Legislative Bills

HB0357S02 | Public Education Funding Stabilization

Description

General Description:

This bill provides for growth and stabilization in public education funding.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0357S02

Year:

2020

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 28, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Position Comment:
Utah PTA supports HB 357 Sub 1. We appreciate the constitutional guarantee found within the Uniform School Fund of funding for the public education system and the promise of funding for the Minimum School Program, enrollment growth, and inflation. We support the creation of the public education economic stabilization fund to support our schools during an economic downturn.

We recognize that HB357 Sub 1 and SJR9 must pass together, however we do have concerns with the vagueness of the statement “children and individuals with a disability” and as to what that will mean in the future for items to be funded out of the education fund. Utah PTA would request that more specificity were added to the statement before it goes before a vote of the people in November.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2010-2 | Education Funding (retired)

Impact on Children:

This bill is designed to protect, grow, and stabilize Public Education Funding. It is tied to a Constitutional Amendment to expand the Constitutional earmark to provide more flexibility in government funding.

This bill moves the Minimum School Program (MSP), which includes the weighted pupil unit, funding to the constitutionally protected Uniform School Fund dedicated to K-12 public education. It will include enrollment growth and the annual inflation for the Minimum School Program in the Base Budget. It creates the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account which will be used to fund MSP, enrollment growth, and inflation during times of economic downturn.

The passage of this bill is contigent upon the passage of SJR9 - A constitutional amendment to expand the use of income tax revenue to support services for children and individuals with a disability.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2005-1 - 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.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

The legislative program of the Utah PTA is derived from the work of PTA in home, school, and community. PTA efforts “to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth” are based upon:

The realization that maintaining a free and public education system is a cornerstone of democracy—that the Utah Public Education System is created in the state Constitution to “secure and perpetuate” freedom.

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation:

Continued maintenance of the constitutional guarantee of financial support for public schools as the first claim on state revenues.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

1.Support education legislation which maintains the constitutional guarantee 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 all revenue from a tax on income shall be used to support the system of public education and higher education.

2. Support education appropriations which fully fund enrollment growth and increase the WPU by 6%.

Links

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2010-2 Funding for Education

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities 2019-20

Stabilizing Education Funding for a Better Tomorrow

HB0358S01 | Criminal Sexual Conduct Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill concerns criminal sexual conduct.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill creates the criminal offense of: •custodial solicitation of sexually explicit conduct from a person in custody; •unlawful sexual activity with a child using virtual reality; and •unlawful sexual activity with a minor using virtual reality;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0358S01

Year:

2025

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 25, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2016-2 | Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Impact on Children:

This bill protects children from digital sexual abuse. It makes it a serious crime for adults to use virtual reality to engage in sexual activity with children under 14, and with minors aged 14–17 when there is a significant age gap, with no defense for claimed consent.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations promote and support the adoption and enforcement of laws, at all levels of government, to end the recruitment, force or involvement of a minor in conduct or violence of a sexually nature and all forms of sexual exploitation; and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for the protection of rights of victims and support provided measures for the physical, psychological, and social recovery of victims of sexual exploitation;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

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

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA Position Statement - Child Safety and Protection

Prevent exploitation of children and unhealthy work environments. Protect children from violence.

HB0358 | Guardianship Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to court appointed guardians for minors.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill adds situations for when a court may appoint a guardian for an un-emancipated minor; establishes preponderance of the evidence as the burden of proof for appointing a guardian for a minor; and makes technical changes.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0358

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

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2018-1 | Foster Care Standards

Impact on Children:

This bill allows for courts to grant kinship caregivers to a minor (like a grandparent) without terminating parental rights of the parent. This would allow the minor basic necessities like medical needs and enrollment in school. The kinship law does not allow for this currently.

Commission:

Family Life

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA encourage the legislature to pass laws that will ensure that the best interests of the child be given primary emphasis in placement matters

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.

HB0360 | School Water Testing Requirements

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts provisions related to monitoring and mitigating lead in drinking water in schools and child care centers.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0360

Year:

2019

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$5,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2020: to the Department of Environmental Quality - Environmental Mitigation and Response Fund, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, One-time, $5,000,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Impact on Children:

Children drink more fluids per pound of body weight than adults and their bodies are moresus ceptible to contaminants and disease. Clean water is essential to the health of children. Water can become polluted in many ways.

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Right-To-Know legislation and regulations in order for the public to be more aware of the environmental health hazards in their community;

Links

National PTA Position Statement - Lead-Based Drinking Water Poses Danger

HB0363 | Summer Education Grants

Description

General Description:

This bill establishes a grant program for summer school days and other educational summer programs.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
13          ▸     establishes a grant program for summer school days and other educational summer
14     programs; and
15          ▸     requires the State Board of Education to:
16               •     award grants to qualifying local education agencies to meet measurable goals;
17     and
18               •     make rules regarding the administration and measurement of the grant program.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0363

Year:

2023

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 03, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$10,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to the State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School Programs, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Uniform School Fund, $5,000,000; and to the State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School Programs, as a one-time appropriation: from the Uniform School Fund, One-time, $5,000,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Utah PTA welcomes the opportunities for students to catch up during the summer and increase their proficiency, especially if tied to measurable goals as outlined in HB363

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations urge Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to
fund programs based on evidence-based practices, such as extended learning
opportunities, including, but not limited to, afterschool and summer programs, online
learning, career-based experiences, internships, job shadowing, community-based
projects, and off-site postsecondary learning

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

POST CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ADDITIONAL FUNDING 2023 Position Statement

Legislative Bills

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