H.B. 240

1

PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING - BLOCK
2 GRANT AMENDMENTS
3 2008 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Sheryl L. Allen
6 Senate Sponsor: ____________
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies the Minimum School Program Act by requiring appropriations for
11 certain block grant programs to increase annually by the percentage increase in the
12 value of the weighted pupil unit.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . requires the Legislature, subject to future budget constraints, to annually increase
16 appropriations for the Local Discretionary Block Grant Program, Interventions for
17 Student Success Block Grant Program, and Quality Teaching Block Grant Program
18 by the percentage increase in the value of the weighted pupil unit.
19 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 This bill takes effect July 1, 2008.
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 53A-17a-123, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 320
26 53A-17a-123.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 320
27 53A-17a-124, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 320

28
29 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30 Section 1. Section 53A-17a-123 is amended to read:
31 53A-17a-123. Local Discretionary Block Grant Program -- State contribution.
32 (1) The State Board of Education shall distribute money appropriated for the Local
33 Discretionary Block Grant Program in Section 53A-17a-104 to school districts and charter
34 schools according to a formula adopted by the board, after consultation with school districts
35 and charter schools, that allocates the funding in a fair and equitable manner.
36 (2) Schools districts and charter schools shall use Local Discretionary Block Grant
37 monies for:
38 (a) maintenance and operation costs;
39 (b) capital outlay; or
40 (c) debt service.
41 (3) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall annually increase the
42 money appropriated for the Local Discretionary Block Grant Program by the percentage
43 increase in the value of the weighted pupil unit.
44 Section 2. Section 53A-17a-123.5 is amended to read:
45 53A-17a-123.5. Interventions for Student Success Block Grant Program -- State
46 contribution.
47 (1) The State Board of Education shall distribute money appropriated for the
48 Interventions for Student Success Block Grant Program in Section 53A-17a-104 to school
49 districts and charter schools according to a formula adopted by the board, after consultation
50 with school districts and charter schools, that allocates the funding in a fair and equitable
51 manner.
52 (2) Schools districts and charter schools shall use Interventions for Student Success
53 Block Grant monies to improve student academic success, with priority given to interventions
54 on behalf of students not performing to standards as determined by U-PASS test results.
55 (3) (a) Each school district shall develop a plan for the expenditure of Interventions for
56 Student Success Block Grant monies.
57 (b) The plan:
58 (i) shall specify anticipated results; and

59 (ii) may include continuing existing programs to improve students' academic success
60 for which funds were appropriated before the establishment of the block grant.
61 (c) The local school board shall approve the plan for the expenditure of the block grant
62 monies in an open public meeting before the monies are spent.
63 (4) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall annually increase the
64 money appropriated for the Interventions for Student Success Block Grant Program by the
65 percentage increase in the value of the weighted pupil unit.
66 Section 3. Section 53A-17a-124 is amended to read:
67 53A-17a-124. Quality Teaching Block Grant Program -- State contributions.
68 (1) The State Board of Education shall distribute money appropriated for the Quality
69 Teaching Block Grant Program in Section 53A-17a-104 to school districts and charter schools
70 according to a formula adopted by the board, after consultation with school districts and charter
71 schools, that allocates the funding in a fair and equitable manner.
72 (2) (a) Schools districts and charter schools shall use Quality Teaching Block Grant
73 monies to implement school and school district comprehensive, long-term professional
74 development plans required by Section 53A-3-701 .
75 (b) In recognition of exceptional quality teaching, Quality Teaching Block Grant
76 monies may be used for the award of individual Quality Teaching Bonuses for Exemplary
77 Teachers to recognize and reward excellence in classrooms as determined by school principals
78 in partnership with their school community councils.
79 (3) Each local school board shall:
80 (a) as provided by Section 53A-3-701 , review and either approve or recommend
81 modifications for each school's comprehensive, long-term professional development plan
82 within the district so that each school's plan is compatible with the district's comprehensive,
83 long-term professional development plan; and
84 (b) in an open public meeting, approve a plan to spend Quality Teaching Block Grant
85 monies to implement the school district's comprehensive, long-term professional development
86 plan.
87 (4) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall annually increase the
88 money appropriated for the Quality Teaching Block Grant Program by the percentage increase
89 in the value of the weighted pupil unit.

90 Section 4. Effective date.
91 This bill takes effect July 1, 2008.




Legislative Review Note
as of 10-18-07 10:18 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel