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MINUTES OF HOUSE EDUCATION
STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 30, House Building
February 27, 2013

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Francis Gibson, Chair
        Rep. Lowry Snow, Vice Chair
        Rep. Patrice M. Arent
        Rep. Rich Cunningham
        Rep. Steve Eliason
        Rep. Bradley G. Last
        Rep. David Lifferth    
        Rep. Dan McCay
        Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
        Rep. Jim Nielson
        Rep. Val Peterson
        Rep. Marie H. Poulson
        Rep. Kraig Powell
        Rep. Dean T. Sanpei
        Rep. Keven Stratton

MEMBERS EXCUSED:    Rep. Greg H. Hughes        
            
STAFF PRESENT:    Constance C. Steffen, Policy Analyst
        Linda Service, Committee Secretary        

Note: List of visitors and copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes.


Rep. Moss called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Lifferth moved to approve the minutes of February 25, 2013. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Gibson, Rep. Last, Rep. McCay, Rep. Nielson, Rep. Sanpei, and Rep. Stratton absent for the vote.

S.B. 128    Financial Transparency in Education (Sen. D. Thatcher) (Rep. S. Eliason)

Sen. Thatcher introduced the bill which imposes requirements regarding the submission of public financial information to the Utah Public Finance Website by a school district or charter school.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Ms. Patti Harrington, Utah School Superintendents Association and Utah School     Boards Association
    Ms. Kim Frank, Utah Charter Network
    Ms. Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh, Utah Education Association


MOTION:    Rep. Cunningham moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. McCay absent for the vote.

MOTION:
    Rep. Stratton moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. McCay absent for the vote.

H.B. 340    Snow College Economic Development and Workforce Preparation Advisory Committee (Rep. K. McIff)

Rep. McIff introduced the bill which modifies a committee to create the Snow College Economic Development and Workforce Preparation Advisory Committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Peterson moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation, The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Eliason, Rep. McCay, and Rep. Snow absent for the vote.

H.B. 151    Chronic Absenteeism Amendments (Rep. J. Briscoe)


Rep. Briscoe introduced the bill which modifies requirements of the school performance report.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Ms. Karen Crompton, Voices for Utah Children
    Ms. Elizabeth Garbe, United Way of Salt Lake
    Mr. Kory Holdaway, Utah Education Association

The following spoke in opposition to the bill:
    Ms. Autumn Cook, citizen
    Mr. Peter Cannon, Vice President, Eagle Forum
    Ms. Wendy Hart, citizen

Dr. Judy Park, Utah State Office of Education, commented on the bill and noted the State Board of Education has not taken a position on the bill.

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to move to the next item on the agenda. The motion passed with Rep. McCay, Rep. Nielson, and Rep. Gibson voting in opposition to the motion.

H.B. 154    Suicide Prevention Programs (Rep. S. Eliason)


Rep. Eliason introduced the bill which provides requirements for suicide prevention programs.



The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Ms. Taryn Aiken, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
    Dr. Greg Pinnel, Provo School District
    Dr. Martell Menlove, State Superintendent

Ms. Cherylyn Eager, World Class Education Research, spoke in opposition to the bill.

MOTION:    Rep. Arent moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed with Rep. McCay and Rep. Nielson voting in opposition to the motion.
Rep. Sanpei and Rep. Snow were absent for the vote.    

MOTION:    Rep. Gibson moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Moss adjourned the meeting at 4:04 p.m.





            ___________________________________
            Rep. Francis Gibson, Chair