Legislative Bills

HB0270S02 | School Cellphone Usage Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses the use of cellphones and smart watches in classrooms.

Highlighted Provisions:

Subject to certain exceptions, prohibits a student from possessing a cellphone or smart watch in a classroom; and requires a local education agency (LEA) to enforce the provisions of this bill, in the manner determined by the LEA

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0270S02

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

Local Issue

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2019-1 | Best Practices in Education

Impact on Children:

This bill limits cellphone possession and use in schools. Its purpose appears to be to keep the students from being distracted by their cellphones in a school setting and to keep them off of social media , youtube and other distracting apps when they should be focusing on school.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations educate parents and community members to support practices which enhance teacher capacity, school leadership, family and student engagement, student-centered learning climates, and instruction and curriculum alignment;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To develop, between educators and the general public, such united efforts as will secure, for all children and youth, the highest advantages in physical, social, and spiritual education.

HB0271 | Home Child Care Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends the Utah Child Care Licensing Act.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill increases the number of children that a home child care provider can care for without obtaining a residential child care certificate from 4 to 6 children.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0271

Year:

2021

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 05, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 1990-1 | Child Care (retired)

Impact on Children:

Although this increases capacity with flexibility in child care, there is no regulation on in home childcare as the number increases for the amount of children be taken care of. It has the capacity of possible harm to children and lack of good care without proper regulations in place.

Commission:

Family Life

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA support appropriate regulations to ensure quality child care.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

High standards for those who work in all areas concerned with children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

Support legislation, funding, and community partnerships that provide programs and resources to strengthen families and children’s social and emotional learning and well-being including, but not limited to: positive behavior programs and classes including art, music, physical education, civic engagement, and character development; early childhood education, parenting skills, and juvenile justice reforms.

HB0272S05 | Child Custody Proceedings Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill concerns the protection of children in certain judicial proceedings.

Highlighted Provisions:

In certain proceedings involving child custody, this bill specifies requirements for the admission of expert evidence and requires a court to consider evidence relating to domestic violence or abuse by a parent, imposes certain requirements and limitations regarding orders to improve the relationship between a parent and a child; requires the state court administrator to make recommendations regarding the education and training of court personnel involving child custody and related proceedings; and requires that certain protective order proceedings comply with specific standards.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0272S05

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 20, 2024

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:

This bill presents amendments to the Child Custody proceedings that focus mainly on protecting children. These amendments allow consideration of abuse when deciding on custody arrangements. These amendments also create a program for judges, court commissions, and court personnel to help them recognize abuse and make decisions that prioritize child safety and well-being.

Commission:

Family Life

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

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.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

Statement on Child Protection and Safety: Protect children from violence Trauma Informed Care:

Training for law enforcement, juvenile and family court judges, and youth judicial officers to recognize signs and symptoms of violence

HB0273S01 | Civics Education Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program to support innovative approaches to civics education.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
13          ▸     creates a pilot grant program to support local education agencies in implementing
14     innovative approaches to civics education;
15          ▸     repeals the civics engagement pilot program;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0273S01

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 23, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$1,500,000

This bill appropriates: to the State Board of Education -- Contracted Initiatives and Grants, as a one-time appropriation: from the Education Fund, One-time, $1,500,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Commission:

Individual Development

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

Utah PTA Position Statement: IND 2022-1 Character Development through Civics Education
Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associates encourage Local Education Agencies to provide opportunities for students to display “civic skills” or the ability to participate in civic life, including abilities to think critically, communicate effectively, problem-solve, and work collaboratively through civics engagement projects;

HB0273 | School Fees Modifications

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to school fees.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0273

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 recognizes that the Utah Constitution provides that public elementary school shall be free and that secondary schools shall be free. While we support legislation that prohibits an LEA from charging a fee for "curricular" activities, 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."

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2001-1 | Reimbursement of Fee Waivers in Utah School Districts (retired)

EDU 2010-2 | Education Funding (retired)

Impact on Children:

This Bill would allow public education to be accessible to all students by prohibiting all "curricular" fees.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA 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 encourage the legislature to adequately fund critical educational needs, including but not limited to, class size reduction, teacher salaries, technology, textbooks and supplies;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent bodies lobby for legislative funding designated to reimburse districts for a specified percentage of their fee waiver costs.

Legislative Bills

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