Legislative Bills

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HB0250S02 | School Fee Revisions

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to school fees.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 25, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 14
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

HB 250 is a companion Bill to Rule R277-407, School Fees passed by the Utah State School Board on Friday, February 8, 2019. This Bill helps to clarify school fee statute and will help parents to understand what their rights are regarding the payment of school fees and the process for fee waivers.

PS EDU 2019 School Fees: http://www.utahpta.org/files/docs/PS%20EDU%202019%20School%20Fees.pdf

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

First and foremost, "Utah PTA urges the legislature to make public education revenue allocations and funding effort a high priority. We also encourage the legislature to adequately fund critical education needs, including but not limited to, class size reduction, teacher salaries, technology, textbooks and supplies..."
(EDU 2010-2 Education Funding)

We recognize that current education funding does not cover the costs of all curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities within our schools but are concerned with the overwhelmingly increasing fees being charged to students and families across the state.

Utah PTA supports school fees legislation and Board rule that provides a clear definition of a fee, requires the fee to be equal or less than the expense incurred by the LEA (Local Education Agency), and holds LEAs accountable for incorrectly charging school fees. We also support legislation or Board rule that requires an
LEA governing board to adopt a fee policy and fee schedule which includes public input and is available to students and families at registration.

While we support legislation and/or Board Rule that prohibits an LEA from charging a fee for a textbook; and other activities related to the school day, including, locker rentals. We are concerned about the additional costs that may be incurred by LEAs who currently charge for such expenses and continue to urge "the legislature to ... adequately fund critical education needs."

HB0251 | School Dropout Prevention Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill makes changes to provisions related to school dropout prevention.

Highlighted Provisions: 

"11 This bill:
12 ▸ requires a local education agency that meets certain criteria to provide dropout
13 prevention and recovery services by either:
14 • contracting with a third party; or
15 • creating a dropout prevention and recovery plan;"

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 24, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 13
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Drop out and absenteeism have been a frightening byproduct of the pandemic. Now more than ever LEAs must have the mandate and flexibility to handle this issue and offer the right services for struggling students. 

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

"That Utah PTA urge the Utah State Board of Education to adopt policies for early
identification of students who are chronically absent; provide targeted prevention, positive
support, and outreach strategies and services which include parents and families that
address chronic absenteeism; and develop community-wide awareness strategies; "

HB0252 | Electronic Cigarette and Other Nicotine Product Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts and amends provisions relating to electronic cigarette products, alternative nicotine products, and nontherapeutic nicotine products.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 13
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

Studies show that when an increased tax in imposed purchase rates go down, also part of the tax collected would go towards prevention efforts with youth, and there will be more oversight of where these products are sold to prevent underage sales.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA support the position that any revenue generated through taxation of ENDS should support tobacco cessation and prevention programs;
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;

HB0256S01 | Farm to School Program

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts provisions to codify Utah's farm to school program.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill enacts provisions to codify Utah's farm to school program. creating the Utah Farm to Fork Commission which will (among other things) administer a grant program to provide grants to schools, child care centers, nonprofit organizations, and farmers to establish or expand farm to school programs

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 16
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Passage of this bill will improve access of school lunch programs to more fresh fruits and vegetables, reducing reliance on more processed foods.

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work with schools, school boards, and other
appropriate bodies to encourage schools to practice principles of sound nutrition for all
foods and beverages made available to students in the classroom, the lunchroom, or in
vending machines;
That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support efforts of schools and families to
provide children with food and drink that is low in calories, low in saturated fats, low in
sodium, and higher in fiber

HB0258S02 | Firearm Safety in Schools

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates a pilot program to provide a firearm safety course in public schools.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
        ▸     creates a three-year pilot program to provide a one semester course in the safe
    handling of firearms for grades 9 through 12;
        ▸     requires a local education agency (LEA) to:
              •     contract with a provider to supply materials and curriculum for the pilot program; or
              •     develop curriculum for the pilot program;
         ▸     requires the State Board of Education to:
              •     select LEAs to participate in the pilot program;
              •     award grants to participating LEAs for curriculum and supplies for the pilot
    program; and
              •     make rules, including rules establishing qualifications for instructors;

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 72
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA appreciates the value the establishment of education programs for students about gun safety may have. However, public education standards and policy should be left to the State Board of Education and development of curriculum should be left to the LEAs. Utah PTA is concerned with the precedence this legislation sets for other legislators to develop public education curriculum within state statute.

Impact on Children: 

While providing a valuable resource for children in rural areas, we are concerned about the impact this bill will have in more urban areas of the state and the problems this legislation will present in those areas.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA recognizes the State Board of Education as the body elected to establish policy and standards for education in the State of Utah

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Coordination and planning by all agencies with clear definition of responsibility at each level of government.
Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Establish education programs to teach students, parents and community members about gun safety and violence prevention.