Legislative Bills

HB0398 | Child Abuse Reporting Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to the reporting of child abuse or neglect.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill requires an individual to report information about heinous child abuse or heinous child neglect, with certain exceptions; requires the Division of Child and Family Services and a law enforcement agency that investigates to include certain information in their final report; requires the division to make reports available to the Legislature, under certain conditions; amends provisions related to the investigation of an individual who fails to report.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0398

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

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2009-2 | Child Abuse and Neglect

Impact on Children:

This bill clarifies child abuse terms and when to report these heinous crimes. More reporting in accurate ways allows more children to be protected and to help stop the abuse. Utah PTA does not condone abuse in any form. We want to protect our children.

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.

HB0398S02 | Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill amends provisions related to the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship
Program.
This bill:
14 ▸ modifies defined terms;
15 ▸ expands the expenses for which a scholarship recipient may use a scholarship
16 award;
17 ▸ amends the formula for calculating a scholarship amount for an eligible student;
18 ▸ allows a scholarship granting organization to prorate a scholarship award under
19 certain circumstances;
20 ▸ increases the amount of donations a scholarship granting organization may carry
21 forward in a fiscal year;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0398S02

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-1 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

This bill expands the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship to be used for a wider variety of services, including transportation, educational software, computer hardware, tutoring services, etc. This bill also allows money not spent to be rolled over for the next year. This bill would take money away from the public education fund and send it to private schools. Families attending private schools must waive their rights to special education services, since private schools are not required to provide these services.

Commission:

Special Needs Specialist

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 Utah PTA 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:

EDUCATION FUNDING. Support an adequately funded public school system

HB0400S02 | School Absenteeism Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts provisions relating to school absenteeism and student behavior.

Highlighted Provisions:

directs local education agencies to include certain evidence-based strategies for
13 children as part of their efforts to reduce student absenteeism;
14 ▸ requires local education agencies to provide professional learning opportunities for
15 educators to have the tools to address student behavior;
16 ▸ enacts new duties for the State Board of Education with respect to addressing
17 chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention; and
18 ▸ amends the responsibilities of the Division of Juvenile Justice and Youth Services
19 to require the use of evidence-informed and research-informed interventions

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0400S02

Year:

2023

Status:

House/ to Governor

Last Action:

Mar 13, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-2 | Chronic Absenteeism

Impact on Children:

Absenteeism can have lasting consequences for students that go far behond academic achievements. A public school student who does not attend school cannot be taught by public school teachers. Attendance does not guarantee academic success but allows it for most students.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations empower parents, legal guardians, community members and students with the knowledge of the benefits of consistent attendance

HB0403 | Student Mental Health Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions of public education student mental health screening.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
12 ▸ defines "non-participating LEA" (non-participating local education agency);
13 ▸ requires an LEA to determine whether the LEA will be a participating or
14 non-participating LEA;
15 ▸ requires a non-participating LEA to report each year whether the LEA will change
16 or maintain the LEA's participation status;
17 ▸ amends participating LEA mental health screening and parental notification
18 requirements;
19 ▸ amends the annual mental health screening report requirements for the State Board
20 of Education; and
21 ▸ amends the uses for which an LEA may use State Board of Education funds and
22 when the board may distribute those funds.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0403

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

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

Impact on Children:

Studies show that at least one in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year; and 49.5% of American youth will have had a diagnosable mental illness at some point before they are 18; and in children, mental health disorders have deleterious consequences on individual and socioeconomic factors and can impede healthful transitioning into adulthood, and the incidence of mental health disorders has been increasing over the decades. This bill enables LEAs to identify as participating LEAs and provide parents with information regarding available mental health screenings.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA support collaborative efforts between the home, school, private physicians, and community resource agencies to create mental health support networks for families, to recognize the prevalence and need for recognition of mental health illnesses and associated diagnosis and treatment, and to increase the number of psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and mental health professionals to provide adequate services for those needing help; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constitution associations support increased education and awareness campaigns to share evidence-based mental health knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders to students, families, and communities; and, provide early intervention and prevention programs; and, help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for programs, policies, and legislation which provide adequate training and resources for recognizing and helping children with emotional and behavioral problems and improving the training of primary care physicians in mental illness assessment and treatment; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for best practices for school-based screenings and referrals for early detection of emotional and mental disorders,

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

2. HEALTH. Support legislation that addresses mental health needs of Utah’s children and families by increasing education and awareness of current statewide mental health issues; and providing funding for prevention, early intervention, and evidenced-based community outreach programs.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Support every student’s mental health and provide and connect students with necessary behavioral and mental health resources at school and in their community.

HB0409S01 | State Construction and Fire Codes Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill repeals and amends construction and fire codes under Title 15A, State Construction and Fire Codes Act.

Highlighted Provisions:

15 ▸ adopts the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code, with amendments; and
16 ▸ adopts and amends certain National Fire Protection Association codes and
17 standards.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0409S01

Year:

2023

Status:

House/ to Governor

Last Action:

Mar 13, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2018-1 | Emergency Preparedness

Impact on Children:

This bill will require safety drills in schools and day care centers. This will prepare students if there is an emergency.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work with Utah schools to educate and train students, parents ,staff and first responders on their school’s emergency preparedness and response plan by facilitating drills and exercises including evacuation, lockdown, shelter-in-place and reunification;

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations urge local and state policy makers to update policies to current standards, facilitate multiagency coordination, promote education and fund comprehensive emergency preparedness plans,

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.

Legislative Bills

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