MASTER STUDY RESOLUTION
2009 General Session Education Issues

                                                                                                                                   H.J.R. 21
                       
                      ______________________________________________________________ 
 
                       LONG TITLE
    8      General Description:
    9          This joint resolution of the Legislature gives the Legislative Management Committee
  10      items of study it may assign to the appropriate interim committee.
  11      Highlighted Provisions:
  12          This resolution:
  13                     - gives the Legislative Management Committee items of study it may assign to the
  14      appropriate interim committee during the 2009 legislative interim;
  15                     - directs interim committees assigned these studies to study and make
  16      recommendations for legislative action to the 58th Legislature before the 2010
  17      Annual General Session; and
  18                     - suggests that the Legislative Management Committee, in approving studies, give
  19      consideration to the available time of legislators and the budget and capacity of staff
  20      to respond.
  21      Special Clauses:
  22          None
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  24     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
  25         WHEREAS, the Legislative Management Committee is created by law as a permanent
  26     committee to receive and assign matters for the interim study of the Legislature; and
  27         WHEREAS, the 58th Legislature has determined that certain legislative issues require
  28      additional investigation and study:
  29         NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Management Committee
  30     is given the following items of study to assign to the appropriate interim committee with the
  31     duty to study and make recommendations for legislative action to the 58th Legislature before
  32     the 2010 Annual General Session.
  33         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Management Committee, in
  34     making study assignments from this list and in approving study requests for individual
  35     committees, give consideration to the available time of legislators and the budget & capacity
  36     of staff to respond adequately to the number and complexity of the assignments given.
  87     24. Achievement Results - to study and compare achievement results between Utah
  88     and other states.
  89     25. Class Size - to study class size reduction strategies.
  90     26. Condition for Receiving School Building Equalization Funds - to study a
  91     requirement that school districts receiving school building equalization funds under Salt Lake
  92     County's law must utilize existing buildings year round to qualify to receive the funds.
  93     27. Driver's Education - to study the funding of driver's education.
  94     28. Education Plan - to study and review a long-term plan for education.
  95     29. Education Reports - to study and review the reports required by statute and the
  96     State Office of Education, including reports that local school districts must prepare.
  97     30. Educational Resources in the Public Domain - to study how curriculum materials
  98     and other learning resources created with state funds may be placed in the public domain.
  99     31. Educator Self-Reporting - to study whether to require educators to self-report
100     certain arrests to the State Office of Education.
101     32. Engineering Programs - to study ways to accelerate the number of engineers
102     trained in the state.
103     33. Extracurricular Activities Eligibility - to study and review private and home school
104     students' eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities (S.B. 61).
105     34. Funding Education - to study equity in education funding.
106     35. Funding Local Schools - to study and make recommendations regarding alternative
107     ways to provide funding to local schools, including studying efficiencies, whether to increase
108     local control of education resources, and whether to implement a local funding pilot project for
109     a school district (S.B. 109).
110     36. Health Education - to study requirements for health education in schools (H.B.
111     189).
112     37. Property Tax Equalization for Education Needs - to study accountability in
113     property tax equalization, including a review of the Capital Outlay Foundation Program for
114     meeting school building needs.
115     38. Public Education Governance - to study and clearly define the functions and roles
116     of the Utah State Office of Education, local school boards, and school districts to find ways to
117     strengthen local control of public education.
118     39. Renewable Energy in Schools - to study the funding of renewable energy systems,
119     including solar, geothermal, and wind for school buildings.
120     40. School Buses - to study a proposal for school bus fleet conversion.
121     41. School Community Councils - to study the structure and effectiveness of school
122     community councils.
123     42. School District Division - to study voting procedures and the allocation of school
124     district property following the creation of a new school district, and the effective date of the
125     new school district (H.B. 186).
126     43. School Employee Termination - to study modifications to the "Utah Orderly
127     School Termination Procedures Act," including certain time and notice provisions (1st Sub.
128     H.B. 260).            
133     45. Teacher Performance Pay - to study whether to add a performance component to
134     the formula used to determine teacher pay.
388     160. School Funding Modifications - to study the statewide equalization of property
389     taxes (H.B. 199).

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

March 12, 2009

HB2 Second Substitute Minimum Program Budget Amendments
(M. Newbold)
During the debate of the bill, Representative Bigelow told the body that Charter School increase in enrollment will have to be a tax hike next year, if the economy does not turn around.  Representative Newbold said this bill funds all public schools for fiscal year 2009-10.  It was made clear that the 25% local replacement for Charter schools does not grow; it stays the same as this current year.  It was clarified that Singapore Math Program is not in the bill.  There was a lot of consternation about $300,000 that is “being held in the Senate, for a Senator to decide what to do with it” for a new program—it was insinuated that it would go to HB328 Teacher Quality Amendments (G. Hughes), which bill is tabled in the Senate.  

HB2 Second Substitute
Passed on the House Floor with 47 Yes and 27 No.

SB186 Amendments to State Tax Commission Penalty Provisions
(H. Stephenson)
Initially the bill had a $1.5 million fiscal note from Education Fund, we opposed the bill, the fiscal note was amended out, and the bill passed out of the House.

HB 328 Teacher Quality Amendments (G. Hughes)
This bill has a $300,000 Fiscal Note, it passed in the Senate by a vote of 17 Yes to 10 No

3SSB199 Equal Recognition of School Parent Groups (C. Bramble)
There were major changes to the bill with amendments tonight, including to require school boards to have a policy on the parent group issue.  In the end, the bill was defeated on the House Floor with 31 Yes and 43 No.

HB334 Writing Assessment and Instruction (M. Newbold) 
This bill passed on the Senate Floor with 23 Yes and 6 No.

HB96 State Retirement System Participation for Charter Schools
(C. Watkins)
Passed on Senate Floor with 24 Yes and 5 No.

1SSB159 Math Education Initiative (H. Stephenson)
The bill failed on the House Floor with 30 Yes and 43 No.

March 11, 2009 - 5:00 pm

1st   Sub.  HB2 Minimum School Program Budget Amendments
This is the up-to-date information on the bill:  Sen. Stephenson substituted on the floor amendment 3, which took out the 100% replacement dollars from School Districts to charter schools.  It will stay as it currently is at 75% state and 25% districts.  Charter schools will still be allowed to grow but a change is that they will just have partial approval in November at then the legislature will decide at the session if there is money for approval of any new charter schools.  They will receive their final approval in April.  Sen. Stephenson said that all growth will be funded both in charter schools and school districts.  It was a 15-9 vote with both the 3rd and 4th amendments.  It is now going back to the house for approval of the amendments.

SB48  Teacher Licensing by Competency Amendments (D. Buttars)
The bill has been voted on the House Floor with a vote of 17 Yea and 49 Nea.

March 10, 2009

SB61  Home School & Private School Students’ Participation in Extracurricular Activities (M. Madsen)
Is still circled on Senate 3rd Reading Calendar. Several Senators have told me Senator Madsen does not have the votes to bring it up, and will “die” on the board.  Hopefully that will be the case, it is not over until it is over.

HB197 Reauthorization of Administrative Rules (B. Ferry)
Passed the Senate.  

SB146 Home Schooling Amendments (M. Madsen)
Passed House (School Board to issue certificate within 30 days of receiving affidavit).

HB194 Education Policies for Military Children (R. Menlove)
Passed Senate.

SB185  Federal Education Agreements Requirements Amendments (M. Dayton)
Passed House.

March 9, 2009

SB241 Instructional Expenses Requirements (M. Madsen)  
This is the 65% bill, it has just been defeated, Oh how sweet it is, by a vote of 12 yes and 17 no on the floor of the Senate.
               
1st SubSB270 Gift Card Amendments (W. Niederhauser)
Heretofore unclaimed property has been put into the Education Fund.  The fiscal note is $120,000 and increases 10% each year.  We made significant contacts with the Senators. In the end the bill passed after the sponsor said this bill had to pass in order to get more banks to come to Utah; which would bring more funds into the state and provide more funds for schools.

SB61 Home School Extracurricular Activities (M. Madsen)
The bill is circled on Third Reading and it should come up in the morning. 
If you have not contacted your Senator, please do so ASAP and encourage him/her to VOTE NO ON THE BILL.
This is a fairness issue, this bill just has a parent sign a note (affidavit) that their child is making progress.  Public School Students have to be tested, have a grade point average of C, attendance, etc.

March 5, 2009

SB61 Home School and Private School Students' Participation in Extracurricular Activities, Madsen, M.
In the afternoon the bill was brought back and placed on the Senate Third Reading Calendar and was circled.  Three of the Senators said they would vote to bring it back, but would not vote for the bill.  It will likely be up Friday.

HB244 Disruption of School Activities, Moss, C.
Passed out of the Senate.

SB153 County and Municipal Land Use Amendments, Madsen, M.
Passed out of the House

March 4, 2009

SB61 Home School and Private School Students’ Participation in Extracurricular Activities (M. Madsen)
The bill was up on Third Reading on the floor of the Senate this morning.  The bill was defeated with a vote of 13 yea and 16 nay.  There is a movement to try and bring the bill back, hopefully it won’t happen.  Thanks for your efforts on this bill.

HB244 Disruption of School Activities (C. Moss)
The bill was passed with a vote of 23 yea and 1 nay from 2nd reading in the Senate to third reading.

HB210S1 Posting of Collective Bargaining Agreements by School Districts and Charter School (K Sumsion)
The bill has passed out of the Senate.

March 3, 2009

SB241—65% Instruction bill —THE REST OF THE STORY— You won’t believe it, the “house was packed to over flowing” last night, after the Illegal Immigration Bill people stood up and were moving out, Senator Bramble took a vote up on the stand; I think only a very few people even knew it had been voted on. I followed up and verified the bill did indeed get voted out favorably.  Senator Madsen was not there, oh well that’s the Senate Education Committee.
           
Budget Update—from the House Majority Caucus today, early on the number was a 19% cut, they are now proposing a budget cut for Public Education of 6% with using “The Stimulus Package “for backfill, and fund growth.
           
SB61 Home School Activity Bill (M. Madsen) passed out on second reading by a vote of 17 to 10 on the Senate Floor; we are working to get more votes to defeat the bill on 3rd Reading tomorrow.
           
HB186 School District Division Amendment (L. Black) a motion was passed to put the bill on the master list for Interim Study.
           
SCR3S01 Concurrent Resolution Expressing Support for the Work of the Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education (P. Jones) the resolution passed in the House Education Committee.
           
HB259S1 Changes to Impact Fees (S. Sandstrom) the bill was heard in the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivision Committee, the resolution passed.
           

FEBRUARY 27, 2009

HB210S1- Department of Corrections - Tracking and Reimbursement of Individual Prisoner Costs, Bramble
Passed out of the Senate Education Committee, our position is unnecessary

HB328 -Teacher Quality Amendments, Stephenson
Passed out of the House, our position is oppose

HB199- Statewide Equalization of School Funding, Harper
Defeated in House Revenue & Taxation Committee, our position is oppose

HB334 - Writing Assessment and Instruction, Newbold
Passed out of the House Education Committee, we had no position

HB425 - Carson Smith Scholarship Program Amendments, Newbold
The bill passed out of House Education Committee, we had no position

SB146- Home Schooling Amendments, Madsen
Passed out of the Senate Floor, our position is unnecessary

HB159 - Ethics Provisions, Allen
Passed out of Senate Floor, our position is opposed

SB81S1 - Concurrent Enrollment Program Amendments, Dayton
Passed out of Senate Floor, our position is opposed

SB77- Grants for Licensed Teachers Amendments, Madsen
Passed out of Senate Floor, our position is hold

SB199 - Equal Recognition of School Parent Groups, Bramble
The bill was amended and circled, our position is opposed

HJR11 - Resolution Expressing Support for and Recognizing the Value of Locally Elected Officials, Brown
Passed out of Senate Governmental Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee unanimously and put on the Consent Calendar, our position was support.

The following bills are up in the Senate Education Committee
Feb. 27th at 8:00 A.M.

SB241- Instructional Expenses Requirements, Madsen

HB150S1- State Board of Education Member Election Process
Amendments, Moss

HB100S2 - Department of Corrections - Tracking and Reimbursement of                     Individual Prisoner Costs, Bramble

HB207S1 - Concurrent Enrollment Amendments, Dayton

HJR13 - Joint Resolution - Teacher Performance Pay, Poulson

The following bills are up in the House Education Committee
Feb. 27th at 4:10 P.M.

HB432 - Higher Education Budget Authority Amendments, Holdaway

HB381 - Public Education Law Revisions - Association Leave, Herrod

HB186 - School District Division Amendment, Black

SB81S1 - Concurrent Enrollment Program Amendments, Dayton

February 24, 2009

HB260S1- School Employee Termination Amendments, Wimmer
In House Government Operations Committee was presented this morning, it got hung
up on technicalities, the Sponsor is going to refer it to Interim Committee;  Senate Education Committee this morning

SB185- Federal Education Agreement Requirements Amendments, Dayton
This bill takes care of problems from the 2008 SB162 Legislative Session
Passed

HB244- Disruption of School Activities, Moss
Passed

HB264S1- Educator Evaluation Amendments, Menlove
Passed

HB287- Utah Education Network Amendments, Holdaway
Passed


                House Floor Bills on Third Reading

HB259- Prohibition of Impact Fees on School Districts and Charter Schools, Sandstrom
Is still circled, Rep. Sandstrom has an amended bill coming out soon

HB66S4- Property Tax Amendments, Newbold
Has been circled as 4th Substitute on the Board
We opposed the previous bill

HB150S1 – State Board of Education Member Election Process Amendments, Moss
We support the bill, this afternoon Rep. Sumsion attempted to “highjack” thebill by making a motion to substitute the bill with 2nd substitute which it a partisan bill, we support the 1st substitute.
Passed, At 4:25 P.M., with 45 Yes and 29 No, so it will go to the Senate.

                Senate Floor Bills on Second Reading

SB159- Math Education Initiative, Stephenson
We oppose the bill because of the fiscal note in a very tight economy

SB81- Concurrent Enrollment Program Amendments, Dayton
We oppose this bill

SB208- Utah Public Notice Website Amendments, Urquhart
We support this bill