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H.B. 327 Enrolled

             1     

AUTISM AWARENESS SUPPORT SPECIAL

             2     
GROUP LICENSE PLATE

             3     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Rebecca P. Edwards

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Daniel R. Liljenquist

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill authorizes an Autism Awareness support special group license plate.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    creates an Autism Awareness support special group license plate for programs that
             14      create or support autism awareness programs;
             15          .    requires applicants for a new plate to make a $25 annual donation to the Autism
             16      Awareness Restricted Account;
             17          .    creates the Autism Awareness Restricted Account;
             18          .    requires the superintendent of public instruction to distribute funds in the Autism
             19      Awareness Restricted Account to certain organizations that provide programs that
             20      create or support autism awareness programs;
             21          .    grants the State Board of Education rulemaking authority to make rules providing
             22      procedures for an organization to apply to receive a distribution; and
             23          .    makes technical changes.
             24      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             25          None
             26      Other Special Clauses:
             27          This bill takes effect on October 1, 2010.
             28      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             29      AMENDS:


             30          41-1a-418, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapters 183, 348, and 380
             31          41-1a-422, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapters 183, 348, and 380
             32          53A-1-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 112
             33      ENACTS:
             34          53A-1-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35     
             36      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             37          Section 1. Section 41-1a-418 is amended to read:
             38           41-1a-418. Authorized special group license plates.
             39          (1) The division shall only issue special group license plates in accordance with this
             40      section through Section 41-1a-422 to a person who is specified under this section within the
             41      categories listed as follows:
             42          (a) disability special group license plates issued in accordance with Section
             43      41-1a-420 ;
             44          (b) honor special group license plates, as in a war hero, which plates are issued for a:
             45          (i) survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor;
             46          (ii) former prisoner of war;
             47          (iii) recipient of a Purple Heart;
             48          (iv) disabled veteran; or
             49          (v) recipient of a gold star award issued by the United States Secretary of Defense;
             50          (c) unique vehicle type special group license plates, as for historical, collectors value,
             51      or other unique vehicle type, which plates are issued for:
             52          (i) a special interest vehicle;
             53          (ii) a vintage vehicle;
             54          (iii) a farm truck; or
             55          (iv) (A) until Subsection (1)(c)(iv)(B) applies, a vehicle powered by clean fuel as
             56      defined in Section 59-13-102 ; or
             57          (B) beginning on the effective date of rules made by the Department of Transportation


             58      authorized under Subsection 41-6a-702 (5)(b), a vehicle powered by clean fuel that meets the
             59      standards established by the Department of Transportation in rules authorized under
             60      Subsection 41-6a-702 (5)(b);
             61          (d) recognition special group license plates, as in a public official or an emergency
             62      service giver, which plates are issued for a:
             63          (i) current member of the Legislature;
             64          (ii) current member of the United States Congress;
             65          (iii) current member of the National Guard;
             66          (iv) licensed amateur radio operator;
             67          (v) currently employed, volunteer, or retired firefighter until June 30, 2009;
             68          (vi) emergency medical technician;
             69          (vii) current member of a search and rescue team; or
             70          (viii) current honorary consulate designated by the United States Department of State;
             71      and
             72          (e) support special group license plates, as for a contributor to an institution or cause,
             73      which plates are issued for a contributor to:
             74          (i) an institution's scholastic scholarship fund;
             75          (ii) the Division of Wildlife Resources;
             76          (iii) the Department of Veterans' Affairs;
             77          (iv) the Division of Parks and Recreation;
             78          (v) the Department of Agriculture and Food;
             79          (vi) the Guardian Ad Litem Services Account and the Children's Museum of Utah;
             80          (vii) the Boy Scouts of America;
             81          (viii) spay and neuter programs through No More Homeless Pets in Utah;
             82          (ix) the Boys and Girls Clubs of America;
             83          (x) Utah public education;
             84          (xi) programs that provide support to organizations that create affordable housing for
             85      those in severe need through the Division of Real Estate;


             86          (xii) the Department of Public Safety;
             87          (xiii) programs that support Zion National Park;
             88          (xiv) beginning on July 1, 2009, programs that provide support to firefighter
             89      organizations; [or]
             90          (xv) programs that promote bicycle operation and safety awareness[.]; or
             91          (xvi) programs that create or support autism awareness.
             92          (2) (a) Beginning January 1, 2003, the division may not issue a new type of special
             93      group license plate unless the division receives:
             94          (i) a start-up fee established under Section 63J-1-504 for production and
             95      administrative costs for providing the new special group license plates; or
             96          (ii) a legislative appropriation for the start-up fee provided under Subsection (2)(a)(i).
             97          (b) (i) Beginning on July 1, 2009, the division may not renew a motor vehicle
             98      registration of a motor vehicle that has been issued a firefighter recognition special group
             99      license plate unless the applicant is a contributor as defined in Subsection
             100      41-1a-422 (1)(a)(ii)(D) to the Firefighter Support Restricted Account.
             101          (ii) A registered owner of a vehicle that has been issued a firefighter recognition
             102      special group license plate prior to July 1, 2009, upon renewal of the owner's motor vehicle
             103      registration shall:
             104          (A) be a contributor to the Firefighter Support Restricted Account as required under
             105      Subsection (2)(b)(ii); or
             106          (B) replace the firefighter recognition special group license plate with a new license
             107      plate.
             108          (3) (a) A sponsoring organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status under Internal
             109      Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) may request the commission to authorize a new type of
             110      special group license plate for the sponsoring organization. The sponsoring organization shall:
             111          (i) collect a minimum of 200 applications; and
             112          (ii) pay a start-up fee established under Section 63J-1-504 for production and
             113      administrative costs for providing the new type of special group license plates.


             114          (b) If the provisions of Subsection (3)(a) are met, the commission shall approve the
             115      request and the division shall:
             116          (i) design a license plate in accordance with Section 41-1a-419 ; and
             117          (ii) issue the new type of special group license plates.
             118          Section 2. Section 41-1a-422 is amended to read:
             119           41-1a-422. Support special group license plates -- Contributor -- Voluntary
             120      contribution collection procedures.
             121          (1) As used in this section:
             122          (a) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(a)(ii), "contributor" means a person who
             123      has donated or in whose name at least $25 has been donated to:
             124          (A) a scholastic scholarship fund of a single named institution;
             125          (B) the Department of Veterans' Affairs for veterans' programs;
             126          (C) the Division of Wildlife Resources for the Wildlife Resources Account created in
             127      Section 23-14-13 , for conservation of wildlife and the enhancement, preservation, protection,
             128      access, and management of wildlife habitat;
             129          (D) the Department of Agriculture and Food for the benefit of conservation districts;
             130          (E) the Division of Parks and Recreation for the benefit of snowmobile programs;
             131          (F) the Guardian Ad Litem Services Account and the Children's Museum of Utah,
             132      with the donation evenly divided between the two;
             133          (G) the Boy Scouts of America for the benefit of a Utah Boy Scouts of America
             134      council as specified by the contributor;
             135          (H) No More Homeless Pets in Utah for distribution to organizations or individuals
             136      that provide spay and neuter programs that subsidize the sterilization of domestic animals;
             137          (I) the Utah Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, Inc. to provide and enhance youth
             138      development programs;
             139          (J) the Utah Association of Public School Foundations to support public education;
             140          (K) the Utah Housing Opportunity Restricted Account created in Section 61-2-28 to
             141      assist people who have severe housing needs;


             142          (L) the Public Safety Honoring Heroes Restricted Account created in Section 53-1-118
             143      to support the families of fallen Utah Highway Patrol troopers and other Department of Public
             144      Safety employees;
             145          (M) the Division of Parks and Recreation for distribution to organizations that provide
             146      support for Zion National Park;
             147          (N) the Firefighter Support Restricted Account created in Section 53-7-109 to support
             148      firefighter organizations; [or]
             149          (O) the Share the Road Bicycle Support Restricted Account created in Section
             150      72-2-127 to support bicycle operation and safety awareness programs[.]; or
             151          (P) Autism Awareness Restricted Account created in Section 53A-1-304 to support
             152      autism awareness programs.
             153          (ii) (A) For a veterans' special group license plate, "contributor" means a person who
             154      has donated or in whose name at least a $25 donation at the time of application and $10
             155      annual donation thereafter has been made.
             156          (B) For a Utah Housing Opportunity special group license plate, "contributor" means a
             157      person who:
             158          (I) has donated or in whose name at least $30 has been donated at the time of
             159      application and annually after the time of application; and
             160          (II) is a member of a trade organization for real estate licensees that has more than
             161      15,000 Utah members.
             162          (C) For an Honoring Heroes special group license plate, "contributor" means a person
             163      who has donated or in whose name at least $35 has been donated at the time of application
             164      and annually thereafter.
             165          (D) For a firefighter support special group license plate, "contributor" means a person
             166      who:
             167          (I) has donated or in whose name at least $15 has been donated at the time of
             168      application and annually after the time of application; and
             169          (II) is a currently employed, volunteer, or retired firefighter.


             170          (b) "Institution" means a state institution of higher education as defined under Section
             171      53B-3-102 or a private institution of higher education in the state accredited by a regional or
             172      national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
             173          (2) (a) An applicant for original or renewal collegiate special group license plates
             174      under Subsection (1)(a)(i) must be a contributor to the institution named in the application and
             175      present the original contribution verification form under Subsection (2)(b) or make a
             176      contribution to the division at the time of application under Subsection (3).
             177          (b) An institution with a support special group license plate shall issue to a contributor
             178      a verification form designed by the commission containing:
             179          (i) the name of the contributor;
             180          (ii) the institution to which a donation was made;
             181          (iii) the date of the donation; and
             182          (iv) an attestation that the donation was for a scholastic scholarship.
             183          (c) The state auditor may audit each institution to verify that the moneys collected by
             184      the institutions from contributors are used for scholastic scholarships.
             185          (d) After an applicant has been issued collegiate license plates or renewal decals, the
             186      commission shall charge the institution whose plate was issued, a fee determined in
             187      accordance with Section 63J-1-504 for management and administrative expenses incurred in
             188      issuing and renewing the collegiate license plates.
             189          (e) If the contribution is made at the time of application, the contribution shall be
             190      collected, treated, and deposited as provided under Subsection (3).
             191          (3) (a) An applicant for original or renewal support special group license plates under
             192      this section must be a contributor to the sponsoring organization associated with the license
             193      plate.
             194          (b) This contribution shall be:
             195          (i) unless collected by the named institution under Subsection (2), collected by the
             196      division;
             197          (ii) considered a voluntary contribution for the funding of the activities specified


             198      under this section and not a motor vehicle registration fee;
             199          (iii) deposited into the appropriate account less actual administrative costs associated
             200      with issuing the license plates; and
             201          (iv) for a firefighter special group license plate, deposited into the appropriate account
             202      less:
             203          (A) the costs of reordering firefighter special group license plate decals; and
             204          (B) the costs of replacing recognition special group license plates with new license
             205      plates under Subsection 41-1a-1211 (13).
             206          (c) The donation described in Subsection (1)(a) must be made in the 12 months prior
             207      to registration or renewal of registration.
             208          (d) The donation described in Subsection (1)(a) shall be a one-time donation made to
             209      the division when issuing original:
             210          (i) snowmobile license plates; or
             211          (ii) conservation license plates.
             212          (4) Veterans' license plates shall display one of the symbols representing the Army,
             213      Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or American Legion.
             214          Section 3. Section 53A-1-301 is amended to read:
             215           53A-1-301. Appointment -- Qualifications -- Duties.
             216          (1) (a) The State Board of Education shall appoint a superintendent of public
             217      instruction, hereinafter called the state superintendent, who is the executive officer of the
             218      board and serves at the pleasure of the board.
             219          (b) The board shall appoint the state superintendent on the basis of outstanding
             220      professional qualifications.
             221          (c) The state superintendent shall administer all programs assigned to the State Board
             222      of Education in accordance with the policies and the standards established by the board.
             223          (2) The superintendent shall develop a statewide education strategy focusing on core
             224      academics, including the development of:
             225          (a) core curriculum and graduation requirements;


             226          (b) a process to select instructional materials that best correlate to the core curriculum
             227      and graduation requirements that are supported by generally accepted scientific standards of
             228      evidence;
             229          (c) professional development programs for teachers, superintendents, and principals;
             230          (d) remediation programs;
             231          (e) a method for creating individual student learning targets, and a method of
             232      measuring an individual student's performance toward those targets;
             233          (f) progress-based assessments for ongoing performance evaluations of districts and
             234      schools;
             235          (g) incentives to achieve the desired outcome of individual student progress in core
             236      academics, and which do not create disincentives for setting high goals for the students;
             237          (h) an annual report card for school and district performance, measuring learning and
             238      reporting progress-based assessments;
             239          (i) a systematic method to encourage innovation in schools and school districts as they
             240      strive to achieve improvement in their performance; and
             241          (j) a method for identifying and sharing best demonstrated practices across districts
             242      and schools.
             243          (3) The superintendent shall perform duties assigned by the board, including the
             244      following:
             245          (a) investigating all matters pertaining to the public schools;
             246          (b) adopting and keeping an official seal to authenticate the superintendent's official
             247      acts;
             248          (c) holding and conducting meetings, seminars, and conferences on educational
             249      topics;
             250          (d) presenting to the governor and the Legislature each December a report of the
             251      public school system for the preceding year to include:
             252          (i) data on the general condition of the schools with recommendations considered
             253      desirable for specific programs;


             254          (ii) a complete statement of fund balances;
             255          (iii) a complete statement of revenues by fund and source;
             256          (iv) a complete statement of adjusted expenditures by fund, the status of bonded
             257      indebtedness, the cost of new school plants, and school levies;
             258          (v) a complete statement of state funds allocated to each of the state's 40 school
             259      districts by source, including supplemental appropriations, and a complete statement of
             260      expenditures by each district, including supplemental appropriations, by function and object
             261      as outlined in the U.S. Department of Education publication "Financial Accounting for Local
             262      and State School Systems";
             263          (vi) a complete statement, by school district and charter school, of the amount of and
             264      percentage increase or decrease in expenditures from the previous year attributed to:
             265          (A) wage increases, with expenditure data for base salary adjustments identified
             266      separately from step and lane expenditures;
             267          (B) medical and dental premium cost adjustments; and
             268          (C) adjustments in the number of teachers and other staff;
             269          (vii) a statement that includes fall enrollments, average membership, high school
             270      graduates, licensed and classified employees, pupil-teacher ratios by grade, pupil-adult ratios
             271      by grade, class sizes by grade, average salaries, applicable private school data, and data from
             272      standardized norm-referenced tests in grades 5, 8, and 11 on each school and district;
             273          (viii) statistical information regarding incidents of delinquent activity in the schools or
             274      at school-related activities with separate categories for:
             275          (A) alcohol and drug abuse;
             276          (B) weapon possession;
             277          (C) assaults; and
             278          (D) arson;
             279          (ix) information about:
             280          (A) the development and implementation of the strategy of focusing on core
             281      academics;


             282          (B) the development and implementation of competency-based education and
             283      progress-based assessments; and
             284          (C) the results being achieved under Subsections (3)(d)(ix)(A) and (B), as measured
             285      by individual progress-based assessments and the comparison of Utah Students' progress with
             286      the progress of students in other states using standardized norm-referenced tests as
             287      benchmarks; and
             288          (x) other statistical and financial information about the school system which the
             289      superintendent considers pertinent;
             290          (e) collecting and organizing education data into an automated decision support
             291      system to facilitate school district and school improvement planning, accountability reporting
             292      and performance recognition, and the evaluation of educational policy and program
             293      effectiveness to include:
             294          (i) data that are:
             295          (A) comparable across schools and school districts;
             296          (B) appropriate for use in longitudinal studies; and
             297          (C) comprehensive with regard to the data elements required under applicable state or
             298      federal law or state board rule;
             299          (ii) features that enable users, most particularly school administrators, teachers, and
             300      parents, to:
             301          (A) retrieve school and school district level data electronically;
             302          (B) interpret the data visually; and
             303          (C) draw conclusions that are statistically valid; and
             304          (iii) procedures for the collection and management of education data that:
             305          (A) require the state superintendent of public instruction to:
             306          (I) collaborate with school districts in designing and implementing uniform data
             307      standards and definitions;
             308          (II) undertake or sponsor research to implement improved methods for analyzing
             309      education data;


             310          (III) provide for data security to prevent unauthorized access to or contamination of
             311      the data; and
             312          (IV) protect the confidentiality of data under state and federal privacy laws; and
             313          (B) require all school districts to comply with the data collection and management
             314      procedures established under Subsection (3)(e);
             315          (f) administering and implementing federal educational programs in accordance with
             316      Title 53A, Chapter 1, Part 9, Implementing Federal Programs Act; and
             317          (g) with the approval of the board, preparing and submitting to the governor a budget
             318      for the board to be included in the budget that the governor submits to the Legislature.
             319          (4) The state superintendent shall distribute funds deposited in the Autism Awareness
             320      Restricted Account created in Section 53A-1-304 in accordance with the requirements of
             321      Section 53A-1-304 .
             322          [(4)] (5) Upon leaving office, the state superintendent shall deliver to his successor all
             323      books, records, documents, maps, reports, papers, and other articles pertaining to his office.
             324          [(5)] (6) For the purpose of Subsection (3)(d)(vii):
             325          (a) a pupil-teacher ratio shall be calculated by dividing the total number of students in
             326      a grade at a school by the total number of licensed classroom teachers in that grade at the
             327      school; and
             328          (b) an adult-student ratio shall be calculated by dividing the total number of students
             329      in a grade at a school by the total number of adults who work with students in an instructional
             330      setting in that grade at the school.
             331          Section 4. Section 53A-1-304 is enacted to read:
             332          53A-1-304. Autism Awareness Restricted Account.
             333          (1) There is created in the General Fund a restricted account known as the "Autism
             334      Awareness Restricted Account."
             335          (2) The account shall be funded by:
             336          (a) contributions deposited into the account in accordance with Section 41-1a-422 ;
             337          (b) private contributions; and


             338          (c) donations or grants from public or private entities.
             339          (3) Funds in the account are nonlapsing.
             340          (4) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the superintendent shall distribute funds in
             341      the account to one or more charitable organizations that:
             342          (a) qualify as being tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
             343          (b) promote access to resources and responsible information for individuals of all ages
             344      who have, or are affected by, autism or related conditions;
             345          (c) is an independent organization that has representation from state agencies and
             346      private providers serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families in the
             347      state;
             348          (d) includes representation of:
             349          (i) national and local autism advocacy groups, as available; and
             350          (ii) interested parents and professionals; and
             351          (e) does not endorse any specific treatment, therapy, or intervention used for autism.
             352          (5) (a) An organization described in Subsection (4) may apply to the superintendent to
             353      receive a distribution in accordance with Subsection (4).
             354          (b) An organization that receives a distribution from the superintendent in accordance
             355      with Subsection (4) shall expend the distribution only to:
             356          (i) pay for autism education and public awareness of programs and related services in
             357      the state;
             358          (ii) enhance programs designed to serve individuals with autism;
             359          (iii) provide support to caregivers providing services for individuals with autism;
             360          (iv) pay for academic scholarships and research efforts in the area of autism spectrum
             361      disorder; and
             362          (v) pay the costs of issuing or reordering Autism Awareness Support special group
             363      license plate decals.
             364          (c) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             365      State Board of Education may make rules providing procedures for an organization to apply to


             366      the superintendent to receive a distribution under Subsection (4).
             367          Section 5. Effective date.
             368          This bill takes effect on October 1, 2010.


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