H.B. 332 Enrolled

1

USE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY COMMUNITY
2 ORGANIZATIONS
3 2008 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes
6 Senate Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
7 Cosponsors:Eric K. HutchingsPaul Ray 8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This bill modifies provisions of the State System of Public Education code relating to the
12 use of public school buildings and grounds as a civic center.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . provides definitions;
16 . requires all public school buildings and grounds to be made available as a civic
17 center to district residents for supervised recreational activities and meetings;
18 . provides that a local school board may not refuse the use of a civic center, for other
19 than school purposes, unless it determines that the use interferes with a school
20 function or purpose;
21 . requires a local school board to ensure that school administrators are trained about
22 and properly implement certain provisions; and
23 . makes technical corrections.
24 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
25 None
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 None
28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:

30 53A-3-413, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 2
31 53A-3-414, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1999, Chapter 21
32
33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 53A-3-413 is amended to read:
35 53A-3-413. Use of public school buildings and grounds as civic centers.
36 (1) As used in this section, "civic center" means a public school building or ground that
37 is established and maintained as a limited public forum to district residents for supervised
38 recreational activities and meetings.
39 [(1) All] (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), all public school buildings and
40 grounds [are] shall be civic centers [and may be used by district residents for supervised
41 recreational activities and meetings].
42 [(2)] (3) Use of school property for civic center purposes may not interfere with [any] a
43 school function or purpose.
44 Section 2. Section 53A-3-414 is amended to read:
45 53A-3-414. Local school boards' responsibility for school buildings and grounds
46 when used as civic centers.
47 (1) As used in this section, "civic center" has the same meaning as provided in Section
48 53A-3-413 .
49 (2) A local school board [has the following powers]:
50 [(1)] (a) [It manages, directs, and controls] shall manage, direct, and control civic
51 centers under this chapter[.];
52 [(2) It adopts rules] (b) shall adopt policies for the use of [these] civic centers[.];
53 [(3) It] (c) may charge a reasonable fee for the use of school facilities as a civic center
54 so that the district incurs no expense for that use[.];
55 [(4) It] (d) may appoint a special functions officer under Section 53-13-105 to have
56 charge of the grounds and protect school property when used for civic center purposes[.];
57 [(5) It may refuse] (e) shall allow the use of a civic center, for other than school

58 purposes, [if] unless it determines that the use [inadvisable.] interferes with a school function or
59 purpose; and
60 (f) shall ensure that school administrators are trained about and properly implement the
61 provisions of this section and Section 53A-3-413 .