Legislative Bills

HB0212 | Clergy Child Abuse Reporting Requirements

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies provisions relating to reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect.

Highlighted Provisions:

12          This bill:
13          ▸     clarifies that a member of the clergy may report suspected child abuse or neglect in
14     certain circumstances;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0212

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

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2009-2 | Child Abuse and Neglect

Impact on Children:

A better law regarding clergy's requirement to report or not report child abuse is needed.

Commission:

Family Life

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations collaborate with schools and community organizations to increase awareness of the problem of child abuse, neglect, maltreatment, and exploitation land to help educate families, children, and educators about the causes of and strategies to prevent abuse; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support prevention and intervention programs that teach positive parenting skills, coping strategies for caretakers, and appropriate response techniques for children; and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for adequate laws to protect children in all areas of child abuse, neglect, maltreatment, and exploitation.

HB0215S03 | Funding for Teacher Salaries and Optional Education Opportunities

Description

General Description:

This bill establishes the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program and provides funding for the program and a doubling of an educator salary adjustment.

Highlighted Provisions:

15          ▸     establishes the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program (program);
16          ▸     requires a program manager and the State Board of Education (state board) to
17     submit reports on the program to the Public Education Interim Committee;
18          ▸     includes the program in a list of programs for which the Legislature applies an
19     inflationary factor in determining the cost of ongoing appropriations annually;
20          ▸     amends the Teacher Salary Supplement Program to provide increased salary
21     supplements for teachers within local education agencies that offer services to
22     eligible students under the program;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0215S03

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Jan 28, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$85,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2024: to State Board of Education -- Contracted Initiatives and Grants -- Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, as an appropriation: from Income Tax Fund, ongoing $42,500,000; and from Income Tax Fund, one-time ($41,500,000), leaving $1,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2024.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

Although Utah PTA supports the teacher salary increase and we appreciate that efforts were made to improve accountability within the bill, we cannot support this bill. The first priority of the legislature should be to establish and maintain the public education system and to provide for our students within the system. Unfortunately this bill appears to benefit students who leave the system and leaves our most at-risk students behind. We strongly disapprove of how this bill has been rushed through with little stakeholder input and would request that the process be slowed down and guardrails be implemented to truly provide quality educational opportunities for all students.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-1 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill has the potential of dramatically reducing the amount of money available to support students within the public education system in Utah.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations oppose funding mechanisms such as vouchers, tax credits, deductions;and, be it further

Resolved, That UtahPTA and its constituent associations will always oppose funding methods that divert funds away from public education system if the accountability methods are not equal to or greater than those of public education system; and, be it further

Resolved,That Utah PTA and its constituent associations and its constituent associations oppose the dilution of the constitutional mandate to fully fund public education and oppose income tax cuts and credits that directly reduce the amount allocated to public education funding

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.

HB0217 | Open Carry Near Schools Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill prohibits carrying a dangerous weapon within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0217

Year:

2019

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 1997-1 | Safe Schools / Safe School Policies

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; Not having firearms in the vicinity of schools would make this possible.

Commission:

Education

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA continues to work for enhanced legislation that promotes safe schools

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Safety Resolution:
Resolved, That state laws and local ordinances be monitored to assure adequate safety regulations for the protection of children and youth;

HB0220 | Pregnancy and Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses Medicaid coverage for pregnant and postpartum women.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill addresses Medicaid coverage for pregnant and postpartum women.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0220

Year:

2022

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 04, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Good prenatal health care is important for the well-being of all infants. Passage of this bill will expand the eligibility for Medicaid for pregnant women with a household income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level, thus helping to ensure the necessary prenatal care.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Underserved Children, Families and Pregnant Women. There must be assurances that low income and other high risk families have coverage for services that may not be included in a basic benefit plan such as outreach, case management, transportation, home visits and child care.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

NPTA PS: National Health Reform for Children, Youth, and Families and Pregnant Women

HB0221S01 | Stipends for Future Educators

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program.

Highlighted Provisions:

Bill allows for a $6000 stipend to be paid to student teachers.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0221S01

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 20, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$8,400,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025: to State Board of Education - Educator Licensing - Educator Licensing as a one-time appropriation: from the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account, One-time, $8,400,000

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2011-1 | Excellence in Teaching

EDU 2023-1 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

This bill will allow future educators to do their student teaching without being unemployed while they do so, allowing more student teachers to complete their programs.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, 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;

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

Legislative Bills

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