Legislative Bills

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HB0238S01 | Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill criminalizes certain conduct relating to child sexual abuse material.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill amends the definition of child sexual abuse material; and provides a severability clause.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 13, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 54
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill expands the definition of child sexual abuse material to include any visual depiction of explicit sexual conduct involving a minor. It also introduces a severability clause that allows the rest of the charges to remain in effect even if one provision of the charges is deemed invalid. This will offer greater protection to children who are victims of sexual exploitation.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations promote and support the adoption and enforcement of laws, at all levels of government, to end the recruitment, force or involvement of a minor in conduct or violence of a sexual nature and all forms of sexual exploitation; Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage and call for members, policy makers, schools and community organizations to actively raise awareness and to address those conditions and situations that contribute to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

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

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Address threats to the safety and well-being of children that can happen online, such as cyberbullying, exploitation, criminal activity and violence.

HB0240 | Income Tax Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies income tax provisions.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Reduces income tax rates from from 4.85% to 4.65%

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 03, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 57
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

This bill has an exorbitant costs to Utah students: 1 time: 86.3 Million; Ongoing 380 Million = Total 466 Mill. Being 50th in the nation, Utah children deserve significant increases in public eduction funding, not reduction.

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations oppose funding mechanisms such as vouchers, tax credits, deduction

HB0241S03 | Clean Energy Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies provisions relating to clean energy.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Changes the term renewable to clean where appropriate in statute

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 12, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 70
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose

Renewable energy is categorized as clean, yet not all clean energy falls under the renewable umbrella. Clean energy encompasses a broader spectrum of sources, some of which may not be sustainable in the long run. In contrast, renewable energy specifically targets sources that are both clean and naturally replenished.

Impact on Children: 

By changing verbiage to allow less sustainable sources of energy we are affecting our children's environmental rights.

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

The Right of Utah's Children to a Sustainable, Healthy Environment Position Statement

That Utah PTA exhorts governments, businesses, and individuals to invest in cleaner technologies, RENEWABLE energy sources, and infrastructure improvements that will lead to a healthier environment for all, especially for children and youth.

HB0241 | School Epilepsy Training Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill requires a local education agency to provide training on seizures and seizure disorders.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
requires a local education agency to provide training on seizures to teachers and other individuals; and requires the State Board of Education to adopt training and program guidelines.
 

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 23, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 50
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill would provide seizure information and first aid training in Utah public and charter schools to prepare staff for how to respond if a student has a seizure at school.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA work with school districts and local schools to encourage first aid training and use of universal precautions for all school personnel.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Utah Legislative Policy : Policy #4
Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

A founding purpose of National PTA is to promote safety for children and youth.
PTA firmly believes that all students—including students from historically marginalized populations—have the right to a quality, equitable education in a safe, supportive and inclusive school.

HB0242S03 | Charter School Operations and School Accounting Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends certain provisions related to school accounting methods, and the approval, oversight, and closure of charter schools by an authorizer.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 28, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 2
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

1.  Provides fiscal accountability for charter schools which help ensure the successful operation and viability of the school for students who attend charter schools.

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

3. Support accountability for all public schools that take into account the needs of students, teachers, and communities.
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.

HB0242 | State Board of Education Revisions

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to the State Board of Education.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 20
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

Children are most successful in education when their parents are actively engaged in their education. This bill takes away the ability of parents to be active participants in the election of Board members who are accountable to the people and represent their constituents regarding public education.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA recognizes the State Board of Education as the body elected to establish policy and standards for education in the State of Utah; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA work closely with the State Board of Education in designing and implementing policies and educational standards that benefit the children of the State of Utah; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA support legislation which enacts direct, nonpartisan election of State School Board members and opposes partisan election of the same body.

HB0242S02 | Water Usage Data Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses water usage data.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Requires the Division of Water Resources to conduct a study of public school water use; requires publication and reporting of study findings and recommendations

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 01, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 20
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$85,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025: to Department of Natural Resources - Water Resources - Planning as a one-time appropriation: from the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund, One-time, $85,000
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill seeks to conduct a study of school water usage and it will end with printed report and suggestions to possibly decrease water consumption and ensure conservation for our children's children.

Commission: 
Health
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

The Right of Utah's Children to a Sustainable, Healthy Environment.

-Utah PTA is committed to supporting policies that encourage efficient water management and promoting water conservation practices in our communities,

HB0243S02 | Warning Labels Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates a cause of action that may be brought against a person who distributes pornography without a visible warning.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Became Law w/o Governor Signature
Last Action: 
Apr 01, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 27
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill creates a cause of action that may be brought against a person who distributes pornography without a visible warning.  Allows for a civil penalty to for up to $2500.

Commission: 
Family Life
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support the adoption and enforcement of laws, at all levels of government, to include appropriate penalties for predators who purposely distribute pornographic material to minors and that will curtail the production, distribution and exhibition of materials which depict, in an explicit manner, intimate and sexual conduct and violence of a sexually-oriented nature

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

2. High standards for those who work in all areas concerned with children and youth

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

4. Support safe practices and environments for all children.

HB0248 | Education Fund Designation Ratio

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to the Education Fund.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 61
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

This Bill caps the amount of new revenue going into the Education Fund that can be used to fund higher education, which will help provide greater funds for K-12 Public Education funding. In 1996 voters approved a constitutional amendment which allows the Legislature to use the Education Fund for higher education. Since that time the percentage of the Education Fund budget used for higher ed has continued to increase.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA continue to urge the legislature to make public education revenue allocations and funding effort a high priority; and be it further Resolved, 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;

HB0249S02 | Education Related Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses parental engagement in the education arena.

Highlighted Provisions: 
  • This bill:
  • 12 ▸ addresses a parent's access to and submission of education records;
  • 13 ▸ grants rulemaking authority;
  • 14 ▸ directs the state board to create record tracking interoperability for education
  • 15 records in the information management system under certain circumstances;
  • 16 ▸ requires the state board to create a parent portal that provides information outlined
  • 17 in statute, including school comparison information;
  • 18 ▸ requires notification of the parent portal;
  • 19 ▸ provides for the appointment of a parent engagement specialist, including providing
  • 20 for the specialist's duties;
Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ to Governor
Last Action: 
Mar 13, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 13
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Passage of this bill very very directly will encourage parent engagement in our public schools.

Commission: 
Family Life
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations educate parents and community members tosupport practices which enhance teacher capacity, school leadership, family and student engagement,student-centered learning climates, and instruction and curriculum alignment;

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations prioritize programs and activities that arelinked to learning opportunities and develop higher forms of family engagement;

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage the State Legislature to prioritize education funding in the areas of teacher capacity, school leadership, family and student engagement, student-centered learning climate, and instruction and curriculum alignment.