Utah lawmakers focus on bills aiming to improve education and schools, among others

Utah lawmakers focus on bills aiming to improve education and schools, among others

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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers set their sights on education this week, considering bills that would impact low-performing schools, the amount of testing required of students, technology improvements and educational funding for families living in poverty.

The Legislature also passed a bill that would help victims of sexual abuse, looked at requiring more licensing of those who work with autistic children, celebrated the state's tourism industry and considered the state's struggling transportation system.

Here are the highlights from these stories:

Lawmakers consider academic turnaround programs for low-performing schools

Utah schools that get failing grades on the state's school grading system may be required to get outside help and participate in academic turnaround initiatives.

The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday unanimously recommended SB235, which attempts to bring a greater measure of accountability despite the controversy surrounding Utah's school grading system. It's the only bill in the past three years sponsored by Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy.

"This is an important issue to me," Niederhauser said. He said the bill is intended to address "how we deal with schools that are failing, and how do we get quality leadership in every one of those schools so that we have (better) outcomes."

The bill would create a school leadership development program that would train educators in poorly performing schools how to better collaborate and use student data to tailor instruction.

Schools that perform in the lowest 3 percent would be required to create a school turnaround committee composed of a local school board member, the school principal, parents and teachers. The committee would have to propose a plan to the Utah State Board of Education of how the school will improve student performance.

If those schools improve by a full letter grade within a year, they would be awarded $100 per tested student and $1,000 per educator. That amount would multiply up to $500 per student and $5,000 per educator if the school improves by four letter grades.

Bill would fund education for families experiencing intergenerational poverty

Households experiencing intergenerational poverty could receive funds for "qualified educational expenses" for children and their parents under a bill introduced in the Utah Senate Wednesday.

SB262, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Osmond, R-South Jordan, would allow working parents of modest means to apply for income tax reimbursements to be used for approved educational expenses in Utah's public education and higher education systems. Seventy five percent of the funds must be used for children's educational expenses.

"The kids are the primary element, but we recognize that some education and job retraining will also help the adults. We want most of the money to be focused on helping these kids to succeed in the education mainstream so we don’t lose them there and reinforce intergenerational poverty," Osmond said.

A commission of state department heads whose agencies interact with impoverished families has identified education attainment of as a top priority in breaking cycles of intergenerational poverty.

Move to reduce student testing passes House

A resolution to consider ways to reduce the amount of testing Utah students face cleared another legislative hurdle Wednesday.

HCR7 asks state education leaders to conduct a study of Utah's current testing methods to look for areas where testing could be reduced.

The resolution's sponsor, Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Cottonwood Heights, said the initiative is backed by concerns from numerous constituents and educators who say students are having to spend more time preparing for tests and less time learning new material.

Some worry that testing has become a high-stakes approach to evaluating schools and teachers in Utah, with less emphasis on improving instruction and student outcomes. Excessive testing also limits technology as a learning tool when tests are too frequent, Poulson said.

Statewide school technology bill passes first legislative hurdle

Draper Republican Sen. Howard Stephenson wants to put a technology device into the hands of hundreds of thousands of students in Utah.

The initiative comes with a $75 million price tag in its first year alone, but it earned the approval of almost every member of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

Based on an unsuccessful initiative sponsored by the late former House Speaker Becky Lockhart last year, and now in its 40th iteration, SB222 passed the committee in a 7-1 vote and will now be considered by the full Senate.

"I've never been more hopeful about the future of education in our state than I am now, especially if we are able to give teachers the tools they need to more effectively reach every student at their level, their pace and their learning style," said Stephenson, the bill's sponsor.

The bill would provide enough money to fund 25 percent of the cost for a school district or charter school to implement a one-to-one student technology program. Districts and charters would have to pay the remaining balance.

New license proposed for Utah professionals who treat autism

Lawmakers on Wednesday favored an idea to create a new license for an applied behavior analyst and assistant behavior specialist to provide care for children who have an autism spectrum disorder.

"It's a real challenge out there for those in this category," said Jim Clegg, whose grandson is autistic. He said parents and grandparents have a hard time accessing safe resources "to help our children."

SB246, sponsored by Sen. Brian Shiozawa, R-Cottonwood Heights, amends the existing Utah Psychologist Licensing Act to include the new licensees, who will serve a growing group of consumers, according to Nan Klein, director of professional affairs for the Utah Psychological Association.

"There is an important need for qualified persons to serve a very needy community," she said.

Leaders celebrate Utah's $7.5B tourism industry

Tourism leaders gathered in the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday to recognize Utah’s booming tourism economy.

Representatives from more than 20 Utah tourism organizations met to celebrate their partnerships with state and local government officials. They assembled to recognize legislative investments that have resulted in Utah’s now-$7.5 billion tourism economy.

“We’re grateful that the governor and the Legislature really believe in tourism as a growth part of the economy, and so they are increasing the investment of tourism this year,” said Vicki Varela, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism.

Varela said by the end of the 2015 session, tourism leaders hope to have $18 million to invest further in marketing strategies for Utah as a tourism destination.

Gov. Gary Herbert said tourism is “vital” for the state’s economy, and it’s important for Utah to live up to its potential as a unique state with such a variety of recreational opportunities.

He said the state’s future in tourism is “alive and well.”

Committee OKs resolution supporting victims of sex abuse

When Amelia Roper tried to report a sexual assault in 2000, she said police didn’t believe her.

Lawmakers listened to Roper’s story Thursday before advancing a resolution that aims to change how law enforcement, advocates and family members interact with victims of sexual violence.

HCR1, sponsored by Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, would designate the first Wednesday of April as “Start by Believing Day” in support of sexual assault victims.

The now-Salt Lake City resident was living in Idaho when she and a friend were victimized. Roper said when they tried to report the crime, responding officers didn’t believe them and it took three days for a detective to take their story seriously.

“This (resolution) is important because people need to know that there’s somewhere they can turn to so they can get help and get the emotional support that they need,” Roper said. “Everybody knows somebody that’s been sexually assaulted some how, some way.”

According to HCR1, the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice study, “Rape in Utah,” found 1 in 3 Utah women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.

Hundreds assemble to demand patch for Utah's $11.3B transportation system 'pothole'

With the knowledge that we can invest one dollar in maintenance today to save $10 to $25 in reconstruction later, taking action now is the fiscally responsible thing to do.”

Citizens, business leaders and lawmakers cheered Kaysville Mayor Steve Hiatt for those words Wednesday as he spoke at a rally on the Capitol steps that called for better funding of Utah’s deteriorating transportation infrastructure.

While representing the Utah League of Cities and Towns, Hiatt cited a recent Utah Foundation survey that showed 82 percent of cities and 95 percent of counties in Utah face “critical” transportation funding requirements, and that they would need 30 percent more in funds to meet current needs.

“Now is the time to benefit all Utahns by responsibly investing in our future,” he said. “Now is the time in the remaining weeks in the 2015 legislative session. We urge our state legislators to take this important responsibility seriously.”

As part of a crowd of about 200, rally participant Ryan Cowley held a sign that read “fix the $11.3 billion pothole.” His sign referred to the financial rut that the state needs to overcome to complete infrastructure improvements. Lawmakers are trying to patch that pothole with several proposals this year. Those proposals would raise gas taxes for the first time since 1997.

Rep. Johnny Anderson, R-Taylorsville, is sponsoring a bill that would replace the flat gas tax with a varying tax rate that would be calculated based on Utah’s average yearly gas prices. The bill would also allow counties to set a local sales tax to fund their transportation systems.

Anderson said it’s important for Utahns who might oppose a raise in gas taxes to remember “the need is significant.”

Panel OKs bill reducing penalties for concealed weapons on buses

If a person carrying a concealed weapon boards a bus in Utah without permission, they commit a felony.

But a House committee approved a bill Wednesday that would eliminate that law.

Rep. Norman Thurston, R-Provo, is sponsoring HB350 to eliminate what he says is an “unnecessary law” that puts too much at stake for Utahns who regularly carry items — such as a pocketknife or even a baseball bat — that could be considered dangerous weapons.

“To have that behavior that otherwise law-abiding citizens could be even charged with a felony I think just goes to far,” Thurston said. “It’s a pretty big penalty for somebody who’s possibly not even doing this knowingly.”

Current Utah law allows people to carry concealed weapons on buses or trains with permits or permission from transit owners, but without that permission, carrying a concealed firearm or dangerous weapon on a bus, train or in the vicinity of a bus or train stop is a felony, Thurston said.

Lawmakers narrow selection of school board election bills

The list of alternatives for vetting Utah State School Board candidates is narrowing.

Three bills were held in committee and three others were allowed to move to the House floor following a lengthy debate among lawmakers, educators and members of the public Thursday.

The fundamental question remains the same as it has been: Should Utah have a partisan school board?

What goes to the House is a combination of legislation. SB104, sponsored by Sen. Alvin Jackson, R-Highland, has already passed the Senate. Now amended, the bill would make the State School Board elections partisan and allow local school boards to choose whether to have partisan elections.

Early graduation incentive bill fails in House

House lawmakers rejected a bill Thursday that sought to increase scholarship funds for early high school graduates.

SB33 would have required schools to inform parents earlier in their students' academic career about the pathways to early graduation and college readiness. The bill also would have doubled the maximum amount for the Centennial Scholarship to $2,000.

Floor sponsor Rep. Daniel McCay, R-Riverton, said the bill would have relied on dollars from the education fund, but because more students would graduate early and put less burden on the education system, the bill would generate savings overall.

"That's an assumption," said Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville. "I agree that the Legislature and the State School Board have a responsibility to set a standard. But I still think this is tinkering with education, requiring local districts to do things that I think they're plenty capable of doing without the Legislature having to put it in statute."

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