Legislative Bills

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HB0120S06 | Student and School Safety Assessment

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts provisions related to school safety.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 28, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 19
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$780,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2020: to the State Board of Education - MSP Categorical Program Administration - State Safety and Support Program, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, $480,000; to the Department of Public Safety - Programs and Operations - Department Commissioner's Office, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $150,000; and to the Department of Human Services - Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $150,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending

Utah PTA continues to work for enhanced legislation that promotes safe schools and encourages decision making and control be under the direction of local school boards. However, we believe the fiscal responsibility of this bill should come from new revenue sources and not at the expense of an increase in WPU, fully funded student growth and trust lands dispersments.

Impact on Children: 

Unsafe schools make it difficult for students to concentrate on learning. Many school officials and community members are working together with families to build a safe environment where children and youth can flourish and grow. Since being prepared can reduce the fear, anxiety, losses that accompany disasters, communities, families, and individuals should know what to do in the event of a disaster.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work to provide for the safety and survival of all children in a disaster by collaborating with schools, cities, first responders and parents by adopting and maintaining an all-hazards approach in the school's emergency preparedness and response plans specific to their school's needs, and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work with Utah schools to educate and train students, parents, staff and first responders on their school's emergency preparedness and response plan by facilitating drills and exercises including evacuation, lockdown, shelter-inplace and reunification, and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations urge local and state policy makers to update policies to current standards, facilitate multiagency coordination, promote education and fund comprehensive emergency preparedness plans. Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies work with their respective state education specialists, in there districts, schools, and communities to encourage the development and implementation of safe school policies, and and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA continues to work for enhanced legislation that promotes safe schools.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Safe and Supportive Schools Position Statement Establish a clear and enforceable visitor/guest identification system and provide training for school staff to recognize and report individuals who are not properly identified. Examine on a regular basis the use, functionality, and effectiveness of all locally determined physical security measures. Evaluate access points to the school and surrounding property including parking lots, open spaces, playgrounds, and playing fields to limit access to non-school personnel during school hours

HB0122S01 | Sex Offender Registry Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to individuals required to register for the sex offender registry.

Highlighted Provisions: 

14 ▸ clarifies that juveniles committing qualifying offenses are still required to comply
15 with registry requirements;
16 ▸ adds attempt, solicitation, and conspiracy to commit certain human trafficking
17 offenses to the offenses that qualify for the sex offender registry;
18 ▸ clarifies that for purposes of determining a lifetime registration requirement for an
19 offender under 21 years old, a sentencing court may determine at any time after a
20 conviction that the offense did not involve force or coercion;
21 ▸ enacts provisions related to juveniles transferred from the custody of the Division of
22 Juvenile Justice Services to the Department of Corrections;
23 ▸ specifies the number of days an offender may drive a particular car before that car's
24 information must be reported;
25 ▸ requires the Department of Corrections to maintain, but not publish, information on
26 individuals who were under 18 years old when they committed a qualifying offense,
27 unless the offender committed an offense requiring lifetime registration;

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 61
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Children should be safe in their community and should be protected from dangerous individuals; However, every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential—even if they make a mistake while growing up. This bill protects juvenile offenders from being on the sex-offender registry if they committed a crime while under the age of 18.

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 sexually nature and all forms of sexual exploitation; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for the protection of rights of victims and support provided measures for the physical, psychological, and social recovery of victims of sexual exploitation

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
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 and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

National PTA CHILD SAFETY AND PROTECTION Position Statement
Encourage collaboration between law enforcement, the judicial system, and child welfare agencies.

Assist youth leaving the juvenile justice system, and prevent their return.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Encourage schools to use positive behavioral interventions and supports that are effective, fair and consistently implemented. Such practices may include restorative justice and trauma-informed care

HB0124 | Salary Supplement for School Speech-language Pathologists and Audiologists

Description
General Description: 

This bill makes certain speech-language pathologists and audiologists eligible for the Teacher Salary Supplement Program.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Makes certain speech-language pathologists and audiologists eligible for the Teacher Salary Supplement Program; and makes technical and conforming changes.

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 03, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 3
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Retention of quality professions working in our schools benefits our students
 

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

That Utah PTA support adequate funding for and encourage consideration of financial incentives to recruit and retain highly qualified and effective educators, including appropriation of adequate funding to upgrade salary schedules; and be it further
 

HB0125 | Intergenerational Poverty Solution

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Education Savings Incentive Program.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill creates the Education Savings Incentive Program (the program), including: providing a process for an individual identified by the Department of Workforce Services as experiencing intergenerational poverty to receive a state match of deposits into certain 529 savings accounts up to $300 a year. Must be working, and qualify as Intergeneration Poverty & the Earned Income Credit.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 64
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$1,755,400
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2022: to Education Fund Restricted -- Education Savings Incentive Restricted Account, as an ongoing appropriation: from Education Fund, $870,800. to Education Fund Restricted -- Education Savings Incentive Restricted Account, as a one-time appropriation: from Education Fund, $6,900. to Department of Workforce Services -- Administration, as an ongoing appropriation: from Education Fund Restricted -- Education Savings Incentive Restricted Account, $870,800. to Department of Workforce Services -- Operations and Policy, as a one-time appropriation: from Education Fund Restricted -- Education Savings Incentive Restricted Account, $6,900.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose w/ Comment

While Utah PTA supports Intergenerational Poverty solutions that promote higher education and success in education, Utah PTA opposes this bill because we do not believe this bill is an effective way to get those out of Intergeneration Poverty by using education dollars to support matching funds in a 529 account. 529 plans are poorly designed to help low income families. Only 0.3 percent of households in the bottom half of the income distribution (under $56,516 in 2015) have 529 accounts.

Impact on Children: 

This bill is like a voucher using education dollars to pay for a program to match 529 funds to help those in Intergenerational Poverty.

Commission: 
Family Life
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 Priorities: 

Support education legislation which guarantees that public funds intended for the funding of the public education system not be allocated for private interests including vouchers, tax credits, or other means.

HB0126S03 | Division of Juvenile Justice Services Rulemaking Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses rulemaking authority by the Division of Juvenile Justice Services.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
requires the Division of Juvenile Justice Services to create rules regarding policies and procedures to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual assaults of minors in detention and secure care facilities; requires the Division of Juvenile Justice Services to create rules regarding the collection and reporting of data regarding sexual assaults of minors in detention and secure care facilities

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 22, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 26
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This law would help victims of sexual assault that are minors in detention and secure care facilities; it would help protect them by creating rules, policies, rules and procedures to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual assaults in those facilities.

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 sexually nature and all forms of sexual exploitation; and be it further

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 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.