Legislative Bills

Primary tabs

HB0426S01 | Firearm Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to firearms and ammunition.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:

▸ amends offenses related to a restricted person in possession of a dangerous weapon to include ammunition;

▸ makes possession of a firearm on which the identifying marks have been altered or removed a crime;

▸ amends provisions requiring the Bureau of Criminal Identification to inform local law enforcement when a prohibited person attempts to purchase a firearm from a firearm dealer;

▸ requires a firearm dealer to distribute a firearm safety brochure at the time of the transfer of a firearm;

▸ requires a firearm dealer to post a written notice of potential liability for the negligent storage of a firearm and provides a penalty for failure to post the notice;

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 01, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 23
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

For over 30 years, the National PTA has advocated for common-sense and comprehensive gun safety and violence prevention measures while preserving the lawful use of firearms for sport and personal protection. This bill proposes changes to existing laws related to firearms and ammunition. The changes include expanding offenses for restricted persons, requiring notification to law enforcement, and mandating firearm dealers' distribution of firearm safety brochures.

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 Firearms Position Statement - Institute a background check for ammunition purchases.

 

National PTA Gun Safety and Violence Prevention Position Statement - National PTA and its constituent bodies promote the establishment of, and support for legislation that improves youth and community safety and restrict guns to only responsible owners.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Support sensible solutions to gun violence, including promoting the safe and secure storage of firearms, strengthening the federal background check system, investing in evidence-based community violence interventions and addressing youth access to firearms, especially assault or military-style weapons.

HB0428S02 | School Safety Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends student safety and support provisions.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
▸ requires the State Board of Education to provide training on certain state and federal law;
▸ requires a local education agency (LEA) to:
• review information on harassment and discrimination within the LEA;
• adopt a plan for harassment- and discrimination-free learning; and
• report on the plan;
▸ requires an LEA to report data on the race of a victim of bullying, hazing, or cyber-bullying;

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 24, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 23
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$10,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to State Board of Education - State Board and Administrative Operations, as a one-time appropriation: from Education Fund, One-time, $10,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

A student-centered learning climate supports student learning, development, and well-being by providing safety, support, academic challenge, healthy foods, time and space to be active, and opportunities for social and emotional development; and our nation’s schools should be safe havens for teaching and learning.

Commission: 
Safety
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage local units to collect data to assess the extent of the bullying problem;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

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

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Utah PTA Safe School Policies Position Statement

Resolved, that Utah PTA and its constituent associations support programs chosen by the individual schools or LEAs that promote feelings of safety and establish a positive and supportive school culture; and be it further

Resolved, that Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage all efforts to address school safety to involve all stakeholders, especially students, parents, and families, and consider a variety of factors including the physical and psychological safety of students;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

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.

HB0428S02 | Public Education Governance and Appeals

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses authority of the State Board of Education over the public education system and certain local school board appeals.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill establishes the Public Education Appeals Panel (panel) to decide appeals regarding certain local school board decisions and policies; establishes a right for parents representing a certain percentage of total enrollment within a local education agency to submit an appeal to the panel; allows certain rulings, including:
• requiring a local school board to seek state board ratification of a modified decision or policy; or
• revoking a local school board's authority over a school district and assigning management of the school district to another local school board or the state board for a period of time;

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 8
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose
Impact on Children: 

This bill allows the vocal minority to potentially overturn decisions made by a majority elected body and is a threat to our democratic republic form of government.

Commission: 
Education
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Utah PTA Poistion Statement on HB 428 Public Education Governance and Appeals

Based upon the following principles found within the Utah PTA Public Policy Program, Utah PTA is opposed to HB 428 Public Education Governance and Appeals. We are concerned that this bill is a threat to the democratic republic form of government that our nation is built upon. This bill allows the vocal minority to potentially overturn decisions made by a majority elected body. Constituents need to be engaged and involved in the process and have the opportunity to voice public comment during school board meetings and in direct conversations with their elected representatives. This bill bypasses the voters and turns decisions over to a Public Education Appeals Panel of appointed members. Utah PTA encourages our membership to be actively engaged and involved in all levels of governance as we advocate for children.

"The Utah PTA is a non-profit, grassroots, child advocacy association made up of parents, teachers, and students. 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: (1) the recognition of the home as the foundation of our society; (2) parental involvement as an essential component of all policy-making processes pertaining to children; (3) the observance and understanding of the rights and obligations of responsible citizenship and ethical government; and, (4) 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:
1. 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.
2. High standards for those who work in all areas concerned with children and youth.
3. Coordination and planning by all agencies with clear definition of responsibility at each level of government.
4. Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.
5. Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth."

The Utah PTA Public Program is the primary authority for public policy action and statements by Utah PTA on state and local legislation and administrative policies and regulations.

HB0430S01 | Prohibition of Genital Mutilation

Description
General Description: 

This bill prohibits female genital mutilation and provides a penalty.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 27, 2019
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

This bill would protect a girl from the consequences of genital mutilation and consider the practice child abuse, in all cases. It allows prosecution for the later of 10 years past the act or past the age of 18.

Commission: 
Family Life
Health
Safety
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.

HB0434S01 | Funding for Necessarily Existent Small Schools and Rural Schools Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to formulas for funding for necessarily existent small schools and creates a process to reimburse rural schools for expenses related to extracurricular activities.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 28, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 58
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$100,000
This bill appropriates: to State Board of Education -- Minimum School Program -- Related to Basic School Programs, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, $100,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Provides students that attend small rural schools the opportunity for greater access to extracurricular activities.

Commission: 
Education
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2010-2 Education Funding - 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 Priorities: 

Utah PTA Legislative Priority #7. Support legislation, funding, and community partnerships that provide programs and resources to strengthen families and children’s social and emotional well being through affordable housing, homelessness initiatives, education, and parenting skills, and juvenile justice reforms.