Legislative Bills

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HB0018S01 | Online Dating Safety Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill concerns online dating service safety requirements.

Highlighted Provisions: 

▸ requires certain safety notifications and disclosures by an online dating service provider;
▸ provides enforcement procedures and a penalty for a violation of the notifications

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 13, 2023
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 25
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

Too many people including teens are deceived, defrauded, or misled by users of online dating apps. This bill would help to keep our community safe by notifying users of dating apps if another user has a criminal record.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA supports adequate legislation that applies legal consequences for violence in dating relationships.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

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.

 

HB0018S01 | Driver Education Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to driver education requirements and driver licenses.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
          ▸     extends the term of a learner permit from one year to 18 months;
          ▸     changes identifying information required on a driver license application to include "sex" instead of "gender";
          ▸     removes certain references to a "school district" and replaces that term with "local education agency" to ensure that Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind receive funding and resources for driver education;
          ▸     prohibits rules requiring driver education observation hours; and
          ▸     makes technical changes.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 17, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 20
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support

We are having the PTSA students follow this bill as part of the virtual Student Days at the Capitol.

We are supportive of the additional 6 months for the learner's permit, and of the change in observation hours due to COVID restrictions.

Impact on Children: 

This bill would directly impact high school students learning to drive. We want them to get involved with bills that they can use to help them learn to advocate for themselves.

Commission: 
Student Leadership
Day at the Capitol
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

National PTA Resolution on Teen Driving Safety

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

#6 - Civic Engagement & character development

Having the students follow this bill will help the students develop skills in these areas.

HB0020S01 | Driving Under the Influence Sentencing Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to penalties for driving under the influence and related offenses.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
prohibits sentencing reductions for driving under the influence related offenses in
certain circumstances; requires reinstatement of certain sentences if an individual fails to complete certain requirements of an approved 24/7 sobriety program; creates a separate offense for each person in a vehicle that is under 16 years old
when the driver is operating the vehicle while under the influence of drugs or
alcohol; prohibits an impaired driving reduction if: the person had a blood alcohol level of .16 or higher; the person had a blood alcohol level of .05 or higher in addition to any
measurable controlled substance in the person's body; or the person had a combination of two or more controlled substances in the person's body that were not appropriately prescribed or recommended;
provides additional sentencing options for certain individuals convicted of
driving under the influence;
for purposes of sentencing, excludes from the definition of "controlled substance" an
inactive metabolite of the controlled substance;

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 16, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 45
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

No child should be put in danger from drunk driving. Drunk driving is not only irresponsible but criminal. This bill will deter the instance of DUI and decrease the crash risk of offenders. Offenders are already arrested because of impairment. This bill increases penalties and prohibits sentencing reductions if the offender has more than .16 BAC or a combination of two or more controlled substances in their body that were not appropriately prescribed.

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

National PTA Resolution on ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS REGARDING ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations will support strict enforcement of driving under the influence laws and the passage of more stringent laws that would remove from the road drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs;

Resolved, That Utah State PTA support stiffer penalties for alcohol and drug possession by minors; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah State PTA support legislation to suspend driving privileges of minors for alcohol and drug possession offenses.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.

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,

HB0020 | Human Trafficking Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill clarifies and amends certain language regarding human trafficking and creates an offense for trafficking a vulnerable adult.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 21, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 26
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

This bill replaces references to "children engaged in prostitution" with "children engaged in commercial sex";and directs law enforcement to investigate possible human trafficking of a child when they encounter a child engaged in commercial sex; This law also allows victims to seek Civil recourse from their human traffickers or those benefiting from human trafficking of the victim.

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

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;

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;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Child Trafficking Resolution from 2009:
Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations support the adoption and enforcement of laws that will deter the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of children for the purpose of exploitation; and be it further

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations advocate for the protection of rights of victims and support efforts to provide measures for the physical, psychological, and social recovery of victims of child trafficking; and be it further

HB0021S01 | School and Child Care Center Water Testing Requirements

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses water quality for schools and child care centers.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill requires certain testing of water for lead at schools and child care centers

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 23, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 16
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child's health, including: damage to the brain and nervous system; slowed growth and development; learning and behavior problems; and, hearing and speech problems. The key is to keep children from coming into contact with lead. Drinking water delivered through lead-based pipes, faucets, and plumbing fixtures (often found in Utah's older schools and day care facilities) is of especial concern.
 

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

National PTA urges its members at all levels to monitor, support, and advocate for laws, regulations, and programs that protect children from health risks by testing for specific hazards in and around homes and schools and, if hazards are found, by limiting exposure and addressing remedies.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Environmental Health, Remediation, Sustainability and Climate Change

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

PTA Calls on Congress and the Administration to Invest in School Infrastructure: Address health hazards including poor air quality, substandard heating and cooling equipment, unsafe drinking water supply and lead contamination.