Legislative Bills

HB0345S02 | School Resource Officers Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions relating to a local education agency's ability to contract with a law enforcement agency for school resource officer services.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill places conditions on the ability of a local education agency (LEA) to contract with a
law enforcement agency for school resource officer services, including requiring:
• that the contract procure services in secondary schools;
• governing board review of the contract;
• the collection of certain information by the LEA; and
• a biennial review of certain policies and information

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0345S02

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Local Issue

Impact on Children:

National PTA Position Statement: Addressing Institutional or Systemic Racism
We recognize that action at the local level has a direct impact on our communities. Local advocacy should focus on issues such as disparate discipline; equitable education for immigrant children; recruitment and retention of Black and Brown teachers; housing development policies; access to healthcare; juvenile and criminal justice; and other such issues which are relevant to local schools, communities and states. We will work to ensure more comprehensive guidelines and training are required on the use of force by school resource officers, other law enforcement officers and security personnel.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

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.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA Position Statement: ADDRESSING INSTITUTIONAL OR SYSTEMIC RACISM
Institutional racism is racism embedded as a routine practice within society or an organization, cumulatively and disparately impacting historically disadvantaged peoples.

Ongoing institutional racism and deeply embedded injustices, prejudices and inequities in the fabric of our nation have caused the violent deaths of innocent Black and Brown men, women and children over the years at the hands of a percentage of police officers and ordinary citizens.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

PTA Calls on Congress and the Administration to Meaningfully Incorporate Policies that Promote Safe, Supportive and Inclusive Practices in Schools for All Students. PTA firmly believes that all students—including students from historically marginalized populations—have the right to a quality, equitable education in a safe, supportive and inclusive school.

PTA believes that the education system should engage in rigorous self-examination to identify and eliminate practices and policies which are systemically racist. PTA supports policies and legislation that ensure equity for every student, are grounded in social justice and support the whole child and family. Policies and legislation must:
✓ Encourage schools to use positive behavioral interventions and supports that are effective, fair and consistently implemented. Such practices may include restorative justice and trauma-informed care.

HB0347S03 | Educational Rights Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill requires an LEA to provide a safe and minimally disrupted educational environment.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill requires an LEA provide an educational environment that is safe for all students and staff including students and staff in special education; requires an LEA to ensure an educational environment has minimal disruptions.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0347S03

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

Unnecessary

Impact on Children:

This bill would cause LEAs to bear the costs of court cases and the money would not be able to come from Special Education funding. This would negatively affect all students. There is no fiscal note attached to this bill and no guidance on where Special Education students would go if not in the classroom.

Commission:

Special Needs Specialist

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES

That National PTA, and its constituent associations build inclusive communities by working with experts in the education field to develop programs and
resources to educate the community about how the educational system impacts families and students with special needs; and be it further

Resolved, That National PTA, and its constituent associations encourage and work with the entire school community to include families and children with special needs; and be it further

Resolved, That National PTA, and its constituent associations work with their local school districts to research and advocate for the implementation of the most inclusive programs that best serve students with special needs.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation: Equity in the form of equal justice, privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities in every phase of life for all children and youth, while recognizing that each child is unique with individual needs and talents.

HB0348S02 | Participation Waiver Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill clarifies how a school responds when a student refrains from participation in school due to a student's or a student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience.

Highlighted Provisions:

Clarifies how a school responds when a student refrains from participation in school due to a student's or a student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0348S02

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

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:

Protects a student from having to engage in any aspect at school that violates their religious belief or right of conscience.

Commission:

Student Leadership

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

support practices which enhance teacher capacity, school leadership, family and student engagement, student-centered learning climates, and instruction and curriculum alignment;
and encourage local and state school boards as well as school level administration and school level leadership teams to seek input from parents when developing policies to improve education

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

3. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. Support policies which will increase family and community engagement and promote local positive parental involvement across the state of Utah.

HB0349 | English as a Second Language Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates criteria for software programs for English learner students.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill requires the State Board of Education to allocate appropriations to a local education agency (LEA) in proportion to the LEA's statewide share of English learner students; and requires an LEA to use appropriations allocated to the LEA to pay for software
licenses for a software program that meets certain criteria.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0349

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

Unnecessary

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2019-1 | Best Practices in Education

Impact on Children:

This bill appropriates money to LEAs to assist in buying software to use for children who are English Language Learners.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage the State Legislature to prioritize education funding in the areas of teacher capacity, school leadership, family and student engagement, student-centered learning climate, and instruction and curriculum alignment.
Resolved, 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 Priorities:

Support education legislation, including a constitutional change, that the Legislature shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of a public education system, which shall be open to all children of the state; and that sustains/establishes revenue sources that support the system of public education including:
a. Automatic increases for enrollment growth in the base budget;
b. Automatic increases in the WPU based on inflation;
c. Establishes and funds a “public education rainy day fund” to support the Uniform School Fund in times of economic downturns experienced in the Nation or State.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

From National PTA Position Statement "Education Emphasis"--National PTA especially recognizes the special needs of underserved populations including children with disabilities, limited English proficient children, homeless children, migrant children, gifted and talented children, and undocumented children in our nation’s schools.

HB0351S01 | Driving by Minors Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends the restrictions on a newly licensed driver.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill: repeals the restriction that prevents a minor from driving with a passenger that is not an immediate family member within six months after receiving a driver license.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0351S01

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 w/ Comment

The Utah PTA advocates for laws ensuring the care and protection of children and youth. Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws in Utah facilitate skill development for teenage drivers before obtaining an official license, effectively reducing high-risk driving situations and lowering teen accidents by up to 50 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Impact on Children:

"The Utah PTA actively supports legislation aimed at safeguarding the well-being of children and youth. Utah's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws play a crucial role in fostering skill development among teenage drivers before acquiring their official licenses, resulting in a significant reduction of high-risk driving situations and a 50 percent decrease in teen accidents, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

However, the proposed substitute in this bill, which allows for one passenger—a measure aligning with NHTSA best practices—comes with a potential downside. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), such a modification could increase the likelihood of fatal crashes by 19%, posing a concern for the safety of young drivers."

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

National PTA Resolution on Teen Driving Safety

Resolved, That PTA and its constituent organizations promote educating parents, students, school personnel and communities regarding the risks associated with teen driving, the legal requirements of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, and the crucial role of parents in helping teens become safe drivers;

Resolved, That PTA work with parents, students, and community partners to urge local, state and national leaders to support research and adopt policies and legislation to reduce traffic incidents involving teen drivers and their passengers;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

Legislative Bills

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