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