends the corporate franchise and income tax rates (from 4.95% to 4.5%); and
13 ▸amends the individual income tax rate.
This bill provides retrospective operation.

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 60
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose

2022 Income Tax Position Statement: Unless specifically targeted to low socio economic classes and military families, Utah PTA opposes broad income tax reductions as these directly affect funding for education.

Impact on Children: 

Utah PTA opposes any bill that would decrease the education fund and therefore funding for earmarked education. Utah has consistently ranked at the bottom of the per pupil spending as defined by the Census Bureau. Utah PTA believes that investing in Utah children will reap the best dividends for Utah and Utah economy. While Utah has done wonders with the comparatively low levels of funding dedicated to education, it has also come at a cost of overstretched teachers and large class sizes. Positively impacting these two will benefit Utah children.

Commission: 
Education
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA encourage the legislature to adequately fund critical educational needs, including but not limited to, class size reduction, teacher salaries, technology, textbooks and supplies

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

1. Support a 5% WPU increase with maximum flexibility to be used for purposes such as recruiting, supporting, and retaining teachers or upgrading buildings to be physically safe and secure.

HB0198 | Education Accountability Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to school overall ratings under the school accountability system.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 46
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

Stakeholders of all kinds recognize the inadequacy of a single letter grade for schools and it is crucial that ratings be as accurate and fair as possible. Parents and students are better served by accountability systems that take into account multiple characteristics for an overall rating.

Commission: 
Education
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA support systems of accountability for public schools that take into account qualitative characteristics, including a welcoming environment, family engagement efforts, administrative leadership, and community collaboration; in addition to quantitative measurements, such as educator qualifications, student absenteeism, average student tested
proficiency and student academic growth; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA advocates against the implementation of any accountability system that reduces the evaluation of a school to a single grade or score, that ranks schools beyond statistical confidence, and that grades on a bell curve; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies support increased funding to assist schools with their plans for school improvement; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA recognize the State Board of Education as the appropriate body to form standards of accountability and methods of school evaluation based on these standards; and that any legislative requirements should be made collaboratively with the State Board of Education and the expertise of the State Office of Education.

HB0199S03 | Voluntary Firearm Safekeeping Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses the voluntary commitment of a firearm in cases of domestic violence.

Highlighted Provisions: 

14 ▸ prohibits a law enforcement agency that receives a firearm from the owner or the
15 owner's cohabitant for safekeeping from returning the firearm to the owner if the
16 owner:
17 • is a restricted person; or
18 • is alleged to have committed a domestic violence offense and is subject to a jail
19 release agreement or a jail release court order;
20 ▸ directs the Department of Public Safety to create a pamphlet detailing a domestic
21 violence victim's rights to commit the perpetrator's firearm to a law enforcement
22 agency under certain circumstances; a

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 18
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support

Utah PTA advocates for gun safety and violence prevention measures for the benefit and safety of children while recognizing the importance of responsible gun ownership and Second Amendment rights to the citizens of Utah.

 

Impact on Children: 

For nearly 30 years, National PTA has advocated for common-sense and comprehensive gun safety and violence prevention measures while preserving the lawful use of firearms for sport and personal protection. This bill would prohibit the return of firearms to the owner if they are a restricted person or have committed a domestic violence offense.

Commission: 
Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
 

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

5. SAFETY. Support evidence-based community violence intervention and means reduction strategies.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

National PTA Position Statement- GUN SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION

National PTA advocates for restricting access to guns from persons who may
endanger public safety

Any effort to improve the safety of our nation's youth and our communities must be
comprehensive and include gun safety and violence-prevention measures.

• Enactment of Federal legislation that incentivizes states to adopt Extreme Risk
Protection Orders (ERPOs) or “red flag” laws that respect due process, individual privacy
and do not disproportionately discriminate against any individual based on race, gender,
disability or ethnicity

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

PTA Calls on Congress to Support Sensible Solutions to Gun Violence. No parent should have to fear for the safety of their child every time they leave home. Unfortunately, far too often, lives are lost or changed forever due to gun violence. PTA calls on Congress and the Administration to immediately address the many factors that contribute to the rampant gun violence in the United States.

HB0200S01 | Medicaid Waiver for Medically Complex Children Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends the Medical Assistance Act.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill amends application, eligibility, treatment, and evaluation provisions for the Medicaid program for children with complex medical conditions; and includes a child's behavioral health needs as a factor for prioritizing entrance into the program.

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 23, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 45
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Passage of this legislation will add a child's behavioral health needs and the impact of those needs upon the family as a criteria to prioritize a qualified child's entrance into the Medicaid program. This will allow for 300 additional children to receive each year to receive treatment.

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Underserved Children, Families and Pregnant Women. There must be assurances that low income and other high risk families have coverage for services that may not be included in a basic benefit plan such as outreach, case management, transportation, home visits and child care.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

NPTA PS: National Health Reform for Children, Youth, and Families and Pregnant Women

HB0201 | Traffic Enforcement Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Speed Safety Camera Pilot Program, amends restrictions on the use of a speed safety camera for traffic enforcement, and allocates fees collected from speed safety camera citations.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill defines terms; creates the Speed Safety Camera Pilot Program that allows the use of a speed safety camera without a peace officer present in certain circumstances; describes when law enforcement can use a speed safety camera for speed limit enforcement; limits the number of construction and school zones in which the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety may implement a speed safety camera enforcement program; allows a local highway authority to implement a speed safety camera program; limits the use of a speed safety camera in a school zone to times when traffic speeds are reduced in the school zone

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 01, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 31
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This legislation aims to enhance the enforcement of speed limits in school zones, ultimately ensuring the safe arrival of students at both school and home.

Commission: 
Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

2023 Child Pedestrian Safety Position Statement

RESOLVED, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage the Utah Department of Public Safety to update and review training programs for school crossing guards, as well as emphasize pedestrian safety in Drivers Education; and also urge the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) to implement a robust pedestrian safety curriculum for Utah schools; moreover, local PTAs are encouraged to take an active role in educating parents and students about pedestrian safety issues and solutions; and furthermore, encourage the Utah State Legislature and other government agencies to appropriate adequate funding specifically dedicated to safe school routes, pedestrian safety devices and technology to ensure safer street crossings

HB0204 | Trust Land Disposal Requirements

Description
General Description: 

This bill imposes conditions on the sale of school and institutional trust lands.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
12          ▸     requires the director of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration to
13     invite input from local legislators before advertising a proposed sale of trust lands;
14          ▸     adds specific requirements regarding the timing of a proposed sale of more than
15     5,000 contiguous acres of trust lands;

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 5
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

1. The bill requires duplicative notification that will delay selling land at the optimal time for the maximum revenue.
2. The bill requires large land sales take place only in and around the yearly legislative session.
3. SITLA lands are NOT public lands. They belong to the beneficiaries. This bill directly introduces a political entity into an agency created to avoid political influence.

4. The "beneficiaries" of these trust lands are the children. This would negatively impact the ability to properly care for and manage these lands thereby decreasing the funds distributed to the children's education.

Commission: 
Trust Lands
Education
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA encourage State and local officials to take all necessary steps to assure that
management of the School Trust Lands is in accordance with trust duties and principles
including undivided loyalty to the beneficiaries, a duty to make trust property productive, a
duty to keep and render accounts, and a duty to exercise prudence and skill in administering
the trust, thereby obtaining much-needed revenue for Utah's public schools;

HB0205 | Students with Disabilities Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends a formula related to add-on weighted pupil units for students with disabilities.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 12, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 61
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

1.  Provides a formula for state funding for students with disabilities that factors in growth of the number of these students based on a four year average.

Commission: 
Education
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2005-1 - Resolved, That Utah PTA and its organizations support continued state and local funding to at least the present level to sustain present programs to educate students with disabilities, including intellectual, physical, emotional, and psychological disabilities.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities 2019-20 #7. Support legislation, funding, and community partnerships that provide programs and resources to strengthen families and children’s social and emotional well being through affordable housing, homelessness initiatives, education, and parenting skills, and juvenile justice reforms.

HB0205 | Universal Background Checks for Firearm Purchases

Description
General Description: 

This bill requires a background check for certain firearm sales.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires background checks for the transfer of a firearm between persons who are not federal firearms licensees; creates exceptions for family members, law enforcement agencies and officers, and others; allows for temporary transfers under specific circumstances; provides criminal penalties for a violation of the provisions of this bill;
 

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 28
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support w/ Comment

Comment:
Utah PTA advocates for gun safety and violence prevention measures for the benefit and safety of children while recognizing the importance of responsible gun ownership and Second Amendment rights to the citizens of Utah.

Impact on Children: 

For nearly 30 years, National PTA has advocated for common-sense and comprehensive gun safety and violence prevention measures while preserving the lawful use of firearms for sport and personal protection.

Commission: 
Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

5. Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children to prevent suicide, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking,

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

National PTA Firearms Position Statement
Given the history and tradition of strong support for the safety and protection of children and youth, the National PTA supports federal restrictions on firearms that would require, prior to purchasing a firearm, a waiting period and background check to screen out illegal firearm purchasers such as convicted felons and drug-related offenders;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Enact Legislation to Protect Youth, Families and Communities From Gun and Other Violence Firearms are the second-leading cause of death for American children and teens, with nearly 1,600 children and teens dying by gun homicide every year. Congress must:
Require a waiting period and a comprehensive background check for any individual prior to buying a firearm from both licensed and unlicensed dealers

HB0208 | Alcohol Education Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends and enacts provisions regarding media and education campaigns about alcohol.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 28, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 51
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/FAE) are recognized as the leading cause of mental retardation and behavioral dysfunction in children and are entirely preventable.  This bill will provide funding for one or more media and education campaigns designed to reduce the consumption of alcohol while pregnant which will help to prevent FAS/FAE in children. 

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA work to ensure that there are questions asked in prenatal health care about use of alcohol, and that the medical community understand and work to educate people concerning the prevention of FAS/FAE

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

The Utah PTA is a non-profit, grassroots, child advocacy association made up of parents, teachers, and students. The legislative program of the Utah PTA is derived from the work of PTA in home, school, and community. PTA efforts “to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth” are based upon:

1. The recognition of the home as the foundation of our society;
2. Parental involvement as an essential component of all policy-making processes pertaining to children

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

6. Support measures to instill proven and effective prevention methods to promote healthy behaviors in children to be able to overcome the ills of society including suicide, tobacco use, vaping, underage drinking, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, bullying, and any form of addiction that is harmful to our children’s well-being.

HB0208 | Safe Routes to School Program

Description
General Description: 

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to implement a program to provide safe routes to school.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 25, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 32
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

Safe walking routes to school protects our children from harm and accident.

Commission: 
Education
Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That local PTAs review and offer suggestions on pedestrian safety for each school's child access
routing plan.

Resolved, That Utah PTA continue to work with the Utah State Legislature to secure adequate
funding specifically dedicated to safe school routes and pedestrian safety devices

National PTA Public Policy Agenda