MINUTES OF THE

SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

210 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

March 4, 2014

Members Present: Sen. Patricia W. Jones

Sen. Mark B. Madsen

Sen. Aaron Osmond

Sen. Howard A. Stephenson

Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson

Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart

Members Excused: President Wayne L. Niederhauser

Members Absent: Sen. Stuart C. Reid, Chair

Staff Present: Ms. Tiffany Stanley, Policy Analyst

Ms. Wendy Hill, Committee Secretary

NOTE: A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Acting Chair Osmond called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.

H.B. 96 Utah School Readiness Initiative (Rep. G. Hughes)

MOTION: Sen Urquhart moved to amend the bill as follows:

1. Page 17a, Lines 503d through 503i

House Floor Amendments

2-11-2014:

503d To Governor's Office - Governor's Office of Management and Budget

503e From General Fund Restricted - School Readiness Restricted Account

503f $5,000,000

503g Schedule of Programs:

503h Administration

{ $100,000} $200,000

503i School Readiness Initiative

{$4,900,000} $4,800,000

The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jones absent for the vote.

Rep. Hughes explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: JoDee C. Sundberg, board member, Utah School Board Association

Benjamin Gibbs, professor, Brigham Young University

Joan Nichol, owner, child care center

Spoke against the bill: Gayle Ruzicka, President, Utah Eagle Forum

Josh Daniels, policy analyst, Libertas Institute

Karen Zea, teacher

MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Stephenson voting in opposition.

H.B. 292 School Grading – Calculations of High School Graduation Rate (Rep. R. Menlove)

Rep. Menlove explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Dr. Martell Menlove, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

JoDee C. Sundberg, board member, Utah School Board Association

MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Stevenson absent for the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2014 and March 3, 2014 meetings. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Stevenson absent for the vote.

1^st Sub. H.B. 215 Public School Employee Background Checks (Rep. S. Handy)

Rep. Handy explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke for the bill: Dr. Martell Menlove, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Stevenson absent for the vote.

1^st Sub. H.B. 249 Grants for Digital Textbooks (Rep. J. Anderegg)

Rep. Anderegg explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke to the bill: Dr. Martell Menlove, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion failed with Sen. Jones, Sen. Osmond and Sen. Urquhart voting in opposition and Sen. Stevenson absent for the vote.

H.B. 239 Front-line Teachers Data Program (Rep. J. Nielson)

At the request of the sponsor, the bill was not considered.

Acting Chair Osmond adjourned the meeting at 5:53 p.m.

________________________

Sen. Stuart C. Reid, Chair