S.B. 77

1

GRANTS FOR LICENSED TEACHERS
2 AMENDMENTS
3 2009 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Mark B. Madsen
6 House Sponsor: Michael T. Morley
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill extends and modifies a program that provides grants to minimize teachers'
11 out-of-pocket expenses related to taking tests to meet highly qualified teacher standards
12 and to obtain advanced-level certification.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 . extends for three years a program directing the State Board of Education to give
16 grants to school districts and charter schools to minimize teachers' expenses to
17 obtain certification by the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards or
18 take tests to meet highly qualified teacher standards;
19 . directs the State Board of Education to also give grants to minimize teachers'
20 expenses to obtain Distinguished Teacher certification by the American Board for
21 Certification of Teacher Excellence; and
22 . repeals the grant program on July 1, 2012.
23 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
24 None
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2009.
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:

28 AMENDS:
29 53A-6-112, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
30 63I-2-253, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 250, 397 and renumbered
31 and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
32
33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
34 Section 1. Section 53A-6-112 is amended to read:
35 53A-6-112. Grants for licensed teachers.
36 (1) As used in this section:
37 (a) "American Board Distinguished Teacher certification" means a current
38 Distinguished Teacher certificate issued by the American Board for Certification of Teacher
39 Excellence.
40 [(a)] (b) "Licensed teacher" means a teacher who holds:
41 (i) a level 1, level 2, or level 3 license; and
42 (ii) the endorsements required by board rule for the teacher's assignments.
43 [(b)] (c) "National Board certification" means a current certificate issued by the
44 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
45 (2) A grant program is created to minimize out-of-pocket expenses of licensed teachers
46 to:
47 (a) obtain National Board certification; [or]
48 (b) obtain American Board Distinguished Teacher certification; or
49 [(b)] (c) take tests to meet federal highly qualified teacher standards as defined in 20
50 U.S.C. Sec. 7801.
51 (3) The State Board of Education shall give grants to school districts and charter
52 schools for the purpose stated in Subsection (2) from monies appropriated by the Legislature
53 for that purpose.
54 (4) To receive a grant, a school district or charter school shall provide matching funds
55 to minimize out-of-pocket expenses of licensed teachers to obtain National Board certification
56 or American Board Distinguished Teacher certification or to take tests to meet federal highly
57 qualified teacher standards in an amount equal to the grant.
58 (5) Grant monies and matching funds shall be used to pay for costs of licensed teachers

59 that are directly related to:
60 (a) obtaining National Board certification; [or]
61 (b) obtaining American Board Distinguished Teacher certification; or
62 [(b)] (c) taking tests that, if the licensed teacher passes, the teacher meets federal highly
63 qualified teacher standards.
64 (6) The State Board of Education shall distribute money appropriated by the
65 Legislature to school districts and charter schools to pay for costs of licensed teachers directly
66 related to obtaining National Board certification or American Board Distinguished Teacher
67 certification or taking tests to meet federal highly qualified teacher standards in accordance
68 with:
69 (a) Subsection (4); and
70 (b) 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.] so that an equal amount of
72 money is available for grants to obtain:
73 (i) National Board certification; and
74 (ii) American Board Distinguished Teacher certification.
75 (7) The State Board of Education shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G,
76 Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to administer this section.
77 Section 2. Section 63I-2-253 is amended to read:
78 63I-2-253. Repeal dates -- Titles 53, 53A, and 53B.
79 (1) Section 53A-1-403.5 is repealed July 1, 2012.
80 (2) Title 53A, Chapter 1a, Part 10, UPSTART, is repealed July 1, 2014.
81 (3) Section 53A-3-702 is repealed July 1, 2008.
82 (4) Section 53A-6-112 is repealed July 1, [2009] 2012.
83 (5) Subsection 53A-13-110 (3) is repealed July 1, 2013.
84 (6) Section 53A-17a-152 is repealed July 1, 2010.
85 (7) Section 53A-17a-162 is repealed July 1, 2012.
86 Section 3. Effective date.
87 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2009.

Legislative Review Note
as of 12-4-08 8:46 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel