Legislative Bills

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HB0331S05 | Hope Scholarship Program

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Hope Scholarship Program.

Highlighted Provisions: 

"11 This bill:
12 ▸ requires a scholarship granting organization to submit reports on the Hope
13 Scholarship Program (program);
14 ▸ defines terms;
15 ▸ authorizes a scholarship granting organization to establish scholarship accounts on
16 behalf of eligible students to pay for private education goods and services starting in
17 the 2023-24 school year;
18 ▸ requires the board to contract with, no later than October 1, 2022, a scholarship
19 granting organization to administer the program;
20 ▸ prohibits a scholarship granting organization from accepting scholarship funds in
21 certain circumstances;
22 ▸ requires private schools and service providers to meet certain standards to be
23 eligible to receive scholarship funds;
24 ▸ authorizes a scholarship granting organization to receive donations to the program;
25 ▸ requires the scholarship granting organization to conduct audits;
26 ▸ prohibits certain regulations of eligible schools and eligible service providers;
27 ▸ requires background checks for employees and officers of a scholarship granting"

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 49
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$72,000,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to State Board of Education -- Contracted Initiatives and Grants -- Hope Scholarship Program, as an appropriation: from Education Fund, ongoing $36,000,000; and from Education Fund, one-time ($34,000,000), leaving $2,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2023.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose
Impact on Children: 

This bill proposes that the taxpayer subsidize private schools, diverting precious resources away from public schools to which they are intended to benefit. It will benefit a few families and be a detriment to most.

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

That Utah PTA oppose vouchers, tax credits and deductions and other similar funding sources for public and private preschool, elementary and secondary school tuition and other education-related expenses for students.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Continued maintenance of the constitutional guarantee of financial support for public schools as the first claim on state revenues.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

OPPOSING VOUCHERS, TUITION TAX CREDITS AND DEDUCTIONS AS SYSTEMS OF EDUCATION AID The National PTA opposes education voucher proposals for public and nonpublic preschool, elementary and secondary school students. The National PTA opposes tax credits and deductions for elementary and secondary school tuition and other education-related expenses for public and nonpublic school students. The National PTA believes that these funding methods would have a detrimental effect on our public school system. Such funding would promote division without diversity, create division and separation within the community and negate the long struggle to desegregate our schools and our society. It is the opinion of the National PTA that vouchers and similar systems would violate the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state. The National PTA recognizes that changes must be made within the public schools to provide an equitable and excellent educational opportunity for every child. Vouchers, tax credits, deductions and other such funding sources do not provide the means for bringing about improvements in our public schools. The National PTA supports our system of public education as the major vehicle for perpetuating the basic values of a democratic system of government. This system must be strengthened and continue to be governed by public officials accountable to the public and supported by adequate funding.

HB0332S03 | Special Needs Scholarship Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program and related income tax credits.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Governor Vetoed
Last Action: 
Apr 01, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 12
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose
Impact on Children: 

This establishes a voucher program for special needs children that would impact revenue of the education fund by providing tax credits to selected private schools.

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

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2010-2 Education Funding:  Resolved, That Utah PTA oppose vouchers, tax credits and deductions and other similar funding sources for public and private preschool, elementary and secondary school tuition and other education-related expenses for students.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

National PTA Position Statement - Opposing Vouchers, Tuition Tax Credits and Deductions as Systems of Education Aid:  The National PTA opposes education voucher proposals for public and nonpublic preschool, elementary and secondary school students.  The National PTA opposes tax credits and deductions for elementary and secondary school tuition and other education-related expenses for public and nonpublic school students.

HB0334 | Warning Label Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies provisions that create a cause of action for injury of a minor by pornographic material.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill: modifies certain exemptions for liability for entities for a cause of action for injury of a minor by pornographic material; changes provisions of the safe harbor protections for liability for a cause of action for injury of a minor by pornographic material; clarifies who must give a warning of the harmful impact of exposing pornographic material to a minor.

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: 

The bill amends regulations on distributing pornographic material to protect minors. It specifies responsibilities for issuing warnings, modifies liability exemptions and safe harbor protections, defines explicit warning requirements, and introduces penalties of up to $2,500 per violation.

Commission: 
Safety
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: 

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

HB0334 | Health Education Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to health education.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Adds age appropriate education to health classes with the intent to prevent sexual violence. Topics include emotional manipulation, grooming, sexual coercion, and respecting others. Districts and Charter schools will review sexual assault data and use it to inform policy decisions.

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 03, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 34
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

The latest data shows that sexual violence in our K-12 schools has seen a 43% increase. It is imperative that we work to decrease the serious issues of sexual violence and one way is through proper awareness and education.

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

National: RESPONSE TO SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AFFECTING STUDENTS

That National PTA and its constituent associations urge and support compliance with and strengthening of Title IX and other federal, state and local laws that identify, prohibit, and address the effects of sexual harassment and sexual violence impacting students and be it further.

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations encourage and collaborate with school administrations and community partners to ensure that every school provides support services for victims and presents awareness and prevention programs that address sexual harassment and sexual violence affecting students, including the responsibilities of educational institutions and the rights of sexual violence and sexual harassment victims under Title IX and other laws.

HB0334 | Special Needs Training for Law Enforcement Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill requires peace officer training to include training on autism spectrum disorder and other mental illnesses.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
▸ requires that peace officers have training in intervention responses to autism spectrum disorder and other mental illnesses.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 17, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 45
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill provides training for police officers in dealing with individuals with autism spectrum disorders and mental illness. This training would help promote better outcomes for everyone involved.

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

That Utah PTA facilitate in the education of parents, local PTA leaders, school teachers and school boards, community organizations, churches, and the general public about cause and effects of mental illnesses in children and youth

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation: High standards for those who work in all areas concerned with children and youth.

HB0336 | Distracted Driving Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to the use of a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.

Highlighted Provisions: 

13 ▸ defines terms related to the use of a wireless communication device;
14 ▸ prohibits certain uses of a wireless communication device while operating a motor
15 vehicle on a roadway;
16 ▸ provides limited exceptions to the prohibition on the use of a wireless
17 communication device while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway;
18 ▸ amends penalties for a violation

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 03, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 34
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

The changes would increase the ability to enforce the law by not allowing using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle and thereby making Utah roads safer for all.

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

NPTA Resolution on Distracted Driving

Resolved, That PTA and its constituent associations support the adoption and enforcement of laws that restrict the manipulation of handheld and portable communication devices while driving;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

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.

HB0337 | Child Mental Health Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill relates to mental health services provided to a child.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires the Office of Child Care to: Collaborate with the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to deliver early childhood programs and child care throughout the state; and, coordinate services for training and education regarding child behavioral health; and, requires the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to administer a grant program for the purpose of providing education regarding best practices for early childhood mental health support and interventions.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 17, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 45
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$2,000,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2022: to Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Community Mental Health Services, as a one-time appropriation: From General Fund, One-time, $500,000. to Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Community Mental Health Services, as an ongoing appropriation: From General Fund, $500,000. to Department of Human Service -- Executive Director Operations, Executive Director's Office, as an ongoing appropriation: From General Fund, $1,000,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Passage of this bill will provide a funding source to provide education regarding best practices for early childhood mental health support and interventions.

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

That Utah PTA collaborate with other agencies to compile and widely distribute current
information about mental health resources to parents and organizations which serve children and youth

HB0337S03 | Office of the Education Ombudsman

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Office of the Education Ombudsman.

Highlighted Provisions: 

"17 ▸establishes the duties of the office;
18 ▸enacts provisions governing liability and protected communications of the office;
19 ▸enacts provisions governing office confidentiality and privilege;
20 ▸amends provisions protecting certain records created or submitted to the office"

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 14
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA is concerned that this bill interferes with the mandate given by the Utah Constitution to the State Board of Education, as stated in Article X, section 3, " The general control and supervision of the public education system shall be vested in a State Board of Education. The USBE has a current system and complaints are handled promptly and professionally.

Impact on Children: 

Utah PTA encourages parents to work with the decision-maker closest to the concern. When there is a problem in the classroom, parents should work with the teacher. When there are concerns in the school, parents should work with the administrator. Parents can develop relationships and work through issues without having to involve someone from the Governor's office. Family engagement in education through positive relationship building in the schools creates a better learning environment for students.  

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

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

HB0338S01 | School District Voter Eligibility Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates a student voter pilot project for local school board elections.

Highlighted Provisions: 

allows local school boards to vote to allow students who are 16 and 17 years old to vote in local school board elections

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 25
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA encourages positive involvement in the political process by parents and families, which includes more than just voting. The National PTA supports the concept of shared responsibility in the development of school policies and in curriculum decisions. PTA urges all school boards to cooperate with parents, teachers, students, principals, administrators, business, civic and community leaders, and the general public in this process. As students learn and grow in their knowledge and understanding, they can take on more responsibility. Just like the process of learning to drive, where we don't immediately give the keys to the car without going through the driver's education process, we shouldn't be giving the "keys to the car" of voting without going through a similar education process. We encourage school board nominees, as well as all persons running for public office, to find ways to engage with our students to help them as they learn the issues around voting and the political process.

Impact on Children: 

This bill would allow 16 & 17 year-olds to vote in local school board elections, but only if the local school board votes to allow it.

If they register to vote through this process, they will be automatically registered to vote for all elections at age 18, unless they opt out.

 

There is created a student voter pilot project. The student voter pilot project begins on January 1, 2022, and ends on January 1, 2027.
A local school board may participate in the student voter pilot project, in accordance with the requirements of this section and all other applicable provisions of law, by voting to allow student voters to vote in the local school board's elections.

If a local school board votes to participate in the student voter pilot project, the local school board shall, as soon as is reasonably possible after the vote, transmit notice of the vote to all election officers within the local school board's boundaries.

Commission: 
Student Leadership
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations urge the Utah Legislature to bring the government closer to all Utahns by supporting legislation that protects each voter’s right to be heard in an election without partisan politics controlling the election process, 
That Utah PTA and its constituent associates encourage parents to be actively involved in the election process, recognizing this to be in the best interest of
children.

 

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IN EDUCATIONAL DECISION MAKING

The National PTA supports the concept of shared responsibility in the development of school policies and in curriculum decisions. PTA urges all school boards to cooperate with parents, teachers, students, principals, administrators, business, civic and community leaders, and the general public in this process.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

(2) parental involvement as an essential component of all policy-making processes pertaining to children;

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

6. Support legislation, funding, and community partnerships that provide programs and resources to strengthen families and children’s social and emotional learning and well-being including, but not limited to: positive behavior programs and classes including art, music, physical education, civic engagement, and character development; early childhood education, parenting skills, and juvenile justice reforms.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

 

HB0339 | School Community Council Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill grants the State Board of Education certain rulemaking authority regarding school community councils for which there are insufficient members to fill certain positions.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill grants the State Board of Education certain rulemaking authority regarding school community councils for which there are insufficient members to fill certain positions.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 12, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 51
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

This bill creates a mechanism for USBE to make allowance for schools that cannot fill positions on their School Community Council. Without a functioning SCC, schools should not be given their Trust Land funds. This will allow USBE to work with the school and find a way to resolve the issue.

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

Resolved That Utah PTA encourage the Utah State Legislature to support all distributions from the permanent State School Fund being dispersed to each K-12 public school to improve student academic performance.