Legislative Bills

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HB0071S02 | Behavioral Health Crisis Response Modifications

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses behavioral health crisis response services.

Highlighted Provisions: 

The expansion of the mental health crisis response network will be broadened, with a specific focus on enhancing services in rural areas.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 21, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 43
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Children and families would have greater access to resources during a mental health crisis

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

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

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

HEALTH: Support legislative action that focuses on the diverse mental health needs of Utah’s students and families, with a focus on promoting protective factors. This includes increasing public knowledge and understanding of mental health concerns throughout the state, access to resources, as well as providing funding for proactive prevention, timely interventions, and community-based initiatives utilizing evidence-based methods.

HB0071S01 | Health Education Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions regarding instruction in health.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 25, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 19
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

provides that health education instruction may include information about the medical characteristics, effectiveness, and limitations of contraceptive methods or devices

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA support state law and Utah State Board of Education rules to grant flexibility in required curriculum content for local districts to provide additional information about contraceptive methods and devices for STD/pregnancy prevention and risk reduction while including strategies to return to abstinence when addressing strictly high-risk students outside of the regular public school setting such as youth in custody, young mother programs, or alternative high schools;

HB0072S02 | Device Filter Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill establishes filter requirements and enforcement mechanisms for tablets and smart phones activated in the state on or after January 1 of the year following the year this bill takes effect.

Highlighted Provisions: 

requires a tablet or a smart phone (a device) manufactured on or after January 1,
15 2022, to, when activated in the state, automatically enable a filter capable of
16 blocking material that is harmful to minors;
17 ▸ requires the filter enabled at activation to:
18 • prevent the user of the device from accessing material that is harmful to minors
19 on the device;
20 • enable certain users to deactivate the filter for the device or for specific content;
21 and
22 • notify the user when content is filtered;
23 ▸ provides a process for the attorney general or a member of the public to bring a civil
24 action against a manufacturer that manufactures a device on or after January 1,
25 2022, if:
26 • the device does not contain an enabled filter upon activation in the state; and
27 • a minor accessed material that is harmful to minors on the device;
 

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 23, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 50
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill provides that each smart phone or tablet (device) that is manufactured after Jan. 1, 2022 , when activated in the state of Utah, will come with the filters blocking material harmful to minors. What this means for children in Utah, is if they are given a device manufactured after Jan. 1, 2022 it will have filters in place to protect them from materials harmful to children. This helps increase in the number of children who are protected from materials harmful to minors on their own device which may also protect other children who may have access to this device also. This is very important for Utah PTA to follow because device manufacturers have thus far been unwilling to manufacture safe devices for children and youth which are free from materials harmful to children. In fact, these device companies are likely to fight against this bill. We should advocate to protect the developing adolescent brains from this harmful material just as we advocate to protect their developing brains from alcohol or vaping or smoking.

Commission: 
Family Life
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Mass Media Position Statement 
Resolved, That Utah PTA and constituent associations urge its members at all levels to advocate for federal and local laws, regulations and programs that prohibit digital content that is considered illegal or harmful to children;

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

5. Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children to prevent suicide, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking,

HB0077 | Education Funding Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions regarding public education funding.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 28, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 64
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

1.  Establishes a limit on the local property tax of 4% that goes towards an increase in the weighted pupil unit (WPU).

Commission: 
Education
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2010-2 Funding for Public Education - Resolved, That Utah PTA continue to urge the legislature to make public education revenue allocations and funding effort a high priority.

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2010-2 Funding for Public Education - 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 Priorities 2019-20 #2. Support education appropriations which fully fund enrollment growth and increase the WPU by 6%.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities 2019-20 #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.

HB0079 | State School Board Governance Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to the State Board of Education.

Highlighted Provisions: 

12 < defines terms;
13 < reduces the size and modifies the membership of the State Board of Education (from 15 to 9);
14 < provides that members of the State Board of Education are appointed by the
15 governor, with the consent of the Senate;
16 < addresses board member terms and vacancies;
17 < provides for the transition from old board members to new board members (2 6 year terms);
18 < removes the State Board of Education from provisions of the Election Code"

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 20
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose
Impact on Children: 

There are many changes to consider in this bill.
1. Elected vs. Appointed. It is often said that elected school board members are more accountable than appointed ones. [Utah PTA supports non-partisan elections]
2. Reduction of school board members from 15 to 6. May reduce the voice of some communities. [Utah PTA does not have an official position]
3. Election term lengthening from 4 to 6 years with a maximum of 2 terms. Only one member may be affected by the 12 year maximum rule. [Utah PTA does not have an official position]
4. No party affiliation is noted. [Utah PTA supports non partisan elections]

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

That Utah PTA recognizes the State Board of Education as the body elected to establish policy and standards for education in the State of Utah That Utah PTA support legislation which enacts direct, nonpartisan election of State School Board members and opposes partisan election of the same body.