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.

2^nd 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