Legislative Bills

HB0479 | Mental Health Wellbeing in Schools Pilot Program

Description

General Description:

This bill creates a one-year pilot program to address mental health in schools.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0479

Year:

2020

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 12, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support w/ Comment

Utah PTA supports and encourages training and education on mental health, however, we believe in local decisions on programs used.

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2019-1 | Prevention & Promotion of Health Behaviors

HEA 2019-2 | Youth Suicide Prevention

Impact on Children:

Utah PTA and its constituent associations will participate and support methods to assess and recognize the risk and protective factors in their local schools, families, and communities;

Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage the Utah Legislature to provide adequate funding to provide suicide prevention programs in every district and school in the State of Utah

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That the National PTA and its branches encourage each community to make available mental health programs and services which will meet the needs of all children and youth.

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations strongly encourage efforts to establish comprehensive community mental health providers to offer preventative and treatment services to children and adults and comprehensive school mental health programs that include adequate access to school psychologists, school counselors and school social workers; and be it

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations advocate for ongoing teacher and administrator training to improve the understanding of child emotional and mental health needs with emphasis on the importance of establishing a school climate conducive to good mental health; and be it

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations promote educational programs for parents and families to strengthen understanding and supportive home environment; and be it

Resolved, The National PTA and its constituent associations support efforts to provide education and other supports for school staff and professional development to assist with addressing mental health issues with emphasis on early detection; and be it

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations support and encourage reducing the stigma of mental illness and build a of understanding around children and youth mental health.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.

Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.

Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

Links

Resolution on Mental Health Programs and Services

HB0485 | Special Education Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill establishes a grant program to support co-teaching models for special education students.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill establishes a grant program to support co-teaching models for special education students. This bill creates the Special Education Co-teacher Pilot Program (co-teaching program); outlines the requirements for a local education agency to receive a grant under the co-teaching program; provides rulemaking authority to the state board to administer the co-teaching program; and specifies allowable uses of grant funding.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0485

Year:

2024

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$5,000,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025: to State Board of Education - State Board and Administrative Operations - Special Education Co-teaching Program as a one-time appropriation: from the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account, One-time, $5,000,000

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2022-2 | High Expectations for Student with Disabilities

Impact on Children:

This bill would provide more opportunities for special education students to have access to co-taught classes (usually taught by a general ed teacher and a special ed teacher). These types of classes have been shown to be very effective for students with special needs and to also benefit general education students who are struggling.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, that Utah PTA and its constituent associations support schools in implementing best practices in meeting the needs of diverse students through such practices as inclusion, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Response to Intervention (RTI), and any other similar instructional practices to support instruction from a Core content expert, and access to accommodations including assistive technology for students with disabilities, that these students be enabled to go as far as possible toward achieving their full potential and living a meaningful, fulfilling life.

HB0487S01 | Sickle Cell Disease

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses sickle cell disease among residents of the state.

Highlighted Provisions:

Will require the Department of Health and Human Services to develop recommendations for improving the surveillance, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of sickle cell disease among residents of the state.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0487S01

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 22, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Sickle cell disease is a genetically inherited condition that comes with an average life expectancy of 54 years old. There needs to be more early detection, research and early treatment options for children with sickle cell.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

ELEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS Parent, family and community education that includes research and awareness of issues that affect children’s health and welfare. These education and awareness campaigns should be encouraged and promoted at national, state and local levels

HB0499S03 | Homeless Services Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies provisions related to the oversight and provision of services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Highlighted Provisions:

This Bill:

Modifies the formula used by the Office of Homeless Services (office) to disburse funds from the Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation Restricted Account (account) to municipalities to mitigate the impacts of homeless shelters.
Provides for the State Tax Commission to subtract a certain amount from a local government's annual local contribution to the account based on the availability of homeless shelter beds within the local government's boundaries.
Requires certain counties to convene a county winter response task force for the purpose of preparing a county winter response plan, formerly known as a county overflow plan.
Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a code blue alert for certain weather events that may pose a danger to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0499S03

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 15, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

COM 2018-1 | Homelessness and Transiency

Impact on Children:

Children and families experiencing homelessness would be given more access to services and protective shelter, particularly during the winter months

Commission:

Community Engagement

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support adequate funding for federal and state housing programs that increase the number of affordable housing units including rental and homeownership options

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

Coordination and planning by all agencies with clear definition of responsibility at each level of government

HB0508 | Education Funding Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill requires the State Board of Education to report recommendations to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee regarding the conversion of all public education funding to the weighted pupil unit.

Highlighted Provisions:

Requires the State board to convert public education funding to WPU entirely.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0508

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

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA has always advocated for adequate funding so that Utah public education could deliver on its charge and promise to educating all Utah youth. With the obligation to serve all students, Utah PTA recognizes the complexity and challenges that Utah public education faces. Utah PTA is cautious in its understanding of the intent and impact of a full conversion to WPU, and expresses concerns as to the timeline for feasibility.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-1 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

The language of this bill is insufficient to measure the impact on children.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support the maintenance of a stable and adequate funding mechanism to support public education

Legislative Bills

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