H.C.R. 6
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9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor encourages Utah
12 employers to adopt flexible work schedules and paid parent and guardian leave to their
13 employees in the case of an emergency, or for the purpose of attending a parent-teacher
14 conference or school-related activity.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This resolution:
17 . encourages employers to adopt flexible work schedules and paid parent and
18 guardian leave to their employees of up to one day per child for the purpose of
19 attending parent-teacher conferences, school-related activities, or in the case of an
20 emergency;
21 . recognizes that employees should make a reasonable attempt to schedule
22 conferences and school-related activities for which leave may be taken outside of
23 regular work hours;
24 . recognizes that, in scheduling conferences for which leave may be taken, the State
25 Board of Education should be allowed to require schools and school districts to
26 exercise best efforts to accommodate the schedules of parents and guardians of
27 children; and
28 . recognizes that employers should have the discretion to grant employees leave
29 provisions or leave benefits that are greater than the leave described in this
30 resolution.
31 Special Clauses:
32 None
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34 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
35 WHEREAS, parents and guardians are the first and most important teachers of their
36 children;
37 WHEREAS, parents and guardians play a crucial role in the development of children in
38 their formative years;
39 WHEREAS, schools around the nation have found increased successful parent and
40 guardian involvement in the education of their children leads to better outcomes in student
41 achievement and stronger schools;
42 WHEREAS, changing demographics in Utah's population, language difficulties, and
43 economic stresses make it more difficult for parents and guardians to attend parent-teacher
44 conferences and respond to their children's needs at school;
45 WHEREAS, flexible work schedules and the availability of paid parent and guardian
46 leave would provide meaningful opportunities for parents, guardians, and their families to learn
47 how to help their children succeed in school;
48 WHEREAS, an employee should make a reasonable attempt to schedule conferences
49 and school-related activities for which leave may be taken outside of regular work hours;
50 WHEREAS, in scheduling conferences for which leave may be taken, the State Board
51 of Education should be allowed to require schools and school districts to exercise best efforts
52 to accommodate the schedules of parents and guardians of children;
53 WHEREAS, if parents and guardians are unable to schedule school needs outside of
54 regular work hours, they should be entitled to arrange flexible work hours or take up to one day
55 per child paid leave for the purpose of attending parent-teacher conferences, school-related
56 activities, or in case of an emergency at school;
57 WHEREAS, some employers already provide employees with parent and guardian
58 leave to attend parent-teacher conferences or other emergencies that are equal to or exceed the
59 leave amounts recommended in this resolution; and
60 WHEREAS, expanding the adoption of parent or guardian paid leave policies that
61 increase parent or guardian involvement, and therefore learning, in Utah's public schools
62 should be encouraged:
63 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
64 Governor concurring therein, encourages employers to adopt flexible work schedules and paid
65 parent and guardian leave to their employees of up to one day per child in the case of an
66 emergency, or for the purpose of attending a parent-teacher conference or a school-related
67 activity, and leave should be in addition to any other paid leave already provided by an
68 employer.
69 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recognize that
70 employees should make a reasonable attempt to schedule conferences and school-related
71 activities for which leave may be taken outside of regular work hours.
72 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recognize that, in
73 scheduling conferences for which leave may be taken, the State Board of Education should be
74 allowed to require schools and school districts to exercise best efforts to accommodate the
75 schedules of parents and guardians of children.
76 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recognize that
77 employers should have the discretion to grant employees leave provisions or leave benefits that
78 are greater than the leave described in this resolution.
79 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah Labor
80 Commission and to each of Utah's chambers of commerce.
Legislative Review Note
as of 1-13-14 4:39 PM