Legislative Bills

HB0336 | Distracted Driving Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to the use of a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle.

Highlighted Provisions:

13 ▸ defines terms related to the use of a wireless communication device;
14 ▸ prohibits certain uses of a wireless communication device while operating a motor
15 vehicle on a roadway;
16 ▸ provides limited exceptions to the prohibition on the use of a wireless
17 communication device while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway;
18 ▸ amends penalties for a violation

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0336

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:

The changes would increase the ability to enforce the law by not allowing using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle and thereby making Utah roads safer for all.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

NPTA Resolution on Distracted Driving

Resolved, That PTA and its constituent associations support the adoption and enforcement of laws that restrict the manipulation of handheld and portable communication devices while driving;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

HB0337 | Child Mental Health Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill relates to mental health services provided to a child.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill requires the Office of Child Care to: Collaborate with the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to deliver early childhood programs and child care throughout the state; and, coordinate services for training and education regarding child behavioral health; and, requires the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to administer a grant program for the purpose of providing education regarding best practices for early childhood mental health support and interventions.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0337

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$2,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2022: to Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Community Mental Health Services, as a one-time appropriation: From General Fund, One-time, $500,000. to Department of Human Services -- Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Community Mental Health Services, as an ongoing appropriation: From General Fund, $500,000. to Department of Human Service -- Executive Director Operations, Executive Director's Office, as an ongoing appropriation: From General Fund, $1,000,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2000-1 | Mental Illness (retired)

HEA 2020-1 | Emotional/Mental Health and Well-Being

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill will provide a funding source to provide education regarding best practices for early childhood mental health support and interventions.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA collaborate with other agencies to compile and widely distribute current
information about mental health resources to parents and organizations which serve children and youth

HB0337S03 | Office of the Education Ombudsman

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Office of the Education Ombudsman.

Highlighted Provisions:

"17 ▸establishes the duties of the office;
18 ▸enacts provisions governing liability and protected communications of the office;
19 ▸enacts provisions governing office confidentiality and privilege;
20 ▸amends provisions protecting certain records created or submitted to the office"

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0337S03

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

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA is concerned that this bill interferes with the mandate given by the Utah Constitution to the State Board of Education, as stated in Article X, section 3, " The general control and supervision of the public education system shall be vested in a State Board of Education. The USBE has a current system and complaints are handled promptly and professionally.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-3 | State Board of Education

Impact on Children:

Utah PTA encourages parents to work with the decision-maker closest to the concern. When there is a problem in the classroom, parents should work with the teacher. When there are concerns in the school, parents should work with the administrator. Parents can develop relationships and work through issues without having to involve someone from the Governor's office. Family engagement in education through positive relationship building in the schools creates a better learning environment for students.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

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

HB0338S01 | School District Voter Eligibility Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates a student voter pilot project for local school board elections.

Highlighted Provisions:

allows local school boards to vote to allow students who are 16 and 17 years old to vote in local school board elections

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0338S01

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 w/ Comment

Utah PTA encourages positive involvement in the political process by parents and families, which includes more than just voting. The National PTA supports the concept of shared responsibility in the development of school policies and in curriculum decisions. PTA urges all school boards to cooperate with parents, teachers, students, principals, administrators, business, civic and community leaders, and the general public in this process. As students learn and grow in their knowledge and understanding, they can take on more responsibility. Just like the process of learning to drive, where we don't immediately give the keys to the car without going through the driver's education process, we shouldn't be giving the "keys to the car" of voting without going through a similar education process. We encourage school board nominees, as well as all persons running for public office, to find ways to engage with our students to help them as they learn the issues around voting and the political process.

Utah PTA Resolution:

COM 2017-1 | Partisan Politics and Redistricting

Impact on Children:

This bill would allow 16 & 17 year-olds to vote in local school board elections, but only if the local school board votes to allow it.

If they register to vote through this process, they will be automatically registered to vote for all elections at age 18, unless they opt out.

There is created a student voter pilot project. The student voter pilot project begins on January 1, 2022, and ends on January 1, 2027.
A local school board may participate in the student voter pilot project, in accordance with the requirements of this section and all other applicable provisions of law, by voting to allow student voters to vote in the local school board's elections.

If a local school board votes to participate in the student voter pilot project, the local school board shall, as soon as is reasonably possible after the vote, transmit notice of the vote to all election officers within the local school board's boundaries.

Commission:

Student Leadership

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations urge the Utah Legislature to bring the government closer to all Utahns by supporting legislation that protects each voter’s right to be heard in an election without partisan politics controlling the election process,
That Utah PTA and its constituent associates encourage parents to be actively involved in the election process, recognizing this to be in the best interest of
children.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IN EDUCATIONAL DECISION MAKING

The National PTA supports the concept of shared responsibility in the development of school policies and in curriculum decisions. PTA urges all school boards to cooperate with parents, teachers, students, principals, administrators, business, civic and community leaders, and the general public in this process.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

(2) parental involvement as an essential component of all policy-making processes pertaining to children;

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

6. 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.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

HB0339 | School Community Council Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill grants the State Board of Education certain rulemaking authority regarding school community councils for which there are insufficient members to fill certain positions.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill grants the State Board of Education certain rulemaking authority regarding school community councils for which there are insufficient members to fill certain positions.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0339

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 12, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-1 | School Trust Lands

Impact on Children:

This bill creates a mechanism for USBE to make allowance for schools that cannot fill positions on their School Community Council. Without a functioning SCC, schools should not be given their Trust Land funds. This will allow USBE to work with the school and find a way to resolve the issue.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved That Utah PTA encourage the Utah State Legislature to support all distributions from the permanent State School Fund being dispersed to each K-12 public school to improve student academic performance.

Legislative Bills

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