S.B. 39

1

MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND
2 TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION TASK FORCE
3 2008 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
6 House Sponsor: Bradley G. Last
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 Committee Note:
10 The Education Interim Committee recommended this bill.
11 General Description:
12 This bill creates the Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education Task Force.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . creates a Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education Task Force;
16 . designates task force membership and staffing;
17 . requires the task force to first study issues relating to mathematics education,
18 including mathematics standards, the state's mathematics core curriculum, and
19 articulation of mathematics education between public education and higher
20 education;
21 . requires the task force, as time permits, to study issues relating to science and
22 technology education; and
23 . requires the task force to make a report to the Education Interim Committee.
24 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
25 This bill appropriates:
26 . $15,225 to the Senate; and
27 . $21,315 to the House of Representatives.

28 Other Special Clauses:
29 This bill is repealed on November 30, 2008.
30 Uncodified Material Affected:
31 ENACTS UNCODIFIED MATERIAL
32
33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education Task Force --
35 Creation -- Membership -- Quorum -- Compensation -- Staff.
36 (1) There is created the Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education Task Force
37 consisting of the following 17 members:
38 (a) five members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than
39 three of whom may be from the same political party;
40 (b) seven members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
41 House of Representatives, no more than five of whom may be from the same political party;
42 (c) the governor or the governor's designee;
43 (d) two members from the State Board of Education, appointed by the president of the
44 Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the State Board of
45 Education; and
46 (e) two local board of education members, one from an urban school district and one
47 from a rural school district, appointed by the president of the Senate and speaker of the House
48 of Representatives, in consultation with the Utah School Boards Association.
49 (2) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
50 under Subsection (1)(a) as a cochair of the task force.
51 (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
52 of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(b) as a cochair of the task force.
53 (3) (a) A majority of the members of the task force constitute a quorum.
54 (b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the task force.
55 (4) (a) Salaries and expenses of the members of the task force who are legislators shall
56 be paid in accordance with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Chapter 3,
57 Expense and Mileage Reimbursement for Authorized Legislative Meetings, Special Sessions,
58 and Veto Override Sessions.

59 (b) A member of the task force who is not a legislator may not receive compensation
60 for their work associated with the task force, but may receive per diem and reimbursement for
61 travel expenses incurred as a member of the task force at the rates established by the Division
62 of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
63 (5) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support
64 to the task force.
65 Section 2. Duties -- Interim report.
66 (1) The task force shall first review and make recommendations on the following
67 issues:
68 (a) mathematics education in the state, including building upon best current practices
69 and recently revised items;
70 (b) world-class mathematics standards for the state, including a comparison with
71 standards established in other states and nations;
72 (c) the state's mathematics core curriculum;
73 (d) mathematics testing;
74 (e) professional development of mathematics educators;
75 (f) the recruitment of quality mathematics educators;
76 (g) methods to improve students' mathematics performance, including reducing the
77 need for remedial courses in both public education and higher education; and
78 (h) the articulation of mathematics education and courses between public education
79 and higher education.
80 (2) As time permits, the task force shall review and make recommendations on issues
81 relating to science and technology education.
82 (3) The task force shall seek input from the State Board of Education, the State Board
83 of Regents, the Utah School Boards Association, the Utah School Superintendents Association,
84 parents and teachers associations, mathematics educators, science and technology educators,
85 the state's colleges of education, departments of mathematics, and science and technology
86 departments, mathematicians, businesses and industries whose employees require
87 mathematical, science, and technology knowledge, and parents when it performs the duties
88 described under Subsections (1) and (2).
89 (4) The task force shall regularly report to the Education Interim Committee during the

90 2008 interim, including the task force's specific proposed items to be reviewed.
91 (5) The task force shall issue a final report, including any proposed legislation, to the
92 Education Interim Committee before November 30, 2008.
93 Section 3. Appropriation.
94 There is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08 only:
95 (1) $15,225 to the Senate to pay for the compensation and expenses of senators on the
96 task force; and
97 (2) $21,315 to the House of Representatives to pay for the compensation and expenses
98 of representatives on the task force.
99 Section 4. Repeal date.
100 This bill is repealed on November 30, 2008.




Legislative Review Note
as of 11-16-07 9:52 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel