Legislative Bills

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SJR002 | Joint Resolution Encouraging Action to Reduce the Number of Utah Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels

Description
General Description: 

This joint resolution of the Legislature highlights the pediatric health risks resulting from exposure to lead, the potential for early screening and testing to result in successful avoidance and interventions, and encourages screening and testing of Utah children.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Senate/ to Lieutenant Governor
Last Action: 
Mar 31, 2020
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 4
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Early prevention education can reduce the harm to children from lead exposure. More testing at an earlier age in children can mitigate the effects of lead exposure.

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

National PTA Resolution on Lead Poisoning Prevention
Resolved, That the National PTA and its constituent associations promote advocacy around policy changes to prevent lead poisoning. 

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

4. Support safe practices and environments for all children.

SJR006 | Joint Resolution Promoting the 3rs Framework of Rights, Responsibility, and Respect in Classrooms

Description
General Description: 

This resolution highlights the 3Rs framework, which is inspired by principles of the religion clauses of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, acknowledges the role of public school educators in preparing students for their civic responsibilities, and encourages the State Board of Education to support the state's public school educators in accessing instructional materials that support the 3Rs framework of rights, responsibility, and respect.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This resolution:
19          ▸     highlights the principles of the 3Rs framework, inspired by the religion clauses of
20     the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which includes the
21     following:
22               •     every person has rights;
23               •     every person has the responsibility to protect the rights of others; and
24               •     we honor the human dignity of others when we respectfully engage in civil
25     discourse;
26          ▸     recognizes the value of public school educators using the 3Rs framework as a tool
27     to prepare students to successfully navigate differences in American society and
28     dispel contempt in civic discourse;
29          ▸     acknowledges the role of public school educators in preparing students for their
30     civic responsibilities;
31          ▸     encourages the State Board of Education to support educators in accessing teaching
32     resources that support the 3Rs framework; and
33          ▸     acknowledges that the proper treatment of religion in public school settings will
34     prepare Utah's students to be champions of the First Amendment to the United
35     States Constitution.

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 24
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

A focus on the 3 Rs will allow students to learn how to engage civilly with those they disagree with. Students will participate in discussions with classroom teachers acting as neutral guides through difficult discussions and serving as facilitators of student expression and exploration of current events and ideas, which provides space for strong disagreement without attacks.

Commission: 
Individual Development
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Utah PTA Position Statement ID 2022-1 Character Development through Civic Education

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations promote character development through civic education and the development of civic disposition by encouraging families to provide opportunities for students to discuss current events and civic issues in their home, participate in service and community outreach projects, and to engage civilly and respectfully in the community; and be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations encourage civic engagement through educational campaigns regarding voter registration, forums on candidates and policies, and discussions where a variety of diverse perspectives are shared and reflect the backgrounds and circumstances of diverse students;

SJR007 | Joint Resolution Promoting Opportunities for Women in Stem

Description
General Description: 

This resolution recognizes the importance of expanding science, technology, education, and math (STEM) opportunities for women.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This resolution highlights the underrepresentation of women in the STEM workforce; and encourages girls and young women in the state to pursue education and careers in STEM occupations.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Senate/ to Lieutenant Governor
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 15
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Encouraging girls and young women to pursue higher education in STEM subjects is vital to increasing the number of women employed in the STEM workforce; data indicates that gender stereotypes may impact a young woman's aspirations to pursue higher education in STEM subjects and the state can help to close the gender gap in the STEM workforce by dispelling stereotypes and promoting career opportunities for women in STEM occupations: Be it resolved that the Legislature of the state of Utah recognizes the importance of closing the gender gap in the STEM workforce and increasing opportunities for women in STEM occupations.

Commission: 
Individual Development
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

The mission of Utah PTA is to make every child’s potential a  the vision of Utah PTA is to advocate for all children.

National PTA Resolution on Career and Technical Education: Resolved, That National PTA urge the United States Congress to increase funding for CTE programs, including registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, to provide for appropriate market-driven compensation for CTE instructors, flexibility in the expansion of career education pathways, and recruitment of a diverse population of program enrollees so that all individuals have the opportunity to access, fully participate in, and contribute to the national and state economic prosperity.

SJR010S01 | Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Income Tax

Description
General Description: 

This joint resolution of the Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to modify provisions related to the use of taxes on intangible property and income.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Proposes changes to the article XIII section 5 of the constitution. Eliminates the constitutional provision on intangible property.

The current language: "All revenue from taxes on intangible property or from a tax on income shall be used:
(a) to support the systems of public education and higher education as defined in Article X, Section 2; and
(b) to support children and to support individuals with a disability" is striken

Bill Details
Year: 
2023
Status: 
Senate/ to Lieutenant Governor
Last Action: 
Mar 13, 2023
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 18
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending

Utah PTA cannot accept erasing a Constitutional funding obligation to Utah students without language that Utah public education will remain funded to levels sufficient for Utah children to succeed.

Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

A successful public education is known to provide opportunities to all. By removing the funding obligation, the resolution weakens public education and with it potentially the opportunities that Utah students deserve.

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

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations and its constituent associations oppose the dilution of the constitutional mandate to fully fund public education and oppose income tax cuts and credits that directly reduce the amount allocated to public educationfunding

Files

SJR014 | Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution - Education Funding

Description
General Description: 

This joint resolution of the Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to enact language relating to funding of the public education system.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Senate/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 12, 2020
Sponsor
Senator
Democrat - District 8
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Provides addition funding to support the education of all students who attend public schools in Utah.

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

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2010-2 - Resolved, That Utah PTA continue to urge the legislature to make public education revenue allocations and funding effort a high priority.  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 2020 Legislative Priority #1. Support education legislation which maintains the constitutional guarantee that the Legislature shall provide for the establishment and maintenance of a public education system, which shall be open to all children of the state; and that all revenue from a tax on income shall be used to support the system of public education and higher education. 

Utah PTA 2020 Legislative Priority #2. Support education appropriations which fully fund enrollment growth and increase the WPU by 6%.