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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 7, 2008
        Room W130, West Office Building, State Capitol Complex



Members Present:        Sen. Margaret Dayton, Committee Chair
                Sen. Greg Bell    
                Sen. Pat Jones
                Sen. Darin Peterson
                Sen. Ross Romero
                Sen. Howard A. Stephenson

Members Absent:        Sen. Curtis Bramble            
                Sen. Lyle Hillyard
            
Staff Present:            Phillip V. Dean, Policy Analyst                
                Dee S. Larsen, Attorney
                Joan Tiffany, Secretary
                    
Public Speakers Present:    Senator Allen M. Christensen
                Representative Michael T. Morley
                Scott Olson, Utah National Guard (UTNG)
                Representative Bradley G. Last
                Patti Harrington, State Superintendent, Utah State Office of                     Education (USOE)
                Susan Kuziak, Executive Director, Utah Education Association                     (UEA)
                Steven Peterson, Executive Director, Utah School Boards                                                 Association (USBA) & Utah School Superintendents                      Association (USSA)
                Representative Ronda R. Menlove
                Tamara Lowe, Utah School Boards Association (USBA)    
                Senator Margaret Dayton
                Carolyn Wright, Provo School Board Member


    A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

    Senator Howard Stephenson assumed the Chair upon direction from Chair Dayton and     called the meeting to order at 07:57 am.


    
1.    Public Classroom Displays- S.B. 190

    Sen. Allen Christensen presented S.B. 190.

    Sen. Bell asked about the funding for the U.S. flags and Sen. Christensen addressed     the question.

     MOTION:    Sen. Peterson moved to pass S.B. 190 out of committee with a favorable     recommendation.

    This motion passed unanimously with Sens. Dayton, Bramble, Hillyard and Jones absent     for the vote.

2.    Scott. B. Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver Amendments-H.B. 269

    Rep. Michael Morley presented H.B. 269. Scott Olson, Liaison, UTNG, expressed his     support for the bill.

    Sen. Romero asked about current and past students who qualify for this waiver and Rep.     Morley explained that the waiver would be valid from September 11, 2001.
    
     MOTION:    Sen. Jones moved to pass H.B. 269 out of committee with a favorable     recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Dayton, Bramble and Hillyard absent for the     vote.

     MOTION:    Pursuant to Rep. Morley's request, Sen. Peterson moved that H.B. 269 be     placed on the Consent Calendar.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Dayton, Bramble and Hillyard absent for     the vote.

3.    Task Force to Study Performance Incentatives for Teachers- H.B. 81

    Rep. Bradley Last presented H.B. 81.

    Sen. Jones asked about other task forces and Sen. Stephenson addressed the question.     Rep. Last addressed a question about math and science teachers.
    
    Sen. Romero expressed his support for the bill. Sen. Stephenson commented on the bill     as well.

    Patti Harrington, USOE; Susan Kuziak, UEA; and Steven Peterson, USBA/USSA, spoke

    in favor of the bill.

     MOTION:    Sen. Romero moved to pass H.B. 81 out of committee with a favorable     recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Dayton, Bramble and Hillyard absent for the     vote.

    Sen. Bell assumed the Chair.

4.    Extended Year for Special Educators-H.B. 67

    Rep. Ronda Menlove presented the bill and distributed a handout titled "Teaching Field     Index of Criticality for Utah T.H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loan Program".

    Sens. Jones and Bell commented concerning the bill.

    Patti Harrington, USOE; Tamara Lowe, USBA/USSA; and Susan Kuziak, UEA, spoke in
    support of the bill.

     MOTION:    Sen. Jones moved to pass H.B. 67 out of committee with a favorable     recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Dayton, Bramble, Hillyard and Stephenson     absent for the vote.

5.    Federal Education Agreement Requirements-S.B.162

    Dee Larsen explained the bill and Sen. Romero addressed the bill.
    
    Sen. Dayton presented S.B. 162.

    Sen. Jones asked about some legal details of the bill and Mr. Larsen addressed the     question. Sens. Bell and Romero commented as well.
    
    Patti Harrington, USOE, stated an example in support of the bill.



     MOTION:    Sen. Dayton moved to pass H.B. 162 out of committee with a favorable     recommendation.

    Sen. Dayton addressed and endorsed the bill. Sen. Romero stated his opposition for the     wording of the bill in its current form.

    The motion passed with Sen. Dayton, Bell, Jones and Peterson voting aye. Sen. Romero     voted nay. Sens. Bramble, Hillyard and Stephenson were absent for the vote.

6.    Petition (Handout)

    Carolyn Wright read a petition from the citizens of the Provo School District addressing     additional instruction time in the classroom. A request for change the block schedule of     eight periods back to the seven traditional schedule. Several other suggestions were     given.

    Sen. Bell addressed the petition.

     MOTION:    Rep. Romero moved to adjourn the meeting. It was passed unanimously     with Sen. Stephenson, Bramble and Hillyard absent for the vote.

    The meeting was adjourned at 9:27 am.








            _____________________________________________    

                Senator Margaret Dayton, Chair