Section 1. Section 36-36-101 is enacted to read:36. Legislative Education Support and Professional Development Commission36-36-101. Definitions.(1)"Commission" means the Legislative Education Support and Professional Development Commission.(2)"LEA" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-1-102.

Section 2. Section 36-36-102 is enacted to read:36-36-102. Legislative Education Support and Professional Development Commission created -- Membership -- Terms.(1)There is created the Legislative Education Support and Professional Development Commission to:(a)study gaps in communication, coordination, and support among the state board, the Legislature, LEAs, and individual educators;(b)examine alternatives to current professional liability insurance coverage models available to teachers;(c)evaluate professional development and support services available to educators outside of existing membership-based organizations;(d)assess opportunities for innovation in educator recognition, professional advancement, and accountability; and(e)make recommendations to the Education Interim Committee regarding legislative solutions to address the issues described in Subsections (1)(a) through (d).(2)The commission membership shall include:(a)three members of the Senate, whom the president of the Senate appoints, with at least one from each political party;(b)three members of the House of Representatives, whom the speaker of the House of Representatives appoints, with at least one from each political party;(c)the state superintendent or the state superintendent's designee;(d)one member of the State Board of Education, whom the chair of the State Board of Education appoints;(e)one member who is a superintendent of a school district, whom the Utah School Superintendents Association appoints;(f)one member who is a director of a charter school, whom the chair of the State Board of Education appoints;(g)two members who are currently employed as teachers in the state, whom the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives jointly appoint;(h)one member who is a member of a local school board, whom the Utah School Boards Association appoints;(i)the director of the Division of Risk Management or the director's designee; and(j)one member with expertise in educator professional development or educator professional organizations, whom the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives jointly appoint.(3)The president of the Senate shall designate one member of the Senate appointed under Subsection (2)(a) to serve as a cochair of the commission.(4)The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one member of the House of Representatives appointed under Subsection (2)(b) to serve as a cochair of the commission.(5)(a)Except as provided in Subsection (5)(b), a member of the commission described in Subsection (2) shall serve a term that ends on the commission's repeal date described in Section 63I-1-236.(b)When a vacancy occurs in the commission membership for any reason, the appointing authority for the vacant position shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term within 30 days after the day on which the vacancy occurs.(6)The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support to the commission.

Section 3. Section 36-36-103 is enacted to read:36-36-103. Duties and powers of commission -- Quorum -- Compensation.(1)The commission shall:(a)hold the commission's first meeting before October 1, 2026;(b)study the issues described in Subsections 36-36-102(1)(a) through (d);(c)examine gaps in communication, coordination, and support among the state board, the Legislature, LEAs, and individual educators, including:(i) current mechanisms for educators to communicate concerns, ideas, and feedback to:(A)the State Board of Education;(B)the state superintendent;(C)legislative committees; and(D)local school boards and LEA administration;(ii)barriers that prevent effective communication between the entities described in Subsection (1)(c)(i);(iii)the frequency and effectiveness of current communication channels;(iv)whether educators feel adequately represented in education policy decisions at the state and local level; and(v)best practices from other states for facilitating educator input in policy development;(d)examine professional development and support services available to educators, including:(i)current professional development opportunities provided by:(A)the state board;(B)LEAs;(C)institutions of higher education;(D)professional organizations; and(E)private providers;(ii)gaps in professional development services, particularly for educators who are not members of professional organizations;(iii)teacher leadership and advancement opportunities outside of administrative positions;(iv)mentorship and peer support programs for early-career and experienced educators;(v)innovative professional development models from other states or sectors; and(vi)potential state-supported professional development programs or networks;(e)examine educator recognition, accountability, and innovation, including:(i)current programs that recognize and reward effective teaching and innovative classroom practices;(ii)gaps in recognition and incentive systems for educators;(iii)measures of teacher effectiveness beyond student test scores;(iv)opportunities to promote innovation and experimentation in instructional methods;(v)accountability mechanisms that focus on student growth and professional excellence; and(vi)potential state-supported programs for educator recognition or grants for classroom innovation;(f)in coordination with the Division of Risk Management, examine professional liability insurance coverage for teachers, including:(i)current models of professional liability insurance coverage available to teachers, including coverage provided through membership in professional organizations;(ii)alternative models for providing professional liability insurance coverage to teachers, including:(A)state-sponsored coverage programs;(B)group purchasing arrangements;(C)coverage through LEAs; and(D)private market options;(iii)the costs, benefits, and feasibility of each alternative model described in Subsection (1)(g)(ii); and(iv)potential risks and liabilities that teachers face in the course of employment;(g)consult with:(i)the State Board of Education;(ii)representatives of LEAs;(iii)teachers who are members of professional organizations and teachers who are not members of professional organizations;(iv)representatives of educator professional development organizations;(v)insurance industry professionals; and(vi)other stakeholders the commission cochairs determine are relevant to the commission's work;(h)identify potential state resources, programs, or agencies that could provide or coordinate services to support educators;(i)identify statutory or regulatory changes needed to implement the commission's recommendations; and(j)before November 1, 2027, submit a written report to the Education Interim Committee that includes:(i)the commission's findings;(ii)recommendations for legislative action; and(iii)any proposed legislation the commission develops.(2) The commission may:(a)meet as often as the commission cochairs determine is necessary to fulfill the commission's duties;(b)establish subcommittees to study specific issues related to the commission's duties; and(c)request information, data, or assistance from:(i)the State Board of Education;(ii)the state superintendent;(iii)LEAs;(iv)the Division of Risk Management;(v)the Utah Education and Telehealth Network; and(vi)other state agencies or entities the commission determines are relevant.(3)(a)A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum.(b)The commission shall take an action by majority vote of a quorum of the commission.(4)(a)A member of the commission who is a legislator shall receive compensation and expenses in accordance with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Legislative Compensation and Expenses.(b)A member of the commission who is not a legislator and who is an employee of the state may not receive compensation in addition to the member's regular state compensation for the member's service on the commission.(c)A member of the commission who is not a legislator and who is not an employee of the state may receive:(i)per diem compensation at the rate established by the Division of Finance under Section 63A-3-107 for each day the member attends a meeting of the commission; and(ii)reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in attending a meeting of the commission at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Section 63A-3-107 and rules made by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.

Section 4. Section 63A-4-101.5 is amended to read:63A-4-101.5. Risk manager -- Appointment -- Duties.(1)As used in this section, "K-12 personnel" means a public employee of a local education agency, as that term is defined in Section 53E-1-102.(1)(2)(a)There is created within the department the Division of Risk Management.(b)The executive director shall, with the approval of the governor, appoint a risk manager as the division director, who shall be qualified by education and experience in the management of general property and casualty insurance.(2)(3)The risk manager shall:(a)except as provided in Subsection (4)(5), acquire and administer the following purchased by the state or any captive insurance company created by the risk manager:(i)all property and casualty insurance;(ii)(A)professional liability insurance for K-12 personnel; and(B)other professional liability insurance for public employees not covered under Subsection (3)(a)(ii)(A) if the risk manager determines there is sufficient demand;(ii)(iii)reinsurance of property andinsurance, casualty insurance, and professional liability insurance; and(iii)(iv)subject to Section 34A-2-203, workers' compensation insurance;(b)make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act:(i)prescribing reasonable and objective underwriting and risk control standards for:(A)all covered entities of the Risk Management Fund; and(B)management of the professional liability insurance described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii); and(B)(C)any captive insurance company created by the risk manager;(ii)prescribing the risks to be covered by the Risk Management Fund and the extent to which these risks will be covered;(iii)prescribing the properties, risks, deductibles, and amount limits eligible for payment out of the Risk Management Fund;(iv)prescribing procedures for making claims and proof of loss; and(v)establishing procedures for the resolution of disputes relating to coverage or claims, which may include binding arbitration;(c)implement a risk management and loss prevention program for covered entities for the purpose of reducing risks, accidents, and losses to assist covered entities in fulfilling their responsibilities for risk control and safety;(d)coordinate and cooperate with any covered entity having responsibility to manage and protect state properties, including:(i)the state fire marshal;(ii)the director of the Division of Facilities Construction and Management;(iii)the Department of Public Safety;(iv)institutions of higher education;(v)school districts; and(vi)charter schools;(e)maintain records necessary to fulfill the requirements of this section;(f)manage the Risk Management Fund and any captive insurance company created by the risk manager in accordance with economically and actuarially sound principles to produce adequate reserves for the payment of contingencies, including unpaid and unreported claims, and may purchase any insurance or reinsurance considered necessary to accomplish this objective; and(g)inform the covered entity's governing body and the governor when any covered entity fails or refuses to comply with reasonable risk control recommendations made by the risk manager.(3)(4)Before the effective date of any rule, the risk manager shall provide a copy of the rule to each covered entity affected by it.(4)(5)The risk manager may not use a captive insurance company created by the risk manager to purchase:(a)workers' compensation insurance;(b)health insurance; or(c)life insurance.

Section 5. Section 63I-1-236 is amended to read:63I-1-236. Repeal dates: Title 36.(1)Title 36, Chapter 17, Legislative Process Committee, is repealed January 1, 2028.(2)Section 36-29-111, Public Safety Data Management Task Force, is repealed July 1, 2029.(3)Title 36, Chapter 28, Veterans and Military Affairs Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.(4)Section 36-29-112, Justice Court Reform Task Force, is repealed July 1, 2025.(5)Title 36, Chapter 36, Legislative Education Support and Professional Development Commission, is repealed March 15, 2028.

Section 6. Effective Date.This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.