Legislative Bills

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HB0207S03 | Sexual Offense Revisions

Description
General Description: 

This bill changes certain sexual offenses and sentencing for sexual offenses.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
▸amends sentencing provisions concerning repeat and habitual sex offenders, including
requiring mandatory imprisonment;
▸provides a definition of a female breast for purposes of certain sexual and sexual
exploitation offenses that includes a breast that is undeveloped or partially developed;
▸expands the definition of "child sexual abuse material" to include a minor observing or
being used for sexually explicit conduct;
▸modifies the definition of "sexual explicit conduct" concerning certain bodily functions;
▸changes the mental state necessary to commit the offense of sexual exploitation of a
minor;
▸expands the offense of sexual exploitation of a minor to include when an actor accesses
child sexual abuse material with the intent to view;
▸provides a safe harbor provision for certain employees and independent contractors who
access child sexual abuse material within the scope of employment;
▸changes the mental state necessary to commit the offense of aggravated sexual
exploitation of a minor;
▸amends the offense of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor to remove a lesser
penalty for circumstances when the child sexual abuse material depicts an individual
who is 14 years old or older and pubescent

Bill Details
Year: 
2025
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 25, 2025
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 63
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill helps to protect children from more child abuse and sexual exploitation by keeping offenders of the streets longer. This bill aims to changes definitions regarding child sexual exploitation in turn to take more predators off the street. We do not condone any types of abuse or sexual exploitation and support laws that want to protect minors.

Commission: 
Family Life
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 endthe recruitment, forceor involvementof a minorin conduct orviolenceof a sexually nature and all forms of sexual exploitation; and be it further

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements: 

Child Safety and Protection: Prevent exploitation of children and unhealthy work environments...Protect children from violence.

HB0208 | Alcohol Education Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends and enacts provisions regarding media and education campaigns about alcohol.

Bill Details
Year: 
2020
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 28, 2020
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 51
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/FAE) are recognized as the leading cause of mental retardation and behavioral dysfunction in children and are entirely preventable.  This bill will provide funding for one or more media and education campaigns designed to reduce the consumption of alcohol while pregnant which will help to prevent FAS/FAE in children. 

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA work to ensure that there are questions asked in prenatal health care about use of alcohol, and that the medical community understand and work to educate people concerning the prevention of FAS/FAE

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

The Utah PTA is a non-profit, grassroots, child advocacy association made up of parents, teachers, and students. The legislative program of the Utah PTA is derived from the work of PTA in home, school, and community. PTA efforts “to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth” are based upon:

1. The recognition of the home as the foundation of our society;
2. Parental involvement as an essential component of all policy-making processes pertaining to children

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities: 

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.

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Description
General Description: 
Highlighted Provisions: 

HB 208 disallows any pedagogical performance assessment as a requirement for teacher licensure. It would require all competencies to be certified by a teacher leader prior to licensure. The teacher leader must have an assignment as a teacher. This would be an additional duty on top of regular teaching duties. A teacher leader has to evaluate competencies for all who gain their professional license, whether through university or APPEL program. It also requires USBE to collaborate with USHE to establish a strategy for an additional pathway to becoming a professionally licensed teacher.

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 62
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

Teachers without pedagogical competency are less prepared to manage a classroom, and studies show that they do not stay in the profession as long as those with pedagogical training. Having a teacher leader certify pedagogy puts an additional burden on the other teachers in the school. Also, there are concerns about the fiscal impact of paying stipends to the teacher leaders.

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

Teacher quality is the single most important school-based factor in student achievement; teacher’s knowledge of subject matter and effective pedagogies for teaching specific content and skills, along with particular knowledge about their students’ backgrounds, interests, and learning styles are central to effective teaching and learning; and to build teacher capacity the focus should be on policy, training, pedagogy, infrastructure development, teacher welfare, and empowerment.

HB0208 | Safe Routes to School Program

Description
General Description: 

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to implement a program to provide safe routes to school.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 25, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 32
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

Safe walking routes to school protects our children from harm and accident.

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

Resolved, That local PTAs review and offer suggestions on pedestrian safety for each school's child access
routing plan.

Resolved, That Utah PTA continue to work with the Utah State Legislature to secure adequate
funding specifically dedicated to safe school routes and pedestrian safety devices

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

HB0209S02 | Amendments to Civil and Criminal Actions

Description
General Description: 

This bill addresses civil and criminal actions.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill clarifies the requirements for bringing a civil action for human trafficking;

Bill Details
Year: 
2024
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 18, 2024
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 50
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

Children are victims of both commercial and sexual abuse by traffickers. They often experience a wide range of trauma and adversities, resulting in sexual, physical, and emotional injuries and often lifelong health, educational, economic, legal, social, relational, sexual and spiritual impacts. This bill would allow victims of trafficking to recover damages inflicted upon them by traffickers.

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

National PTA Child Trafficking

Resolved, That National PTA and its constituent organizations advocate for the protection of rights of victims and support efforts to provide measures for the physical, psychological, and social recovery of victims of child trafficking;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

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.