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Third Substitute H.B. 236

Representative Scott L Wyatt proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
STUDENT CLUBS AMENDMENTS

             2     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Aaron Tilton

             5     
Senate Sponsor: D. Chris Buttars

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the State System of Public Education Code's regulation of curricular
             10      and noncurricular clubs.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides requirements for a club's name and a statement of its purpose, goals, and
             14      activities;
             15          .    prohibits a club from conducting activities or holding discussions that are outside
             16      the scope of the club's stated purpose, goals, and activities;
             17          .    requires parental consent for club participation; and
             18          .    makes technical corrections.
             19      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          53A-3-419, as enacted by Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 1996, Second Special Session


             26          53A-13-101.2, as last amended by Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 1996, Second Special
             27      Session
             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             30          Section 1. Section 53A-3-419 is amended to read:
             31           53A-3-419. Limitations regarding access for student clubs and organizations.
             32          (1) A local school board may limit or deny access to any student organization or club
             33      as it determines to be necessary to:
             34          (a) protect the physical, emotional, psychological, or moral well being of students and
             35      faculty;
             36          (b) maintain order and discipline on school premises; or
             37          (c) prevent a material and substantial interference with the orderly conduct of a
             38      school's educational activities.
             39          (2) (a) The Legislature finds that certain activities, programs, and conduct are so
             40      detrimental to the physical, emotional, psychological, and moral well being of students and
             41      faculty, the maintenance of order and discipline on school premises, and the prevention of any
             42      material and substantial interference with the orderly conduct of a school's educational
             43      activities, that local school boards shall deny access to any student organization or club whose
             44      program or activities would materially and substantially:
             45          (i) encourage criminal or delinquent conduct;
             46          (ii) promote bigotry; or
             47          (iii) involve human sexuality.
             48          (b) Local school boards have authority to determine whether any student club or
             49      organization meets the criteria of Subsection (2).
             50          (3) Curricular and noncurricular clubs in public schools shall, prior to approval:
             51          (a) select a club name that:
             52          (i) reasonably reflects the nature, purposes, and activities of the club; and
             53          (ii) would not result in undue disruption of school operations, subject students to
             54      harassment or persecution, imply that the club would operate in violation of this section or
             55      other law or rule, or imply inappropriate association with outside organizations or groups; and
             56          (b) provide a statement of the club's purpose, goals, and activities to the school.


             57          (4) Curricular and noncurricular clubs may not conduct activities or hold discussions
             58      that are outside the scope of the club's stated purpose, goals, and activities.
             59          [(3)] (5) The State Board of Education and local school boards may adopt rules in
             60      accordance with the provisions of this section.
             61          [(4)] (6) If any one or more provision, Subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of
             62      this section, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is found to be
             63      unconstitutional, the balance of this section shall be given effect without the invalid provision,
             64      Subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word.
             65          Section 2. Section 53A-13-101.2 is amended to read:
             66           53A-13-101.2. Waivers of participation -- Parental permission for student clubs.
             67          (1) If a parent with legal custody or other legal guardian of a student, or a secondary
             68      student, determines that the student's participation in a portion of the curriculum or in an
             69      activity would require the student to affirm or deny a religious belief or right of conscience, or
             70      engage or refrain from engaging in a practice forbidden or required in the exercise of a
             71      religious right or right of conscience, the parent, guardian, or student may request:
             72          (a) a waiver of the requirement to participate; or
             73          (b) a reasonable alternative that requires reasonably equivalent performance by the
             74      student of the secular objectives of the curriculum or activity in question.
             75          (2) The school shall promptly notify a student's parent or guardian if the student makes
             76      a request under Subsection (1).
             77          (3) If a request is made under Subsection (1), the school shall:
             78          (a) waive the participation requirement;
             79          (b) provide a reasonable alternative to the requirement; or
             80          (c) notify the requesting party that participation is required.
             81          (4) The school shall ensure that the provisions of Subsection 53A-13-101.3 (3) are met
             82      in connection with any required participation under Subsection (3)(c).
             83          (5) A student's academic or citizenship performance may not be penalized by school
             84      officials for the exercise of a religious right or right of conscience in accordance with the
             85      provisions of this section.
             86          (6) (a) As a condition for participation in a student club or organization that meets on
             87      school premises, regardless of the organization's relationship to school curriculum, a [local]


             88      school district [may] or charter school shall require every student to obtain written permission
             89      to participate in the student club or organization from either a parent with legal custody or
             90      other legal guardian.
             91          [(b) If a local school district requires written permission under Subsection (a), that
             92      school district shall require written permission for:]
             93          [(i) every club or organization that meets on school premises in that school district;
             94      and]
             95          [(ii) every student participating in a club or organization described in Subsection (i).]
             96          [(c)] (b) The [local] school district or charter school shall supply the permission form,
             97      and all completed forms shall be filed with the school's principal, the chief administrative
             98      officer of a charter school, or [the principal's] their designee.


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