Legislative Bills

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SB0189S04 | Tobacco Retailer Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to tobacco retailers.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
12          ▸     amends provisions relating to a retail tobacco specialty business that is within a
13     certain distance from a school;
14          ▸     modifies the requirements for a tobacco retail permit;
15          ▸     clarifies provisions relating to who may be in a retail tobacco specialty business;
16     and
17          ▸     modifies penalties for selling a tobacco product, electronic cigarette product, or a
18     nicotine product to an individual who is younger than 21 years old.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 17, 2021
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 28
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Higher penalties to stores who sell e-cigarettes to minors under the age of 21

Stores set up within 1,000 feet of schools will need to relocate by July 1, 2022

Evidence is clear - the closer shops are to schools, especially high schools, the more likely students are to use and experiment with e-cigarettes.

It may also be a racial issue to some degree, with more tobacco retail stores in Black and other minority neighborhoods.

This bill continues to work on the same issues as HB 23 & SB 6008 from last year, including trying to "fix" problems that were caused by those two bills.

Good things about the bill - it does strengthen penalties for tobacco retailers who violate rules, especially regarding sales to those under 21. It also adds nicotine products to the list of items that retailers can't give away. (One example of something retailers have done in the past to not be characterized as a tobacco retailer is to sell a shirt or something, and then give away the e-cigarettes for free. Thus, on the receipt is the sale of shirt, but no mention of the sale of the vaping product.) HB 23 provided a 3 strikes and you're out, SB 189 cuts it down to 2 strikes. $2K/$5K fines are upped to $5K/$10K. The Dept of Health did help with a lot of the positive changes in this bill.

The BIG DOWN side to the original bill was the removal of grandfather clauses that were put into HB 23 Sub 7, and were amplified by SB 6008. The side effect of putting in those grandfather clauses was the creation of 45 new vape shops, 37 within 1,000 feet of schools. Sub 4 now keeps the grandfather clause in place, with stores having to move by July 1, 2022. Sen Vickers said, "You can never guarantee that lobbyists won't be able convince a legislator to do something next session-it won't be this legislator though. There is no guarantee that retailers won't sue the state as we don't have anything in writing from them. However, the state is in a much better position with this bill than previously."

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

HEA 2015-2 ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND UTAH’S YOUTH

That Utah PTA support effective FDA efforts to regulate ENDS as tobacco products; and, be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA seek and support legislation that would include ENDS in the Utah Code Annotated definition of tobacco products and treat them as such – including the need for licensing, sales restrictions, tax parity, and marketing; and, be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS products

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

5. Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children

SB0191S02 | Regulatory Sandbox in Education

Description
General Description: 

This bill permits a school to implement an innovative education program.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
12          ▸     permits a district school or charter school to:
13               •     create a plan to implement an innovative education program (innovation plan);
14     and
15               •     apply to the State Board of Education (state board) for a waiver of state board
16     rule;
17          ▸     to support an innovative education program, permits a local education agency
18     (LEA) to:
19               •     expend a percentage of state restricted funding under certain circumstances; and
20               •     accept private grants, loans, gifts, endowments, devises, or bequests;
21          ▸     requires a charter school authorizer to amend a charter school's charter agreement
22     to:
23               •     incorporate an approved innovation plan; and
24               •     remove an innovation plan that is no longer in effect;
25          ▸     requires a local school board or charter school authorizer to submit approved

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 23, 2022
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 17
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA supports innovation and best practices in education, but the concern with this bill is the potential to diminish funding for Special Education by using restricted funds.

Impact on Children: 

This bill has the potential to reduce funding for Special Education students by using up to 35% of an LEAs restricted funds to support and innovative project.

Commission: 
Education
Special Needs Specialist
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

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.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Policy #2 - Equity in the form of equal justice, privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities in every phase of life for all children and youth, while recognizing that each child is unique with individual needs and talents.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

PTA believes that:
The state and local school district is accountable for guaranteeing that each child with a disability is provided a free and appropriate education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment.

Fully fund the promised 40% of the extra cost for services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

SB0192S01 | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Schools

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for high school students.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires a local education agency (LEA) to offer CPR training for students as part of the health curriculum and requires a student to complete CPR training at least once while the student is in high school

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 23, 2022
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 6
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$470,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to the State Board of Education, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, Ongoing, $270,000; and to the State Board of Education, as a one-time appropriation: from the Education Fund, One-time, $200,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Unnecessary
Impact on Children: 

This bill will add training in CPR as a part of the Health curriculum required of all Utah high school students

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

NPTA Resolution on Automated External Defibrillators
 

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations support the development and implementation of a practiced plan at each public school to summon help, perform CPR and use AEDs to save lives; and be it further 

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations promote education about the importance of purchasing and maintaining FDA ‐ approved AEDs, as well as ongoing AED and CPR training for all schools; and be it further 

SB0194S02 | Social Media Regulation Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts provisions related to age assurance and protecting minors in the Utah Minor Protection in Social Media Act (Act).

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill enacts provisions related to age verification and protecting minors in the Utah
Minor Protection in Social Media Act.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 13, 2024
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 25
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill requires age verification of minors prior to account establishment.

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for laws, policies, and technology development which protects children and youth from surveillance capitalism, persuasive technology, and algorithms which encourage addictive usage of social media.

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support lawmakers in their efforts to create laws which call for appropriate social media policies that protect children and provide parents the ability to know what their child is engaged in, who they are engaging with and how much time they are engaging online, in order to empower parents to make the best decisions for their children and familie

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

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: 

Support funding to strengthen school safety measures....the education of families and communities on school safety protocols, children's online security, and the assessment of digital threats posed to schools across Utah.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Strengthen privacy protections for children and youth on social media and online, including requiring their accounts be set to the highest privacy and protections by default, requiring explicit consent from parents and guardians prior to the collection of any personal information and sharing transparent privacy policies with them that use plain language that is understandable and accessible;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Strengthen online privacy protections for children and youth.

SB0196S01 | Great Salt Lake Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses the Great Salt Lake Commissioner.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Directs the Great Salt Lake Commissioner to make a plan and conduct a pilot program to address wet water years.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 01, 2024
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 13
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

During wet years Utahn's do not follow the same guidelines for water conservation as we do during drought years which can lead to waste and misuse. This bill would create new water usage guidelines for Utahn's during wet years to ensure that the most water possible makes it into the Great Salt Lake.

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

The Right's 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.