Legislative Bills

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HB0373S03 | Student Support Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions related to student support and health services.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 28, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 45
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$38,270,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2020: to the State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School Programs - Student Health and Counseling Support Program, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, $26,000,000; to the State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School Programs - Student Health and Counseling Support Program, as a one-time appropriation: from the Education Fund, One-time, ($10,000,000); to the Department of Human Services - Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health - Community Mental Health Services, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, ($500,000); and to the University of Utah - SafeUT Crisis Text and Tip Line - SafeUT Operations, as an ongoing appropriation: from the Education Fund, $1,770,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

This bill will increase the number of school-based mental health support personnel in our schools. Many professionals within a school help to support student's positive mental health including social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, school nurses, and other specialized instructional support personnel. These personnel understand that students unmet mental health needs can be a significant obstacle to student academic, career, and social/emotional development and can even compromise school safety

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations actively advocate for increased funding for additional trained counselors, psychologists, and social workers to assist and educate families and youth in both elementary and secondary schools participating in the public school system.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT OF CHILDREN
Improve access and funding for qualified, school-based health and wellness practitioners

HB0374 | Modifications to Education Funding

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions regarding public education funding.

Bill Details
Year: 
2019
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 14, 2019
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 64
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Pending
Impact on Children: 

A change in tax structure during the 2018 Legislative Session tied a property tax increase to the Weighted Pupil Unit. This Bill creates a limit of 3% on the property tax increase even if the WPU is increased at a greater percentage. The property tax increase was a way of providing new revenue for education and this bill would limit the new money available for schools.

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

Resolved, That Utah PTA continue to urge the legislature to make public education revenue allocations and funding effort a high priority; and be it further
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;

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

ADEQUATELY FUND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGH A REGULAR
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS

HB0374S05 | Sensitive Materials in Schools

Description
General Description: 

This bill prohibits certain sensitive instructional materials in public schools.

Highlighted Provisions: 

12▸defines certain instructional materials as sensitive materials;
13▸prohibits sensitive materials in a public school;
14▸grants parents the right to file a civil action to enforce certain provisions;
15▸defines terms

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 24, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 39
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support w/ Comment

Utah PTA unequivocally opposes pornography in general and pornography in schools in particular. Utah PTA also recognizes the need for students to see themselves in literature and art and the importance of having books for each student. Therefore, book removals should be laser focused on pornography and avoid silencing minority voices.

Impact on Children: 

Fostering children's curiosity and appetite for learning is essential to make their potential a reality. However, children need to be protected from harm, including harm caused accessing materials beyond their maturity. We urge all LEAs to adopt policies to adopt, review, and remove instructional materials as well as media materials.

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

MASS MEDIA - That Utah PTA and its constituent associations actively seek the vigorous enforcement of current obscenity laws, laws precluding the use of children in pornography and the prohibiting the distribution of pornographic materials to children; additionally we firmly oppose the exploitation and/or use of children in suggestive and seductive screen content.

IMPACT OF PORNOGRAPHY: Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work with policy makers in government, nongovernment, school and community organizations to raise awareness of the effects of prolonged and increased exposure to sexually explicit materials.

HB0375S01 | Office of Child Care Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill amends provisions governing the Office of Child Care.

Highlighted Provisions: 

Includes a Child Care Estimator tool to estimate the actual costs of child care
 

Bill Details
Year: 
2022
Status: 
House/ filed
Last Action: 
Mar 04, 2022
Sponsor
Representative
Democrat - District 37
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Utah PTA Resolution: 
Impact on Children: 

Being better informed on child care costs can empower parents to make decisions that are best for the children in their care.

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

That Utah PTA encourage affected agencies to examine existing policies and create new policies which will better serve the needs of both children and parents;

HB0381S01 | Grow Your Own Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline Program

Description
General Description: 

This bill creates the Grow Your Own Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline Program to provide scholarships to certain school employees.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill:
▸ creates the Grow Your Own Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline Program
(program) to provide scholarships to certain school employees;
▸ establishes eligibility criteria and allowed uses for the program; and
▸ requires the State Board of Education to make rules and administer the program.

Bill Details
Year: 
2021
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 17, 2021
Sponsor
Representative
Republican - District 51
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$9,200,000
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2022: to the State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School Programs, as a one-time appropriation: from the Uniform School Fund, One-time, $9,200,000.
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill will help LEAs recruit highly qualified educators and counselors by providing scholarships for paraprofessionals to become licensed teachers or school counselors.

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, including appropriation of adequate funding to upgrade salary schedules

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations actively advocate for increased funding for additional trained counselors, psychologists, and social workers to assist and educate families and youth in both elementary and secondary schools participating in the public school system.