MINUTES OF THE

SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

210 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

February 24, 2015

Members Present: Sen. Ann Millner, Chair

Sen. Jim Dabakis

Sen. Mark B. Madsen

Sen. Aaron Osmond

Sen. Howard A. Stephenson

Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart

Members Excused: President Wayne L. Niederhauser

Members Absent: Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson

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 8:19 a.m.

S.B. 204 Parental Rights in Public Education Amendments (Sen. A. Osmond)

MOTION: Sen. Osmond moved to replace S.B. 204 with 1^st Sub. S.B. 204. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Stephenson absent for the vote.

Sen. Osmond explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke to the bill: Mr. Brad C. Smith, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah State

Office of Education

Spoke for the bill: Ms. Heather Gardner, citizen

Mr. Peter Cannon, Utah Eagle Forum

Ms. Meghan Gardner, citizen

MOTION: Sen. Madsen moved to pass 1^st Sub. S.B. 204 out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Stephenson absent for the vote.

H.B. 119 Charter School Finance Amendments (Rep. B. Last)

Rep. Last explained the bill to the committee. The handouts “Charter School Local

Replacement” and “MSP – Charter School Funding Programs” were distributed to the

committee.

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

1st Sub. S.B. 219 World Language Proficiency Recognition (Sen. H. Stephenson)

Sen. Stephenson explained the bill to the committee.

Spoke to the bill: Dr. David L. Buhler, Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education

Spoke for the bill: Ms. Bonnie Flint, Davis School District

Mr. Fernando Rubio, University of Utah

Ms. Brandy Mau, Tooele School District

Mr. Gregg Roberts, Utah State Office of Education

Spoke against the bill: Ms. Laura Belnap, citizen

MOTION: Sen. Urquhart moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

S.B. 222 Digital Teaching and Learning Program (Sen. H. Stephenson)

Spoke against the bill: Ms. Carrie Valentine, citizen

Ms. Meghan Gardner, citizen

MOTION: Sen. Osmond moved to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2015 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

MOTION: Sen. Urquhart moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 9:48 a.m.

________________________

Sen. Ann Millner, Chair