Legislative Bills

HB0172 | Food Sales Tax Modifications

Description

General Description:

This bill reduces the tax imposed on amounts paid or charged for certain food.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
12          ▸     removes the state sales and use tax from amounts paid or charged for food and food
13     ingredients;
14          ▸     excludes candy from the definition of food and food ingredients;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0172

Year:

2023

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 03, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Removing the state sales tax is one way we can help children and families in Utah afford good nutrition. The relief is immediate instead of waiting for a tax refund. It is a policy changed supported by Utahns Against Hunger.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

The Utah PTA Purposes

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

To raise the standards of home life.

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation:
Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

HEA 2022-4 | PROPOSED Child Nutrition and Food Insecurity Resolution
That Utah PTA and its constituent associations call on state, district and local leaders to take action to reduce and eliminate hunger and food insecurity for Utah’s children through policy and funding;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
Engage the public in united and equitable efforts to secure the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being of all children and youth.

HB0173S01 | Local School Board Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses actions of a school district that may be subject to a referendum.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill provides that a law passed by a local school board, including a law imposing a new tax or a tax increase, may be referred to the voters of the school district for their approval or rejection.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0173S01

Year:

2024

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-1 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

Making local school board decisions subject to referendum will increase uncertainty in board decisions and will cost LEAs more money by raising rates for loans. Will also make it difficult for them to enter into contracts and make other financial decisions.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support the maintenance of a stable and adequate funding mechanism to support public education based on the following principles: enrollment growth; inflation; support of a K-12 education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account; funding the USBE Strategic Plan;

HB0174 | Psychiatry Medical Residents Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill requires the University of Utah Health Sciences to select additional psychiatry residents.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0174

Year:

2019

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 28, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Impact on Children:

Bill is to provide more psychiatrists as we have a shortage of mental health professionals.

Commission:

Health

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That National PTA and its constituent associations strongly encourage efforts to establish comprehensive community mental health providers to offer preventative and treatment services to children and adults and comprehensive school mental health programs that include adequate access to school psychologists, school counselors and school social workers;

Links

National PTA Resolution on Mental Health Programs and Services

HB0175S02 | Education Accountability Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill provides that for the 2018-2019 school year, the State Board of Education is not required to assign to each school an overall rating using an A through F letter grading scale.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0175S02

Year:

2020

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 12, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2014-1 | Public School Accountability

Impact on Children:

Establishes a statewide accountability system that does not use letter grade but focuses on other metrics.

Perceptions of school quality may impact the hiring and retention of quality educators and support staff.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2014-1 Public School Accountability
Resolved, That Utah PTA support systems of accountability for public schools that take into account qualitative characteristics, including a welcoming environment, family engagement efforts, administrative leadership, and community collaboration; in addition to quantitative measurements, such as educator qualifications, student absenteeism, average student tested proficiency and student academic growth; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA advocates against the implementation of any accountability system that reduces the evaluation of a school to a single grade or score, that ranks schools beyond statistical confidence, and that grades on a bell curve;

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

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

Links

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2014-1 Public School Accountability

HB0175S03 | School Fees Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends and enacts provisions related to elementary and secondary school fees.

Highlighted Provisions:

1          This bill:
12          ▸     amends definitions;
13          ▸     prescribes the fees a local education agency (LEA) may charge a secondary school
14     student for a curricular or a co-curricular activity for a certain duration;
15          ▸     authorizes an LEA to charge a secondary school student a fee for an extracurricular
16     activity for a certain duration;
17          ▸     prohibits an LEA from charging a general fee;
18          ▸     amends provisions related to fees for textbooks;
19          ▸     prohibits charging a student in grade 6 a fee for a remediation program; and
20          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0175S03

Year:

2023

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 03, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$35,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2024: to State Board of Education -- Minimum School Program -- Related to Basic School Programs, as a one-time appropriation: from Uniform School Fund, One-time, $35,000,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

This bill allocates $35 million to LEAs to finance the missing fees, however that funding is insufficient and if the funding is not appropriated will lead to an unfunded mandate.

Impact on Children:

The Utah constitution stipulates that “public elementary and secondary schools shall be free”. Eliminating school fees for families would relieve a significant burden for many families, however, if funding is inadequate or not provided, than students do not have a quality learning experience and LEAs must make up the difference taking funding from other important areas.

According to the census bureau annual public school Spending Per Pupil review, Utah consistently ranks in the bottom three in expenditures per student.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations 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 and its constituent associations encourage the legislature to adequately fund critical educational needs, including but not limited to, class size reduction, teacher salaries, technology, programs, supplies, and evidenced-based practices that have an impact on student achievement;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation:

4. Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

1. EDUCATION FUNDING. Support an adequately funded public school system by: supporting a 6.5% WPU increase over and above growth and inflation to be used for purposes such as recruiting, supporting, and retaining teachers; supporting increased access to full-day kindergarten by funding K-12 students at a full WPU; and supporting policies to increase proficiency levels in public schools, improving attendance, and increase academic excellence for all Utah students.

Legislative Bills

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