MINUTES OF THE

SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

210 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

March 2, 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 8:06 a.m.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Osmond moved to approve the minutes of the February 25, 2015 meeting.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen, Sen. Stevenson and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.    

 

2nd Sub. H.B. 49         Clean Fuel School Buses and Infrastructure (S. Handy)

 

Rep. Handy explained the bill to the committee. “Utah State Office of Education, Utah School

Bus Retrofitting Statistics” was distributed to the committee.

Spoke to the bill:         Mr. Bruce Williams, Associate Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education

MOTION:  Sen. Stephenson moved to move to the next item on the agenda. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen, Sen. Stevenson and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.    

 

S.B. 253       Exceptions for Privately Funded Scholarships (S. Jenkins)

 

Sen. Jenkins explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Mr. Brad Mortenson, Weber State University           

 

MOTION:  Sen. Osmond moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen, Sen. Stevenson and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.    

 

S.B. 268       Student Leadership Skills Grant (A. Osmond)

 

Sen. Osmond explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:         Ms. Lydia Nuttle, citizen

 

Spoke for the bill:       Ms. Jolene Randall, Principal, Vista Elementary School                   

 

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

 

S.B. 263       Early Reading Amendments (S. Urquhart)

 

Sen. Urquhart explained the bill to the committee.

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

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

 

S.B. 270       Carson Smith Scholarship Amendments (J. Adams)

 

Sen. Adams explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:         Ms. Lynda Simmons, citizen

 

Spoke for the bill:       Ms. Cheryl Smith, citizen                              

 

MOTION:  Sen. Dabakis moved to pass the bill out favorably.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis, Sen. Madsen and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Stevenson moved to place the bill on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Dabakis, Sen. Madsen and Sen. Urquhart absent for the vote.

 

S.B. 275       Educator Licensure Amendments (J. Stevenson)

 

Sen. Stevenson explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke against the bill:             Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Deputy Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education                                               

                                                Dr. Sara Jones, Director, Utah Education Association

 

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

 

H.B. 198      Strengthening College and Career Readiness (P. Arent)

 

Rep. Arent explained the bill to the committee. The handouts “HB 198- Strengthening College

and Career Readiness,” “Support H.B. 198 Strengthening College and Career Readiness,

Prosperity 2020,” and letters of support from the Salt Lake Chamber, Utah Technology Council,

Utah School Counselor Association, Utah Parent Teacher Association and Dr. Patti Harrington, Utah School Boards Association were distributed to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:                   Ms. Melissa Miller Kincard, Utah System of Higher Education       

                                                Ms. Lillian Tsosne Jensen, Utah State Office of Education              

                                                Mr. Richard Nelson, President, Utah Technology Council

                                                Ms. Holly Todd, President, Utah School Counselor Association

                                                Dr. Richard Kendall, President, Prosperity 2020

                                                Mr. Jerre Holmes, Superintendent, North Summit School District

                                                Ms. Liz Zenter, President, Utah Teacher Association

 

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

 

MOTION:  Sen. Osmond moved to adjourn.  The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Stevenson absent for the vote.

 

Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 9:41 a.m.

 

 

 

 

________________________

Sen. Ann Millner, Chair