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MINUTES OF HOUSE EDUCATION
STANDING COMMITTEE
January 22, 2008
Room W135, West Office Building, State Capitol Complex

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Gregory H. Hughes, Chair
        Rep. Patrick Painter, Vice Chair
        Rep. Sylvia S. Andersen
        Rep. Brad L. Dee        
        Rep. Craig A. Frank
        Rep. James R. Gowans
        Rep. Kory M. Holdaway
        Rep. Bradley G. Last
        Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart        
        Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
        Rep. Merlynn T. Newbold
        Rep. LaWanna "Lou" Shurtliff
        Rep. Kenneth W. Sumsion    
        Rep. Stephen Urquhart
        Rep. Mark A. Wheatley    
            
STAFF PRESENT:    Constance C. Steffen, Policy Analyst
        Linda Service, Committee Secretary
        Dee S Larsen, Associate General Counsel


Note: List of visitors and copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes.

Rep. Hughes called the meeting to order at 2:12 p.m.


H.B. 269    Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors' Tuition Waiver Amendments (Rep. M. Morley)

Rep. Morley introduced the bill which modifies the undergraduate tuition waiver for certain surviving dependents of military members.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Col. Scot T. Olson, Utah National Guard
    Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Tracey, Retired U. S. Army

MOTION:    Rep. Holdaway moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Urquhart absent for the vote.



H.B. 81    Task Force to Study Performance Incentives for Teachers (Rep. B. Last)

Rep. Last introduced the bill which creates the Performance Incentives for Teachers Task Force.

MOTION:    Rep. Dee moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 1, Line 22 :    

             22          .    
{   $36,540   }        $42,630       from the General Fund for fiscal year 2007-08 only.


2.    Page 2, Lines 29 through 34 :    

             29          (1) There is created the Performance Incentives for Teachers Task Force consisting of
             30      the following
{   19   }        21       members:

             31          (a) five members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than
             32      three of whom may be from the same political party;
             33          (b)
{   seven   }        nine       members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the

             34      House of Representatives, no more than
{   five   }        seven       of whom may be from the same political party;


3.    Page 3, Line 89 :    

             89          (2)
{   $21,315   }        $27,405       to the House of Representatives to pay for the compensation and expenses


The motion to amend the bill passed with Rep. Gowans, Rep. Wheatley, Rep. Shurtliff, Rep. Moss, and Rep. Last voting in opposition and with Rep. Newbold absent for the vote.

MOTION    Rep. Moss moved to amend the bill as follows:

1.    Page 3, Lines 62 through 64 :    

             62          (1) The task force shall study and make recommendations
{   on   }        for the implementation of a goal-driven compensation system, including       how performance

             63      incentives may be implemented to motivate teachers in improving performance and student

             64      achievement.

The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously with Rep. Newbold absent for the vote.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Larry Shumway, State Board of Education
    Steve Peterson, Utah School Boards Association
    Vic Arnold, Utah Education Association

Holly Langton, Utah PTA, commented on the bill.

MOTION:    Rep. Frank moved to pass the bill out as amended with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Newbold absent for the vote.


H.B. 245    Administration of Medication to Students Amendments (Rep. R. Lockhart)

Rep. Lockhart introduced the bill which addresses the administration of medication to students.

Sarah Meier, USBA/USSA, spoke in support of the bill.

Cescilee Ball, USNA, commented on the bill.

MOTION:     Rep. Shurtliff moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Frank and Rep. Newbold absent for the vote.


H.B. 234    Kindergarten Assessment Amendments (Rep. L. Shurtliff)

Rep. Shurtliff introduced the bill which modifies provisions regarding the administration of kindergarten readiness assessments.

Sarah Meier, USBA/USSA, spoke in support of the bill.

MOTION:    Rep. Dee moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Frank and Rep. Newbold absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Dee moved to place the bill on the consent calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Frank and Rep. Newbold absent for the vote.


H.B. 118    Veterans High School Diplomas (Rep. L. Hemingway)

Rep. Hemingway introduced the bill which provides for honorary high school diplomas for certain veterans.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Terry Schow, Department of Veterans' Affairs
    Jack Wiseman
    Sarah Meier, Utah School Boards Association
    Gordon Woods
    John Forsman, Chairman, Democratic Caucus
    Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Tracey

MOTION:    Rep. Gowans moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Frank absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Holdaway moved to adjourn.

Rep. Hughes adjourned the meeting at 3:25 p.m.





_____________________________
Rep. Gregory H. Hughes, Chair