MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
210 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex
February 20, 2015
Members Present: Sen. Ann Millner, Chair
Sen. Jim Dabakis
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
Staff Present: Ms. Allyson Goldstein, Policy Analyst
Ms. Wendy Hill, Committee Secretary
NOTE: A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed
with the committee minutes.
Chair Millner called the meeting to order at 2:14 p.m.
MOTION: Sen. Madsen moved to approve the minutes
of the February 18, 2015 meeting. The
motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
S.B. 145 Physics Education Pilot Program (Sen. H. Stephenson)
Sen. Stephenson explained the bill to the committee.
MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to replace S.B. 145 with 1st Sub. S.B. 145. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
Spoke for the bill: Dr. Tami Pyfer, Education Advisor, Utah Governor’s Office
Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Deputy Superintendent, Utah
State Office of
Education
MOTION: Sen. Osmond moved to pass 1st Sub. S.B. 145 out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
Chair Millner relinquished the chair to Sen. Osmond.
S.B. 196 Math Competency Initiative (Sen. A. Millner)
Sen. Millner explained the bill to the committee. The handout, “Math Competency” was
distributed to the committee.
Spoke for the bill: Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Deputy
Superintendent, Utah State Office of
Education
Dr.
Richard Kendall, Prosperity 2020
Dr.
David L. Buhler, Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah Syst
Dr.
Jeff Stevens, Superintendent, Weber School District
Mr. Kelly Vannoy, citizen
Spoke against the bill: Mr. Peter Cannon, citizen
MOTION: Sen. Dabakis moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.
S.B. 195 Amendments to State Board of Education (Sen. A. Millner)
Sen. Millner explained the bill to the committee.
Spoke for the bill: Mr. Royce Van Tassell, Association of Public Charter Schools
Spoke against the bill: Ms. Deon Turley, Utah Parent Teacher Association
Ms. Emily Broburg, citizen
Mr. Peter Cannon, citizen
MOTION: Sen. Urquhart moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with
Sen. Madsen voting in opposition and Sen. Stevenson absent for the vote.
S.J.R. 5 Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution --
State Board of Education Changes (Sen. A.
Millner)
Sen. Millner explained the resolution to the committee.
MOTION: Sen. Urquhart moved to pass the resolution out favorably. The motion passed with
Sen. Madsen voting in opposition and Sen. Stevenson absent for the vote.
Acting Chair Osmond relinquished the chair to Sen. Millner.
2nd
Sub. H.B. 49 Clean Fuel Buses and
Infrastructure (Rep. S. Handy)
Rep. Handy explained the bill to the committee. The handouts “The Wheels on the Bus Go
Round and Round… Until They Eventually Fall Off” and “Murrell Martin – Pupil
Transportation Specialist, Utah State Office of Education” were distributed to the committee.
Spoke for the bill: Mr. Murell Martin, Utah State Office of Education
Mr. Tony Escobar, student
Ms. Ingrid Griffie, Utah Moms 4 Clean Air
Dr. Jeff Stevens, Superintendent, Weber School District
Ms. Tina Taft, Utah Moms 4 Clean Air
MOTION: Sen. Osmond moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen, Sen. Stevenson and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.
Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 3:51 p.m.
________________________
Sen. Ann Millner, Chair