MINUTES OF THE

SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

210 Senate Building, Utah State Capitol Complex

February 16, 2016

 

Members Present:     Sen. Ann Millner, Chair

                                    Sen. Jim Dabakis

                                    Sen. Lincoln Fillmore

                                    Sen. Mark B. Madsen

                                    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. Tonya Hadley, 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 8:10 am.

 

MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to approve the minutes from February 10, 2016. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Dabakis absent for the vote.

 

Chair Millner relinquished the chair to Sen. Urquhart.

 

S.B. 149 School Grading Modifications (Sen. Millner)

 

Sen. Millner explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Mr. Rich Nye, Utah State Board of Education         

 

MOTION: Sen. Stevenson moved to pass out S.B. 149 with a favorable recommendation.

 

SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to hold the bill in committee for more discussion. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Dabakis absent.

           

S.B.152 Accelerated Foreign Language Course Amendments (Sen. Stephenson)

 

Sen. Stephenson explained the bill to the committee.

                                                           

Spoke for the bill:       Dr. Joanna Watzinger Tharp, Director, University of Utah

                                    Dr. Fernando Rubio, Director, University of Utah

                                    Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Acting Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education

 

MOTION:  Sen. Stevenson moved to pass out S.B. 152 with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Dabakis absent for the vote.

 

MOTION: Sen. Stevenson moved to place S.B. 152 on the consent calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Madsen and Sen. Dabakis absent.

 

Sen. Millner resumed the Chair.

 

S.B. 143 Competency-based Learning Amendments (Sen. Stephenson)

 

Sen. Stephenson explained the bill to the committee.

                                                           

Spoke for the bill:       Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Acting Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education       

 

The decision was to hold the bill and develop an amendment.

 

H.B. 28 Grants for Educated Professional Learning (Rep. Last)

 

Rep. Last explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke for the bill:       Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Acting Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education       

Mr. Patrick Marino, Executive Director, Utah Private Childcare Association

 

MOTION:  Sen.  Stephenson moved to pass H.B. 28 out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously.

 

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

 

Chair Millner adjourned the meeting at 9:49 a.m.

 

 

________________________

Sen. Ann Millner, Chair