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First Substitute H.B. 269

Representative LaVar Christensen proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
COMMISSION ON CIVIC AND CHARACTER EDUCATION

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: LaVar Christensen

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Margaret Dayton

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill establishes reporting requirements for school districts regarding civic and
             10      character education taught in schools.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    requires school districts to submit a summary report to the lieutenant governor and
             14      Commission on Civic and Character Education on how civic and character
             15      education is integrated in school curriculum.
             16      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22          53A-13-109, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 196
             23     
             24      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             25          Section 1. Section 53A-13-109 is amended to read:


             26           53A-13-109. Civic and Character Education -- Definitions -- Legislative finding --
             27      Elements -- Reporting requirements.
             28          (1) As used in this section:
             29          (a) "Character Education" means reaffirming values and qualities of character which
             30      promote an upright and desirable citizenry.
             31          (b) "Civic Education" means the cultivation of informed, responsible participation in
             32      political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of
             33      representative democracy in Utah and the United States.
             34          (c) "Values" means time-established principles or standards of worth.
             35          (2) The Legislature recognizes that:
             36          (a) Civic and Character Education are fundamental elements of the public education
             37      system's core mission as originally intended and established under Article X of the Utah
             38      Constitution;
             39          (b) Civic and Character Education are fundamental elements of the constitutional
             40      responsibility of public education and shall be a continuing emphasis and focus in public
             41      schools;
             42          (c) the cultivation of a continuing understanding and appreciation of representative
             43      democracy in Utah and the United States among succeeding generations of educated and
             44      responsible citizens is important to the nation and state;
             45          (d) the primary responsibility for the education of children within the state resides with
             46      their parents or guardians and that the role of state and local governments is to support and
             47      assist parents in fulfilling that responsibility;
             48          (e) public schools fulfill a vital purpose in the preparation of succeeding generations of
             49      informed and responsible citizens who are deeply attached to essential democratic values and
             50      institutions; and
             51          (f) the happiness and security of American society relies upon the public virtue of its
             52      citizens which requires a united commitment to a moral social order where self-interests are
             53      willingly subordinated to the greater common good.
             54          (3) Through an integrated curriculum, students shall be taught in connection with
             55      regular school work:
             56          (a) honesty, integrity, morality, civility, duty, honor, service, and obedience to law;


             57          (b) respect for and an understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the
             58      Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Utah;
             59          (c) Utah history, including territorial and preterritorial development to the present;
             60          (d) the essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system;
             61          (e) respect for parents, home, and family;
             62          (f) the dignity and necessity of honest labor; and
             63          (g) other skills, habits, and qualities of character which will promote an upright and
             64      desirable citizenry and better prepare students to recognize and accept responsibility for
             65      preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured
             66      by the constitution.
             67          (4) Local school boards and school administrators may provide training, direction, and
             68      encouragement, as needed, to accomplish the intent and requirements of this section and to
             69      effectively emphasize Civic and Character Education in the course of regular instruction in the
             70      public schools.
             71          (5) Civic and Character Education in public schools are:
             72          (a) not intended to be separate programs in need of special funding or added specialists
             73      to be accomplished; and
             74          (b) core principles which reflect the shared values of the citizens of Utah and the
             75      founding principles upon which representative democracy in the United States and the state of
             76      Utah are based.
             77          (6) To assist the Commission on Civic and Character Education in fulfilling the
             78      commission's duties under Section 67-1A-10 , by December 30 of each year, each school
             79      district shall submit to the lieutenant governor and the commission a report summarizing how
             80      civic and character education are achieved in the school district through an integrated school
             81      curriculum and in the regular course of school work as provided in this section.


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