Legislative Bills

HB0251 | School Dropout Prevention Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill makes changes to provisions related to school dropout prevention.

Highlighted Provisions:

"11 This bill:
12 ▸ requires a local education agency that meets certain criteria to provide dropout
13 prevention and recovery services by either:
14 • contracting with a third party; or
15 • creating a dropout prevention and recovery plan;"

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0251

Year:

2022

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 24, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2014-2 | Chronic Absenteeism (retired)

Impact on Children:

Drop out and absenteeism have been a frightening byproduct of the pandemic. Now more than ever LEAs must have the mandate and flexibility to handle this issue and offer the right services for struggling students.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

"That Utah PTA urge the Utah State Board of Education to adopt policies for early
identification of students who are chronically absent; provide targeted prevention, positive
support, and outreach strategies and services which include parents and families that
address chronic absenteeism; and develop community-wide awareness strategies; "

HB0252 | Electronic Cigarette and Other Nicotine Product Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts and amends provisions relating to electronic cigarette products, alternative nicotine products, and nontherapeutic nicotine products.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0252

Year:

2019

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 14, 2019

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2015-2 | Electronic Cigarettes and Utah Youth

Impact on Children:

Studies show that when an increased tax in imposed purchase rates go down, also part of the tax collected would go towards prevention efforts with youth, and there will be more oversight of where these products are sold to prevent underage sales.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA support the position that any revenue generated through taxation of ENDS should support tobacco cessation and prevention programs;
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;

HB0256S01 | Farm to School Program

Description

General Description:

This bill enacts provisions to codify Utah's farm to school program.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill enacts provisions to codify Utah's farm to school program. creating the Utah Farm to Fork Commission which will (among other things) administer a grant program to provide grants to schools, child care centers, nonprofit organizations, and farmers to establish or expand farm to school programs

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0256S01

Year:

2022

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 04, 2022

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

HEA 2017-1 | Nutrition and Exercise

Impact on Children:

Passage of this bill will improve access of school lunch programs to more fresh fruits and vegetables, reducing reliance on more processed foods.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations work with schools, school boards, and other
appropriate bodies to encourage schools to practice principles of sound nutrition for all
foods and beverages made available to students in the classroom, the lunchroom, or in
vending machines;
That Utah PTA and its constituent associations support efforts of schools and families to
provide children with food and drink that is low in calories, low in saturated fats, low in
sodium, and higher in fiber

HB0256 | School District Elections Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill makes the office of local school board member an office that is elected via a partisan election.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill makes the office of local school board member an office that is elected via a partisan election.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0256

Year:

2026

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 06, 2026

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose

Utah PTA Resolution:

COM 2017-1 | Partisan Politics and Redistricting (retired)

EDU 2015-3 | State Board of Education

Impact on Children:

This bill introduces party politics to our local school board elections. This will limit the number of candidates on the ballot in the general election,

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its constituent associations urge the Utah Legislature to bring the government closer to all Utahns by supporting legislation that protects each voter’s right to be heard in an election without partisan politics controlling the nomination and election processes;

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

That Utah PTA support legislation which enacts direct, nonpartisan election of State School Board members and opposes partisan election of the same body

HB0258S02 | Firearm Safety in Schools

Description

General Description:

This bill creates a pilot program to provide a firearm safety course in public schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
▸     creates a three-year pilot program to provide a one semester course in the safe
handling of firearms for grades 9 through 12;
▸     requires a local education agency (LEA) to:
•     contract with a provider to supply materials and curriculum for the pilot program; or
   •     develop curriculum for the pilot program;
▸     requires the State Board of Education to:
•     select LEAs to participate in the pilot program;
•     award grants to participating LEAs for curriculum and supplies for the pilot
program; and
•     make rules, including rules establishing qualifications for instructors;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0258S02

Year:

2021

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 05, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA appreciates the value the establishment of education programs for students about gun safety may have. However, public education standards and policy should be left to the State Board of Education and development of curriculum should be left to the LEAs. Utah PTA is concerned with the precedence this legislation sets for other legislators to develop public education curriculum within state statute.

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-3 | State Board of Education

Impact on Children:

While providing a valuable resource for children in rural areas, we are concerned about the impact this bill will have in more urban areas of the state and the problems this legislation will present in those areas.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Resolved, That Utah PTA recognizes the State Board of Education as the body elected to establish policy and standards for education in the State of Utah

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

Coordination and planning by all agencies with clear definition of responsibility at each level of government.
Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Establish education programs to teach students, parents and community members about gun safety and violence prevention.

HB0259 | Juvenile Interrogation Modifications

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses the interrogation of a child.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill clarifies the requirements for an interrogation of a child; requires a law enforcement agency to make an audio or visual recording of an interrogation of a child; addresses the admissibility of a recorded or unrecorded interrogation of a child; addresses the admissibility of an admission, confession, or statement by a child as a result of an interrogation.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0259

Year:

2024

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 13, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Children deserve fair treatment even if they have allegedly done something wrong. This bill will ensure the safety of children being interrogated by mandating audio or visual recording of a child's interrogation, ensuring the presence of a 'friendly adult' during the process, and granting the right for a child to consult with an attorney if detained. Additionally, it prohibits the provision of false information during interrogation.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA CHILD SAFETY AND PROTECTION: Encourage collaboration between law enforcement, the judicial system, and child welfare agencies. Promote alternative dispute resolution techniques that provide a range of possible sanctions.

HB0259 | Lead Exposure Education and Testing Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates a program to increase testing and education regarding lead exposure for children.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill creates a program to increase testing and education regarding lead exposure for children

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0259

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 16, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child's health, including damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Passage of this legislation will create an education program to inform parents about the effects of lead exposure, the availability of free screenings and testing for lead exposure, and available preventative measures.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That the National PTA and its constituent associations advocate for lead testing and the remediation of lead contaminated soils and water; and, That the National PTA and its constituent associations promote advocacy around policy changes to prevent lead poisoning.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

NPTA Resolution on Lead Poisoning Prevention

|

Description

General Description:

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill: defines terms; prohibits an institution of higher education, the public education system, and a governmental employer from: requiring an individual, before, during, or after admission or employment, to provide certain submissions or attend certain training that promotes differential treatment; using an individual's certain characteristics in decisions regarding aspects of employment or education; and engaging in certain practices; requires the Utah Board of Education (board), the State Board of Education (state board), and the governor to ensure compliance with certain requirements; prohibits an institution of higher education, the state board, and a governmental employer from establishing or maintaining an office that engages in certain practices

Bill Details

Bill Number:

https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0261.html

Year:

2024

Status:

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

That Utah PTA urges state legislators to facilitate the implementation of community schools to provide services for the whole child and the families in each school community

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-2 | Support for Community Schools (retired)

Impact on Children:

This bill prohibits an institution of higher education, the public education system, or a governmental employer from taking certain actions and engaging in discriminatory practices.

However, this bill also removes the ability of LEAs to do training on discriminatory practices and to support children with a wide variety of unique needs. Teachers need training on how to support students with a wide variety of concerns, and knowledge of how to do this without crossing into tenets of CRT.

Commission:

Education

|

Description

General Description:

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill decreases competition for Trust Lands sales thereby decreasing money that would go directly to the beneficiaries (the school children of Utah).

Bill Details

Bill Number:

https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0262.html

Year:

2024

Status:

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Pending

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2015-1 | School Trust Lands (retired)

Impact on Children:

This bill tries to amend the provisions of selling Trust Lands by not requiring advertising of the sale of the lands, and only requiring a "fair market value" as the base requirement to sell to an entity. In order to make the most money from the Trust Lands, a competitive market is vital to produce the most money for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

Commission:

Trust Lands

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

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;

Files

Attachment	Size
HB262 Legislative alert.docx	14.45 KB
HB 262 One Page Handout.docx	20.41 KB

HB0262 | Children's Health Insurance Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Children's Health Care Coverage Program.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill creates the Children's Health Care Coverage Program

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0262

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 16, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$172,500

This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2022: to Department of Health � Children's Health Insurance Program, as an ongoing appropriation: from the General Fund, Ongoing, $172,500.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

The Children's Health Care Coverage Program, created by this bill, is purposed to research, analyze, and promote health insurance coverage for children. It is expected this program will reduce the uninsured rate among low income children in Utah.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA Position Statement: National Health Reform and Access to Care for Children, Youth, Families and Pregnant Women
Health Care Costs. The National PTA believes that agencies with responsibilities for educational, health or welfare services must have provisions for adequate funding and structure to meet effective legislative intent[16] and to provide adequate funding for school and community services to children in areas under federal government control. Any health plan should provide adequate reimbursement levels to encourage the development of primary care practices and to ensure appropriate distribution of health resources to underserved areas, and not shift costs to families, particularly those of low income. Costs should be contained in all sectors of the health care system, and administrative procedures be simplified.

Legislative Bills

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