Legislative Bills

SB0040 | Youth Electronic Cigarette, Marijuana, and Other Drug Prevention Program

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Youth Electronic Cigarette, Marijuana, and Other Drug Prevention Program within the Department of Health.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0040

Year:

2020

Status:

Senate/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 12, 2020

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:

1 in 6 Utah teens are now vaping. According to the SHARP survey though, marijuana is double that, and alcohol is almost triple.

The Bill creates the Youth Electronic Cigarette, Marijuana, and Other Drug Prevention Committee. It will consolidate advisory groups and committees with other committees or advisory and help the groups as appropriate to create greater efficiencies and budgetary savings for the department.

The program may help to prevent usage of electronic cigarettes, marijuana and other drugs among our youth.

Commission:

Student Leadership

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

HEA 2015-2 | Electronic Cigarettes and Utah Youth
Resolved, That the Utah PTA work in collaboration with state and local health departments, school boards, school districts, and other agencies to educate youth, parents, communities, and local elected officials on the dangers of ENDS products;

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.

SB0040 | Child Welfare Sunset Provisions

Description

General Description:

This bill amends child welfare provisions that are scheduled to sunset in 2019.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0040

Year:

2019

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 25, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

FAM 2018-1 | Foster Care Standards

Impact on Children:

Continue to establish and operate a psychotropic medication oversight pilot program for children in foster care through Dec 2021, to ensure that foster children are being prescribed psychotropic medication consistent with their needs.

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA encourage the legislature to pass laws that will ensure that the best interests of the child be given

SB0041S01 | Mental Health Access Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies an insurer's responsibilities for mental health coverage.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill allows a diagnosis or treatment of a mental health condition to do be done via telehealth services.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0041S01

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 02, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2000-1 | Mental Illness (retired)

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

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill will provide greater access to mental health services for children and adults statewide.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA support legislation which requires insurance parity for mental illnesses

SB0043 | Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill clarifies the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office's role and implements distribution accountability requirements for non-public education trust beneficiaries.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill defines key terms, clarifies the authority and purpose of the advocacy office as the primary representative of trust beneficiaries, refines the duties of the advocacy office director, establishes accountability requirements for the use of trust distributions in response to a legislative audit, and updates the composition of the nominating committees for the trustee boards.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0043

Year:

2026

Status:

Senate/ to Governor

Last Action:

Mar 13, 2026

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-1 | School Trust Lands (retired)

Impact on Children:

This bill strengthens the systems that protect and manage the School Land Trusts, helping ensure those funds are used responsibly and in ways that support their long‑term well‑being of Utah's school children.

Commission:

Trust Lands

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage State and local officials to take all necessary steps to assure that management of the School Trust Lands is in accordance with trust duties and principles including undivided loyalty to the beneficiaries, a duty to make trust property productive, a duty to keep and render accounts, and a duty to exercise prudence and skill in administering the trust, thereby obtaining much-needed revenue for Utah's public schools; and be if further Resolved, 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; and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage the State Legislature to protect the permanent State School Fund for dedication to K-12 public education;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To advocate for laws that further the education, physical and mental health, welfare, and safety of children and youth.

SB0044S01 | Alternative Education Scholarship Combination

Description

General Description:

This bill combines the Carson Smith Scholarship and Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Programs.

Highlighted Provisions:

Combines the Carson Smith Scholarship and the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship into the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program. Allows for homeschool and preschool aged students to receive scholarships. Adds expenses with a qualifying provider to allowable scholarship expenses. Provides regulatory autonomy for a qualifying school, qualifying provider, and home-school student. Allows scholarships to be used for services from eligible service providers and establishes an approval process. Allows students with disabilities and their siblings to be awarded scholarship amounts of up to 2.5 times the WPU amount. Phases out new applications and extensions for the Carson Smith Scholarship Program after the 2023-2024 school year and makes technical changes.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

SB0044S01

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 20, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA is concerned about the lack of oversight on this bill. There is no mechanism to ensure that these taxpayer funds are being spent for the designated purpose and there is no follow up to see if these funds are actually helping students with disabilities to progress in their education. Further, having multiple SGOs creates potential mismanagement of funds. The USBE has been a better steward of taxpayer funds and should be considered as the SGO of choice to handle this program.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2023-1 | Education Funding

Impact on Children:

This bill would prevent tax money going into the funds providing for public education. Scholarships are awarded to students with disabilities and their siblings for up to 2.5 times the WPU amount. Donors to the scholarship fund receive a tax credit for the full amount of their donation.

Commission:

Education

Special Needs Specialist

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved that Utah PTA and its constituent associations oppose funding mechanisms such as vouchers, tax credits, deductions; and, be it further

Resolved, That Utah PTA and its constituent associations will always oppose funding methods that divert funds away from public education system if the accountability methods are not equal to or greater than those of public education system; and, be it further

Resolved, that Utah PTA 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 education funding

Legislative Bills

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