Legislative Bills

SB0187S04 | Local Education Agency Policies Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates certain requirements for public health orders that directly affect local education agencies and private schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill provides that a local education agency is not required to enforce a requirement in a
public health order for individuals to wear a face mask on school grounds

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0187S04

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Vetoed

Last Action:

Mar 24, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Unnecessary

Impact on Children:

Masks are currently recommended by the CDC and mandated by the State of Utah to be worn in schools. This bill would leave many students and teachers at risk of contracting covid-19 if an LEA chooses to not enforce the mandate.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA Position Statement - Reopening Schools for 2020-21
It is our association’s position that plans for reopening shall incorporate the best available science and the expertise of infectious disease doctors and health practitioners. Plans should also strictly follow the most up-to-date Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, including but not limited to reasonable social distancing, rigorous sanitizing processes and viral screening and testing protocols. National PTA believes that states and school districts must plan and align logistics, educational strategies and public health approaches into one coherent response.

SB0189S04 | Tobacco Retailer Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions relating to tobacco retailers.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
12          ▸     amends provisions relating to a retail tobacco specialty business that is within a
13     certain distance from a school;
14          ▸     modifies the requirements for a tobacco retail permit;
15          ▸     clarifies provisions relating to who may be in a retail tobacco specialty business;
16     and
17          ▸     modifies penalties for selling a tobacco product, electronic cigarette product, or a
18     nicotine product to an individual who is younger than 21 years old.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0189S04

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:

HEA 2015-2 | Electronic Cigarettes and Utah Youth

Impact on Children:

Higher penalties to stores who sell e-cigarettes to minors under the age of 21

Stores set up within 1,000 feet of schools will need to relocate by July 1, 2022

Evidence is clear - the closer shops are to schools, especially high schools, the more likely students are to use and experiment with e-cigarettes.

It may also be a racial issue to some degree, with more tobacco retail stores in Black and other minority neighborhoods.

This bill continues to work on the same issues as HB 23 & SB 6008 from last year, including trying to "fix" problems that were caused by those two bills.

Good things about the bill - it does strengthen penalties for tobacco retailers who violate rules, especially regarding sales to those under 21. It also adds nicotine products to the list of items that retailers can't give away. (One example of something retailers have done in the past to not be characterized as a tobacco retailer is to sell a shirt or something, and then give away the e-cigarettes for free. Thus, on the receipt is the sale of shirt, but no mention of the sale of the vaping product.) HB 23 provided a 3 strikes and you're out, SB 189 cuts it down to 2 strikes. $2K/$5K fines are upped to $5K/$10K. The Dept of Health did help with a lot of the positive changes in this bill.

The BIG DOWN side to the original bill was the removal of grandfather clauses that were put into HB 23 Sub 7, and were amplified by SB 6008. The side effect of putting in those grandfather clauses was the creation of 45 new vape shops, 37 within 1,000 feet of schools. Sub 4 now keeps the grandfather clause in place, with stores having to move by July 1, 2022. Sen Vickers said, "You can never guarantee that lobbyists won't be able convince a legislator to do something next session-it won't be this legislator though. There is no guarantee that retailers won't sue the state as we don't have anything in writing from them. However, the state is in a much better position with this bill than previously."

Commission:

Student Leadership

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

HEA 2015-2 ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND UTAH’S YOUTH

That Utah PTA support effective FDA efforts to regulate ENDS as tobacco products; and, be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA seek and support legislation that would include ENDS in the Utah Code Annotated definition of tobacco products and treat them as such – including the need for licensing, sales restrictions, tax parity, and marketing; and, be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS products

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

5. Support measures to promote safe and healthy environments and behaviors for children

SB0189S02 | Child Care Services Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts the Child Care Capacity Expansion Act.

Highlighted Provisions:

Creates a Child Care Capacity Expansion Act. This will allow unused state buildings to be repurposed for as child care facilities. Private employers would then be able to lease these facilities to provide subsidized child care to their employees

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0189S02

Year:

2025

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 07, 2025

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2022-1 | Child Care

Impact on Children:

This will help reduce the costs of child care for families and provide higher quality of care for children.

Commission:

Family Life

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved That Utah PTA encourage more public and private efforts to provide after-school care; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA support appropriate regulations to ensure quality child care; and be it further
Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage business and community groups to support child care; and be it further

SB0191S02 | Regulatory Sandbox in Education

Description

General Description:

This bill permits a school to implement an innovative education program.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
12          ▸     permits a district school or charter school to:
13               •     create a plan to implement an innovative education program (innovation plan);
14     and
15               •     apply to the State Board of Education (state board) for a waiver of state board
16     rule;
17          ▸     to support an innovative education program, permits a local education agency
18     (LEA) to:
19               •     expend a percentage of state restricted funding under certain circumstances; and
20               •     accept private grants, loans, gifts, endowments, devises, or bequests;
21          ▸     requires a charter school authorizer to amend a charter school's charter agreement
22     to:
23               •     incorporate an approved innovation plan; and
24               •     remove an innovation plan that is no longer in effect;
25          ▸     requires a local school board or charter school authorizer to submit approved

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0191S02

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

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA supports innovation and best practices in education, but the concern with this bill is the potential to diminish funding for Special Education by using restricted funds.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2021-1 | Education Funding (retired)

Impact on Children:

This bill has the potential to reduce funding for Special Education students by using up to 35% of an LEAs restricted funds to support and innovative project.

Commission:

Education

Special Needs Specialist

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

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 Policy:

Policy #2 - Equity in the form of 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.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

PTA believes that:
The state and local school district is accountable for guaranteeing that each child with a disability is provided a free and appropriate education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment.

Fully fund the promised 40% of the extra cost for services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

SB0192S01 | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Schools

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for high school students.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill requires a local education agency (LEA) to offer CPR training for students as part of the health curriculum and requires a student to complete CPR training at least once while the student is in high school

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0192S01

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 23, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$470,000

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2023: to the State Board of Education, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, Ongoing, $270,000; and to the State Board of Education, as a one-time appropriation: from the Education Fund, One-time, $200,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Unnecessary

Impact on Children:

This bill will add training in CPR as a part of the Health curriculum required of all Utah high school students

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

NPTA Resolution on Automated External Defibrillators

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations support the development and implementation of a practiced plan at each public school to summon help, perform CPR and use AEDs to save lives; and be it further

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent associations promote education about the importance of purchasing and maintaining FDA ‐ approved AEDs, as well as ongoing AED and CPR training for all schools; and be it further

Legislative Bills

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