Legislative Bills

HB0307S01 | Firearm Data Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill concerns law enforcement data collection and reporting concerning firearms.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill establishes law enforcement agency reporting requirements concerning: lost or stolen firearms that are used in a crime; and the disposition of firearms in the custody of a law enforcement agency; requires the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (commission) to receive, compile, and publish law enforcement agency data concerning firearms;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0307S01

Year:

2024

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

The bill introduces reporting requirements for law enforcement agencies regarding lost or stolen firearms used in crimes and the handling of firearms in their custody. Additionally, it mandates the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to collect, organize, and publish data from law enforcement agencies related to firearms. This data will be a valuable resource to enact laws for the protection of children against gun violence.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

National PTA Resolution Sale, Resale, and Destruction of Firearms

Resolved, That the National PTA seek and support legislation and appropriations to research the causes and effects of gun violence; and be it further
Resolved, That the National PTA urges constituent associations to seek and support legislation to research the causes and effects of gun violence; and be it further

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

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

HB0308S03 | Driving by Minors Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies who may supervise a minor with a learner permit.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill allows an individual with a learner permit who is younger than 18 years old to drive with an adult other than a parent, in certain circumstances.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0308S03

Year:

2025

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 25, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

The law enhances safety by requiring young drivers to have supervised practice, reducing accidents. It fosters skill development, encourages parental involvement in driving education, and provides flexibility for minors without licensed parents to gain experience

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

National PTA Teen Driving Safety

Resolved, That PTA and its constituent organizations promote educating parents, students, school personnel and communities regarding the risks associated with teen driving, the legal requirements of Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws, and the crucial role of parents in helping teens become safe drivers;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA Resolution on Teen Driving Safety

Resolved, That PTA work with parents, students, and community partners to urge local, state and national leaders to support research and adopt policies and legislation to reduce traffic incidents involving teen drivers and their passengers;

HB0308S01 | School Grading Modifications

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions related to school overall ratings under the school accountability system.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill removes the school grading (A to F) but keeps the qualification associated with the school grading (exemplary, commendable, typical, developing & critical needs)

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0308S01

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2014-1 | Public School Accountability

Impact on Children:

To the extent that the school grading affects the school enrollment, school staffing, and school resources.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA advocates against the implementation of any accountability system that reduces the evaluation of a school to a single grade or score, that ranks schools beyond statistical confidence, and that grades on a bell curve

HB0311 | Controlled Substance Enhancement Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill increases the penalty for a person convicted of engaging in a criminal enterprise.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0311

Year:

2020

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 24, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

This bill increases the penalty for a person convicted of engaging in a criminal enterprise that uses minors in furtherance of the enterprise.

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2007-1 | Substance Abuse

Impact on Children:

Substance abuse can destroy the lives of individuals and their families and friends, and is a major contributor to the breakdown of communities and society in general;

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA supports legislative action that institutes or appropriately increases criminal penalties for individuals or organizations promoting substance abuse of any kind (including the sale or distribution of alcohol and/or tobacco to underage persons)

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

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.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

4. Support safe practices and environments for all children.

6. Support measures to instill proven and effective prevention methods to promote healthy behaviors in children to be able to overcome the ills of society including suicide, tobacco use, vaping, underage drinking, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, bullying, and any form of addiction that is harmful to our children’s well-being

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

Substance and alcohol abuse affects many areas of the brain and can cause adverse behavioral, psychological, and social consequences; and over the counter sale of dangerous substances make them readily available to our youth;

That the National PTA and its constituent organizations increase public awareness regarding the methods, symptoms, effects and dangers of substance and alcohol abuse to our children and youth.

Links

SUBSTANCE AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION

HB0311S03 | Social Media Usage Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill regulates social media companies and the use and design of social media platforms.

Highlighted Provisions:

12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     enacts the Utah Social Media Regulation Act;
15          ▸     provides that a contract entered into by a minor by means of an interactive computer
16     service is invalid unless the minor's parent or legal guardian consents to the
17     contract;
18          ▸     prohibits a social media company from using a design or feature that the company
19     knows causes a minor to have an addiction to a social media platform;
20          ▸     grants the Division of Consumer Protection enforcement and auditing authority to
21     enforce requirements under the act;
22          ▸     authorizes a private right of action to collect attorney fees and damages from a
23     social media company for harm incurred by a minor's use of the company's social
24     media platform;
25          ▸     creates a rebuttable presumption that harm and causation occurred in some

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0311S03

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 23, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

SAF 2023-2 | Digital Citizenship and Wellness

Impact on Children:

The purpose is to keep children safe online and in social media. Research shows that the logarithms of social media companies are harmful and can be addictive by causing dopamine dumps in the adolescent brain. Also, children can be exposed to pornography and other harmful material on social media. The U.S. Surgeon General says 13 is 'too early' to join social media because they are still "developing their identity." Also in the journal "The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, found that social media may harm girls' mental health by increasing their exposure to bullying and reducing their sleep and physical exercise.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for laws, policies, and technology development which protects children and youth from surveillance capitalism, persuasive technology, and logarithms which encourage addictive usage of social media, and be it further

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

4. SAFETY. Support funding to strengthen school safety measures including upgrading school buildings to be safe and secure, safety training and educating families and communities on school safety policies, children’s online safety, and evaluating digital threats to schools in Utah.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

From National PTA Resolution: Increase awareness of the impact of social media, television, video games, music and movie violence on the children of this nation and encourage development of programs to assist families and children in using critical viewing skills.

HB0315 | Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill makes changes to the Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program.

Highlighted Provisions:

"14 ▸clarifies that special education teachers are eligible for the Effective Teachers in
15 High Poverty Schools Incentive Program (incentive program);
16 ▸ makes kindergarten teachers eligible for the incentive program;
17 ▸adds a second method for teachers in grades 1 through 3 to be eligible for the
18 incentive program;"

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0315

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 23, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2011-1 | Excellence in Teaching

EDU 2019-1 | Best Practices in Education

Impact on Children:

Children benefit from high quality teachers starting in kindergarten. This bill helps to bring quality teachers into high poverty schools.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

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.

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;

HB0315S01 | Recreational Therapy Medicaid Coverage Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts provisions relating to recreational therapy coverage under Medicaid.

Highlighted Provisions:

Allows Medicaid reimbursement for recreational therapy for those enrolled in Medicaid, and has been referred to recreational therapy by a physician.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0315S01

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

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2020-1 | Emotional/Mental Health and Well-Being

Impact on Children:

Recreational Therapy can be used for the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of an individual, including children.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA advocate for funding and legislation for integrated home and classroom intervention programs; continued research and clinical trials of treatment medications to support children and youth;and support insurance parity for mental illness;and be it further

|

Description

General Description:

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill would restrict the Trust Land agencies ability to sell Trust Lands for the most beneficial outcome to the beneficiaries.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/hb0320.html

Year:

2024

Status:

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-1 | School Trust Lands

Impact on Children:

This bill would impose costly restrictions on all sales of Trust Lands regardless of the size of the sale. Lines 41-53: This would consume an enormous amount of the Trust Land monies to fulfill each time any land is sold, and is not a wise use of the beneficiaries monies. Line 133 only allows for rejection of proposal and not for approval. It tries to allow the Leg. Committee in the interim to outright reject any proposal, but not the allowance to approve the transaction. Line 144 requires notification of the legislator if any portion of the land lies in their district. This is intended to insert more legislative power into the process. We have learned from Trust Lands history that more legislative insertion results in a decrease in the funds and effectiveness of the Trust Lands. Thus why the Trust Lands agencies were constitutionally created so that they would serve the beneficiaries solely and not bend to governmental power grabs. Line 157 would not allow any sale of land to the federal government unless the transaction results in a net decrease of lands owned by the federal government in that county. Trust Lands agency SITLA is bound to serve the beneficiaries of the trust. They need to be allowed to buy/sell land areas that are not serving the Trust in order to trade for lands/areas that will better serve the Trust and beneficiaries. The school children of Utah are the majority beneficiary of the Trust Lands. If we do not do all we can to ensure that Trust Lands are used to the highest benefit of the beneficiaries, then we are not serving the school children of Utah.

Commission:

Trust Lands

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA work to encourage Federal and State officials to fulfill their responsibilities under the Enabling Act by assisting the State in proper management of School Trust Lands for their intended purpose to support public schools; and in cases where management for trust purposes would conflict with other important purposes, such as protection of archaeological, aesthetic, or other environmental or cultural resources, that the Federal Government or State purchase, or trade the affected lands for other lands of comparable value

HB0323S01 | High Poverty Schools Teacher Bonus Program Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill makes amendments related to criteria for schools and teachers eligible for the Effective Teachers in High Poverty Schools Incentive Program.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
▸ amends the eligibility requirements for teachers in high poverty schools to receive a salary bonus in the 2020-2021 school year;
▸ provides that a school that qualified as a high poverty school in the 2018-2019 or
2019-2020 school year qualifies as a high poverty school for the 2020-2021 school year;
▸ requires the State Board of Education to publish a list of high poverty schools

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0323S01

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2011-1 | Excellence in Teaching

Impact on Children:

This bill allows for teachers in high poverty schools to continue to receive their incentive bonus this year in the absence of statewide testing.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA support adequate funding for and encourage consideration of financial incentives to recruit and retain highly qualified and effective educators

HB0323S02 | School Mental Health Funding Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses provisions relating to school-based mental health support.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0323S02

Year:

2020

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 28, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

In Utah, suicide is the leading cause of death for children ages 11-17; and the State of Utah ranks 5th in the nation for suicide deaths in 2018;

Suicidal children usually do not want to die, but are unable to recognize other solutions for problems;

There are a myriad of reasons why children die by suicide or have suicidal thoughts and it cannot be traced back to one event;

Many suicidal children start off with mental health symptoms including anxiety, depression, lack of coping and decision-making skills, and lack of connection;

Many suicidal children exhibit significant warning signs before they attempt or die by suicide and most people, including parents, trusted adults and friends either do not recognize the seriousness of these warning signs or ignore them because they do not know what to do to help; It is imperative that children get screened for mental health issues.

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 will continue to support methods to gather information that will assist in monitoring, anticipating and predicting youth behaviors;

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations advocate for more research and funding in determining the causes of suicide, and advocate for best practices in treating mental illness and suicidal ideation,

Utah PTA and its constituent associations support that each school district’s crisis intervention procedures include intervention in feeder schools and in the community;

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

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:

5. Support additional funding to help with the overwhelming mental health crisis including, but not limited to: programs and classes including art, music, civic, character, and physical education; more school psychologists, counselors, nurses, and social workers; and professional development.

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.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS Position Statement

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Include effective parent and family stakeholder engagement provisions in education and youth-related reauthorization bills

Links

EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS Position Statement

Legislative Bills

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