Legislative Bills

HB0411S02 | Student Behavioral Health Services Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions for supporting student mental health in schools.

Highlighted Provisions:

Allows behavioral health support personnel to utilize scholarships to become a school social worker, school psychologist or other school-based mental health worker.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0411S02

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2023

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

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

Impact on Children:

This bill will benefit Utah’s K-12 students by addressing the need for more mental health support in our school. Mental health is a top concern among parents, PTA leaders and teachers. We need to look to more ways of getting more help to our students.

Commission:

Health

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA support collaborative efforts between the home, school, private physicians, and community resource agencies to create mental health support networks for families, to recognize the prevalence and need for recognition of mental health illnesses and associated diagnosis and treatment, and to increase the number of psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and mental health professionals to provide adequate services for those needing help;

HB0417 | School Materials Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions regarding student access to sensitive material within the public education system.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill directs districts in choosing instructional material, prohibits LEAs from prohibiting public recitation nor display of materials, provides for private right of action against LEAs, waives governmental immunity and amends criminal provisions.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0417

Year:

2024

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Oppose w/ Comment

Utah PTA is opposed to children's exposure to sexually explicit materials. Teachers and librarians work hard to support their students and provide them with appropriate materials. Putting criminal penalties on teachers for providing materials to their students is poor policy and will have a chilling effect on recruiting and retaining exceptional educators.

Impact on Children:

This bill will have a detrimental effect on teachers and make it harder to recruit and retain good teachers and librarians. While PTA is opposed to exposing children to sexually explicit materials, subjective materials can be open to interpretation and this will cause confusion and uncertainty.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

EDUCATION. Support an adequately funded public school system by funding an 8% WPU increase over and above growth and inflation; implement policies to increase proficiency levels by improving attendance, reducing class sizes, and supporting teachers; increase academic excellence for all Utah students; and prioritize local control to LEAs and individual schools.

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National: Libraries and Educational Material

National PTA believes that students need access to information in order to explore and experience the diversity of ideas in a pluralistic society. PTA recognizes and supports the rights of parents to guide their children in choosing appropriate reading and educational materials. PTA supports teachers in developing classroom libraries to include appropriate reading and educational materials. PTA also supports the rights of both public libraries and school libraries to provide factually correct and historically accurate information and materials that are free of censorship based on bias, partisanship or doctrinal disapproval.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Encourage the development of inclusive curricula and materials that are historically accurate, age and developmentally appropriate and provide a means for students to explore diverse concepts, cultures and perspectives.

HB0419 | Tobacco Regulation Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill relates to the regulation of tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products.

Highlighted Provisions:

changes certain penalties for violating a regulation regarding tobacco products,
15 electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products;
16 ▸ adds a hazardous waste disposal fee for electronic cigarette products; and
17 ▸ enacts new requirements and restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, electronic
18 cigarette products, and nicotine products.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0419

Year:

2023

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 03, 2023

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:

Increased penalties and fees associated with e cigarettes have been shown to decrease youth usage.

Commission:

Student Leadership

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA support state and local ordinances that appropriately address regulations of ENDS products

HB0420S01 | School Code of Conduct Protections

Description

General Description:

This bill requires local education agencies to adopt a code of conduct and provides certain protections from retaliation.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill provides a code of conduct for staff members of the public school system; requires reporting of violations of the code of conduct; requires all staff members to receive training on the code of conduct; prohibits retaliation against a staff member that reports a violation of the code of conduct; and provides a process for a staff member to seek review of an adverse employment action that is taken in retaliation for compliance with the code of conduct.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0420S01

Year:

2024

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Local Issue

Impact on Children:

Putting a code of conduct into law makes it much more difficult for local schools to amend or adjust their code of conduct. Most of this bill is taken directly from the USBE Rule, and the bill is unnecessary. LEAs are already required to put into place a code of conduct, but currently have flexibility to amend as they need to.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation: Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth.

HB0420 | Turnaround Program Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends the criteria for a low performing school to exit the school turnaround program.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0420

Year:

2020

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 24, 2020

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2014-1 | Public School Accountability

Impact on Children:

Amends the criteria for a low performing school to exit the school turnaround program based on criteria set by the Utah State Board of Education.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

Utah PTA Resolution EDU 2014-1 Public School Accountability - Resolved, That Utah PTA support systems of accountability for public schools that take into account qualitative characteristics, including a welcoming environment, family engagement efforts, administrative leadership, and community collaboration; in addition to quantitative measurements, such as educator qualifications, student absenteeism, average student tested proficiency and student academic growth. Resolved, That Utah PTA recognize the State Board of Education as the appropriate body to form standards of accountability and methods of school evaluation based on these standards; and that any legislative requirements should be made collaboratively with the State Board of Education and the expertise of the State Office of Education.

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities:

Utah PTA Legislative Priority #3. Support accountability for all public schools that take into account the needs of students, teachers, and communities.

Links

Utah PTA EDU 2014-1 Public School Accountability

Utah PTA Legislative Priorities

HB0421S03 | Intensive Services Pilot Program

Description

General Description:

This bill creates the Intensive Services Special Education Pilot Program to provide funding to local education agencies to supplement the cost of educating a student with intensive special education needs.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:
▸ creates the Intensive Services Special Education Costs Pilot Program (program) to provide funding to local education agencies to supplement the cost of educating a student who:
• has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP); and
• for whom the cost of the special education services described in the student' IEP exceeds three times the statewide average per-pupil expenditures;
▸ requires the State Board of Education to make rules establishing a distribution
formula to allocate money appropriated under the program; and
▸ provides a sunset date.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0421S03

Year:

2021

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 17, 2021

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

$1,000,000

This bill appropriates in Fiscal Year 2022: to the State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School Program - Special Education - Intensive Services as a one-time appropriation: from the Education Fund, $1,000,000.

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Utah PTA Resolution:

EDU 2005-1 | Education of Students with Disabilities (retired)

Impact on Children:

This bill would provide additional funding for LEAs to supplement the cost of educating students with intensive special education needs.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions:

That Utah PTA and its organizations continue to support the right of each student
with a disability to have access to an equal education via whatever means reasonable and
necessary to specific disabilities, such as Individualized Education Programs (IEP’s) and 504 Accommodation Plans, which may include transportation, therapy, special services/equipment, reasonable accommodations and other supportive services the child requires to benefit from his/her educational program;

HB0421 | School Land Trust Program Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill modifies the percentage of revenue from trust lands that is distributed from the Land Grant Management Fund.

Highlighted Provisions:

Proposes to make complementary changes to the Utah Code to modify the percentage of revenue from trust lands that is distributed from the Land Grant Management Fund. They removed the sentence under 53F-2-404 that limits distribution to 3%, and changed Section 53F-9-201under Trust distribution by removing 4% and increasing it to 5%.

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0421

Year:

2023

Status:

Governor Signed

Last Action:

Mar 15, 2023

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:

Conditions have demonstrated that the current Constitutional and statutory 4% restrictions have caused the distribution policy to not meet required intergenerational equity standards by favoring future over present beneficiaries.

Commission:

Trust Lands

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;

HB0422S01 | School District Voter Eligibility Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill creates a student voter pilot project for local school board elections.

Highlighted Provisions:

11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     allows local school boards to vote to allow students who are 16 and 17 years old to
14     vote in local school board elections; and

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0422S01

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

Pending

Utah PTA encourages positive involvement in the political process by parents and families, which includes more than just voting. The National PTA supports the concept of shared responsibility in the development of school policies and in curriculum decisions. PTA urges all school boards to cooperate with parents, teachers, students, principals, administrators, business, civic and community leaders, and the general public in this process. As students learn and grow in their knowledge and understanding, they can take on more responsibility. Just like the process of learning to drive, where we don't immediately give the keys to the car without going through the driver's education process, we shouldn't be giving the "keys to the car" of voting without going through a similar education process. We encourage school board nominees, as well as all persons running for public office, to find ways to engage with our students to help them as they learn the issues around voting and the political process.

Utah PTA Resolution:

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

Impact on Children:

This bill would allow 16 & 17 year-olds to vote in local school board elections, but only if the local school board votes to allow it.

If they register to vote through this process, they will be automatically registered to vote for all elections at age 18, unless they opt out.

Commission:

Student Leadership

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 election process,
That Utah PTA and its constituent associates encourage parents to be actively involved in the election process, recognizing this to be in the best interest of
children.

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

(2) parental involvement as an essential component of all policy-making processes pertaining to children;

HB0426S01 | Firearm Amendments

Description

General Description:

This bill amends provisions relating to firearms and ammunition.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill:

▸ amends offenses related to a restricted person in possession of a dangerous weapon to include ammunition;

▸ makes possession of a firearm on which the identifying marks have been altered or removed a crime;

▸ amends provisions requiring the Bureau of Criminal Identification to inform local law enforcement when a prohibited person attempts to purchase a firearm from a firearm dealer;

▸ requires a firearm dealer to distribute a firearm safety brochure at the time of the transfer of a firearm;

▸ requires a firearm dealer to post a written notice of potential liability for the negligent storage of a firearm and provides a penalty for failure to post the notice;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0426S01

Year:

2024

Status:

House/ filed

Last Action:

Mar 01, 2024

Fiscal Note

Fiscal Note Amount:

None

View Fiscal Note

Utah PTA Response

Utah PTA Position

Support

Impact on Children:

For over 30 years, the National PTA has advocated for common-sense and comprehensive gun safety and violence prevention measures while preserving the lawful use of firearms for sport and personal protection. This bill proposes changes to existing laws related to firearms and ammunition. The changes include expanding offenses for restricted persons, requiring notification to law enforcement, and mandating firearm dealers' distribution of firearm safety brochures.

Commission:

Safety

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

Utah PTA Legislative Policy:

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.

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

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

National PTA Firearms Position Statement - Institute a background check for ammunition purchases.

National PTA Gun Safety and Violence Prevention Position Statement - National PTA and its constituent bodies promote the establishment of, and support for legislation that improves youth and community safety and restrict guns to only responsible owners.

National PTA Public Policy Agenda

Support sensible solutions to gun violence, including promoting the safe and secure storage of firearms, strengthening the federal background check system, investing in evidence-based community violence interventions and addressing youth access to firearms, especially assault or military-style weapons.

HB0428S02 | Public Education Governance and Appeals

Description

General Description:

This bill addresses authority of the State Board of Education over the public education system and certain local school board appeals.

Highlighted Provisions:

This bill establishes the Public Education Appeals Panel (panel) to decide appeals regarding certain local school board decisions and policies; establishes a right for parents representing a certain percentage of total enrollment within a local education agency to submit an appeal to the panel; allows certain rulings, including:
• requiring a local school board to seek state board ratification of a modified decision or policy; or
• revoking a local school board's authority over a school district and assigning management of the school district to another local school board or the state board for a period of time;

Bill Details

Bill Number:

HB0428S02

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

Impact on Children:

This bill allows the vocal minority to potentially overturn decisions made by a majority elected body and is a threat to our democratic republic form of government.

Commission:

Education

Utah PTA Public Policy Program

National PTA and Utah PTA Position Statements:

Utah PTA Poistion Statement on HB 428 Public Education Governance and Appeals

Based upon the following principles found within the Utah PTA Public Policy Program, Utah PTA is opposed to HB 428 Public Education Governance and Appeals. We are concerned that this bill is a threat to the democratic republic form of government that our nation is built upon. This bill allows the vocal minority to potentially overturn decisions made by a majority elected body. Constituents need to be engaged and involved in the process and have the opportunity to voice public comment during school board meetings and in direct conversations with their elected representatives. This bill bypasses the voters and turns decisions over to a Public Education Appeals Panel of appointed members. Utah PTA encourages our membership to be actively engaged and involved in all levels of governance as we advocate for children.

"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; (3) the observance and understanding of the rights and obligations of responsible citizenship and ethical government; and, (4) the realization that maintaining a free and public education system is a cornerstone of democracy—that the Utah Public Education System is created in the state Constitution to “secure and perpetuate” freedom.

General Principles for Consideration of Proposed Legislation:
1. 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.
2. High standards for those who work in all areas concerned with children and youth.
3. Coordination and planning by all agencies with clear definition of responsibility at each level of government.
4. Prioritizing the needs of all children and youth, while adhering to fiscal responsibility in government.
5. Maximum local control when it serves the best interest of all children and youth."

The Utah PTA Public Program is the primary authority for public policy action and statements by Utah PTA on state and local legislation and administrative policies and regulations.

Legislative Bills

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