H.B. 370

1

EDUCATION ON FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM
2 2012 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Keith Grover
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends Title 53A, Chapter 13, Curriculum in the Public Schools, by creating
10 the Free Enterprise Education Act, which requires a course on the free enterprise system
11 in order to receive a high school certificate or diploma of graduation.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . makes legislative findings;
15 . requires a student who enters high school in school year 2013-14 to take a
16 one-semester course on the free enterprise system and receive a passing grade in
17 order to receive a certificate or diploma of graduation;
18 . requires the State Board of Education, or its designee, to develop a curriculum that
19 meets the goals and addresses the issues described in the act;
20 . permits the State Board of Education, or its designee, to accept and approve current
21 curricula or course descriptions that meet the goals and requirements described in
22 the act; and
23 . describes areas of instruction that, at a minimum, shall be included in the free
24 enterprise course.
25 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
26 None
27 Other Special Clauses:

28 None
29 Utah Code Sections Affected:
30 ENACTS:
31 53A-13-401, Utah Code Annotated 1953
32 53A-13-402, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33 53A-13-403, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34 53A-13-404, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35 53A-13-405, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36
37 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
38 Section 1. Section 53A-13-401 is enacted to read:
39 Part 4. Free Enterprise Education Act
40 53A-13-401. Title.
41 This part is known as the "Free Enterprise Education Act."
42 Section 2. Section 53A-13-402 is enacted to read:
43 53A-13-402. Purpose.
44 The purpose and intent of this part are:
45 (1) to require all public school students to receive instruction on the free enterprise
46 system during high school as a stand-alone course lasting at least one semester; and
47 (2) to require a passing grade in the course in order to receive a certificate or diploma
48 of graduation.
49 Section 3. Section 53A-13-403 is enacted to read:
50 53A-13-403. Findings.
51 The Legislature finds and declares that:
52 (1) a flourishing economy arises from private sector initiative and entrepreneurship
53 working in a free market protected by the rule of law and nurtured by limited government that
54 guarantees private ownership rights, economic liberty, and equality of opportunity;
55 (2) the free enterprise system creates wealth, jobs, and prosperity, and is the foundation
56 of a growing national economy;
57 (3) the American free enterprise system depends on well-educated citizens;
58 (4) too many students in the United States do not understand:

59 (a) the basic characteristics of the free enterprise system and its importance to
60 economic growth and the creation of wealth and jobs; and
61 (b) the free enterprise system's central role in the tremendous economic challenges
62 faced by individuals, companies, and entrepreneurs in establishing, building, and managing a
63 business, and their contributions to American society;
64 (5) most efforts by federal and state government have generally focused on economics
65 and personal financial literacy, but a full and complete understanding of the American free
66 enterprise system requires a diligent study of history, political science, geography, culture, and
67 current events in addition to economics and personal finance; and
68 (6) the study of the free enterprise system is critical to the development of students as
69 productive citizens who understand the American economic and political system and the
70 critical and central role of American business and entrepreneurs in the creation of wealth, jobs,
71 and economic growth and prosperity.
72 Section 4. Section 53A-13-404 is enacted to read:
73 53A-13-404. Administration of course.
74 (1) Instruction in the free enterprise system shall be provided in a course lasting at least
75 one semester during high school.
76 (2) Beginning with students entering high school in the 2013-14 school year, a student
77 shall:
78 (a) be required to fulfill the free enterprise requirement described in Subsection (1);
79 and
80 (b) receive a passing grade in the course described in Subsection (1) in order to receive
81 a certificate or diploma of graduation.
82 (3) The State Board of Education or its designee shall adopt free enterprise content
83 standards and curriculum, consistent with this part.
84 (4) The State Board of Education or its designee shall carry out appropriate
85 professional development training for a teacher who instructs the free enterprise course.
86 (5) The State Board of Education shall:
87 (a) accept a curriculum, course description, or description of a series of classes taken in
88 combination from a school or school board;
89 (b) determine whether the curriculum, course description, or description of a series of

90 classes taken in combination, described in Subsection (5)(a), currently meets the goals and
91 requirements of this part; and
92 (c) approve all current curricula, courses, or series of courses taken in combination that
93 meet the goals and requirements of this part as satisfying the graduation requirement mandated
94 by this part.
95 (6) The State Board of Education may contract with one or more organizations that
96 have expertise in the development of curriculum or continuing education courses, described in
97 Subsections (3) and (4), to develop curriculum that meets the education goals described in this
98 part.
99 (7) Beginning in school year 2017-18, any statewide curriculum-based test shall
100 include questions on the free enterprise system.
101 (8) The State Board of Education or its designee shall submit a report on the
102 implementation of the Free Enterprise Education Act to the Education Interim Committee
103 during the 2013 legislative interim.
104 Section 5. Section 53A-13-405 is enacted to read:
105 53A-13-405. Areas of instruction.
106 At a minimum, the following areas of instruction shall be included in the free enterprise
107 course curriculum:
108 (1) the basic characteristics of a free enterprise system, including:
109 (a) the role played by the rule of law;
110 (b) private property ownership;
111 (c) profit and loss;
112 (d) competition and regulation;
113 (e) supply and demand;
114 (f) consumers and producers; and
115 (g) technological innovation in creating and sustaining a free enterprise system;
116 (2) the benefits of economic growth, wealth creation, and technological innovation and
117 the role played by the free enterprise system in achieving those benefits, as compared to other
118 economic systems;
119 (3) the importance of the rule of law, private ownership rights, economic liberty, and
120 equality of opportunity to the free enterprise system;

121 (4) the role of the United States Constitution in preserving the rights and freedoms
122 described in Subsection (3);
123 (5) the impact of government spending, regulation, taxation, and monetary and trade
124 policies on economic growth, entrepreneurship, productivity, and technological innovation; and
125 (6) the opportunities presented by, and challenges of, starting a business.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-10-12 1:52 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel