Legislative Bills

Primary tabs

SB0114S02 | Public School Curriculum Requirements

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses requirements related to the approval of materials for classroom use and certain policies.

Highlighted Provisions: 

"12 This bill:
13 ▸requires a process for local school boards and charter school governing boards to
14 approve instructional materials for classroom use;
15 ▸requires local education agencies to adopt policies to provide guidance to educators
16 on the use of materials that have not been approved"

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 17
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

There is no positive impact for children from SB114. It will bring stress for teachers and will reduce innovation, spontaneity and inquisitiveness in the classroom.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA advocate for policies that strengthen respect and support for public education and the teaching profession;

WHEREAS, Instructional and curriculum alignment significantly boosts both student and teacher engagement and therefore significantly boosts student transitions, from one course to the next, both within schools and across institutional boundaries by ensuring that teachers see their curriculum within the progression of intended learning and students see the relevance of individual courses toward the achievement of educational and employment and innovation that is driven by data and evidence based practices includes high quality aligned curriculum and resources; 20, 21 now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations educate parents and community members to support practices which enhance teacher capacity, school leadership, family and student engagement, student-centered learning climates, and instruction and curriculum alignment; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations engage principals and teacher as partners with the PTA to develop relationships, increase capacity within the schools, and improve communities;

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

National PS - Family Engagement
According to the Global Family Research Project, when families and educators work together to support children’s learning and development, children are more likely to succeed in school, graduate and stay on their path to college or career.

SB0115S01 | High-need School Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill provides for grants to local education agencies to employ additional educators in high-need schools.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 22, 2019
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 8
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$500,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2020: to the State Board of Education - Related to Basic School Programs - Grants for Educators for High-need Schools as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, $500,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

This bill will bring provide grant funding to LEAs to help recruit teachers to teach in high-need areas.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA support adequate funding for and encourage consideration of financial incentives to recruit and retain highly qualified and effective educators, including appropriation of adequate funding to upgrade salary schedules

SB0117S04 | Domestic Violence Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions relating to domestic violence.

Highlighted Provisions: 

▸ requires a law enforcement officer to conduct a lethality assessment when
13 responding to a report of domestic violence between intimate partners;

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Governor Signed
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 8
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$1,305,000
This bill appropriates: to the Department of Public Safety -- Programs and Operations -- Department Intelligence Center, as a one-time appropriation: from the General Fund, One-time, $100,000; and to the Department of Public Safety -- Programs and Operations -- Department Intelligence Center, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, $1,205,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

This bill may help to protect children in a dating relationship that may be the victim of domestic violence by requiring law enforcement to conduct a lethality assessment.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA supports adequate legislation that applies legal consequences for violence in dating relationships

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
Advocate by speaking on behalf of all children and youth in schools, in the community, before governmental bodies, and before other organizations that make decisions affecting children.
 

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

5. SAFETY. Support evidence-based community violence intervention and means reduction strategies.

SB0117 | Human Smuggling Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies the offenses of human smuggling, aggravated human smuggling, and aggravated human trafficking.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill increases the penalty for human smuggling from a third degree felony to a second degree felony; increases the penalty for aggravated human smuggling from a second degree felony to a first degree felony; and removes the requirement of "in a single episode" when there are 10 or more victims from the offenses of aggravated human smuggling and aggravated human trafficking.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 16, 2021
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 1
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery. Traffickers prey on others’ weaknesses, unfortunate circumstances, unfamiliarity, and inexperience. Traffickers are trained to identify vulnerability and use expert manipulation tactics to persuade and control their victims. It is imperative that penalties are increased and requirements for prosecution decreased to combat human trafficking.

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 sexual 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.

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,

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Enact Legislation to Protect Youth, Families and Communities From Gun and Other Violence

SB0117 | Office of Student Health Affairs

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Office of Student Health Affairs (office) within the Department of Health and Human Services (department).

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill his bill creates the Office of Student Health Affairs within the Department of Health and Human Services.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 01, 2024
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 15
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Children need greater access to health care, especially children in the foster care system.

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

National PTA Health Reform and Access to Care for Children, Youth, Families and Pregnant Women

 

High-risk families have coverage for services that may not be included in a basic benefit plan, such as outreach, case management, transportation, home visits, and child care. This requires more closely aligned social service agencies, mental health centers, juvenile justice systems, and health departments.