Legislative Bills

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SB0175S03 | Special Education Least Restrictive Requirement Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to the delivery of special education services in public schools.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill amends provisions related to the delivery of special education services in public schools.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 05, 2021
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 13
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Oppose
Impact on Children: 

This would create two standards for special ed services, a state standard and a federal standard. This would make it confusing and difficult for LEAs to serve students effectively. It would allow GenEd services to count as specially designed instruction and would allow SpEd funding to pay for the teacher and/or para. This would not require that the student receive the services and supports on the IEP in addition to the gen ed services when placed in a regular class. This bill wants to give the extra WPUs currently allotted to SpEd students to the LEAs for doing nothing extra except holding the IEP meetings and possible "monitoring" the students.

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

Resolved, that Utah PTA and its constituent associations support funding for ongoing pre-service training and professional development for all teachers regarding adapting instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities in the general education classroom; accommodations that improve access to the general curriculum; and high expectations for all students with regards to both behavior and academics; and be it further 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 Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), and inclusion to support instruction from a Core content expert, and access to accommodations including assistive technology for students with disabilities;

SB0176S01 | Child Care Services Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill enacts the Child Care Capacity Expansion Act.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill creates the Child Care Capacity Expansion Act; describes the purpose of the Child Care Capacity Expansion Act; directs certain state departments to collaborate on implementing the Child Care Capacity Expansion Act; creates a restricted account; and requires an annual report to legislative committees.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 01, 2024
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 10
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

This bill allows for more access to child care. In our current financial environment, we find more families in two- and single-parent working households. Access to good childcare is even more important than ever before. This bill would help remedy this situation and provide safety for our kids, as their parents work to provide for their families.

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

Resolved that the Utah PTA encourage more public and private efforts to provide after-school care and, further, That the Utah PTA encourage business and community groups to support child care.

SB0177 | Scholarships for Special Needs Students

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program and related income tax credits.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2019
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 10
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

This is a private school voucher. Utah PTA opposes the diversion of public education monies to private schools.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA oppose vouchers, tax credits and deductions and other similar funding sources for public and private preschool, elementary and secondary school tuition and other education-related expenses for students.

SB0177S01 | Behavioral Health Crisis Response Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill modifies the Statewide Behavioral Health Crisis Response Account.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Brings $14,863,215 from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services--Integrated Health Care Services for non-Medicaid Behavioral Health Treatment and Crisis Response

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 12
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$29,726,400
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to General Fund Restricted -- Behavioral Health Crisis Response Account, as an ongoing appropriation: from General Fund, $14,863,200; and to Department of Health and Human Services -- Integrated Health Care Services -- Non-Medicaid Behavioral Health Treatment and Crisis Response, as an ongoing appropriation: from General Fund, $14,863,200.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Passage of this bill will further expand state resources to help with the growing needs of crisis response efforts involving mental health issues, providing ongoing funding for these critical efforts.

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

That Utah PTA support collaborative efforts between the home, school, private physicians,
and community resource agencies to create mental health support networks for families, to recognize the prevalence and need for recognition of mental health illnesses and associated diagnosis and treatment, and to increase the number of psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and mental health professionals to provide adequate services for those needing help;

SB0177 | Absenteeism Prevention Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill allows a school age child's grade to include attendance under certain circumstances.

Highlighted Provisions: 

 Allows a school age child's grade to include attendance under certain circumstances;
 

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

Studies  indicate  that  chronic absenteeism,  whether  excused  or  unexcused,  is  a  proven predictor of lower academic performance, study skills and habits, and higher dropout rates; chronic absenteeism also tends to predict significant adverse consequences in students’ lives, from the inability to reach early learning milestones to poorer outcomes later in life and lower overall wellbeing

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations urge the Utah legislature to appropriate sufficientfundingforthecollectionanddetailedanalysisofdataonchronicabsenteeism;for thecreation,implementationandrolloutofprogramsforchronicallyabsentstudents;andfor information campaigns to parents and students