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 1st 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 1st 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