H.B. 155 Enrolled

AMENDMENTS TO SCHOOL UNIFORM STANDARDS
2000 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Karen W. Morgan
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING AN ELECTION FOR THE
ADOPTION OF A SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT UNIFORM POLICY; CLARIFYING
VOTING REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING THAT SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICIES INCLUDE
AN EXEMPTION PROVISION; AND MAKING CERTAIN TECHNICAL CHANGES.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
53A-15-602, as enacted by Chapter 160, Laws of Utah 1994
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 53A-15-602 is amended to read:
53A-15-602. Uniforms in public schools -- Determination by school board or school
-- Patron approval.
(1) The Legislature recognizes that each student in the public schools should be allowed
to learn in a safe environment which fosters the learning process and is free from unnecessary
disruptions.
(2) The Legislature further recognizes that the wearing of certain types of clothing
identifies students as members of youth gangs and has contributed to disruptive behavior and
violence in the public schools.
(3) (a) Local school boards and [public schools] school principals may [adopt school dress
codes requiring all] require students enrolled at a public school to wear a designated uniform during
the school day in order to help avoid the disruption of the classroom atmosphere and decorum and
prevent disturbances among students.
(b) The [dress codes] uniform policy authorized in Subsection (3)(a) [may] shall be
adopted, if for more than one school, at the [school] district level by the school board and, if for
a single school, at the school level by the principal of the school [as approved by a majority of the
school directors or the school community council.] subject to the following requirements:

[(c)] (i) [Adoption of a dress code under this section does not require approval from parents
or guardians of students, but] the adopting authority shall hold a public hearing on the matter prior
to formal adoption of the [dress code.] school uniform policy;
[(ii) The adopting authority may require approval from the parents or guardians of a majority
of its students in order to implement the dress code.]
[(iii) An election to consider disapproval of a dress code not formally approved by the parents
or guardians of a majority of students subject to the dress code is required if a petition signed by a
parent or guardian of 20% of the students is presented to the adopting authority within 30 days after
the dress code is adopted.]
(ii) (A) the adopting authority shall hold an election for approval of a school uniform policy
prior to its adoption and must receive an affirmative vote from a majority of those voting at the
election; and
(B) only parents and guardians of students subject to the proposed uniform policy may vote
at the election, limited to one vote per family.
[(d) An] (4) (a) A local school board or principal is required to hold an election to consider
adoption of a school district or individual school [dress code is required] uniform policy if initiative
petitions are presented as follows:
(i) for a district [dress code] uniform policy, a petition signed by a parent or guardian of 20%
of the district's students presented to the local school board; and
(ii) for an individual school, a petition signed by a parent or guardian of 20% of the school's
students presented to the principal.
(b) The procedures required in Subsection (3)(b) apply to Subsection (4).
[(e)] (5) The procedures set forth in Subsections (3)[(c)] and [(3)(d)] (4) shall apply to the
discontinuance or modification of a [dress code] school uniform policy adopted under this section.
[(f)] (6) The adopting authority shall establish the manner and time of an election required
under this section.
(7) A school uniform policy adopted under this section shall include a provision that would
exempt a student from wearing a uniform at school if requested, in writing, by the student's parent

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or guardian.

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