MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 21, 2019 • 8:00 a.m. • 30 House Building


Members Present:
Rep. V. Lowry Snow, Chair
Rep. Susan Pulsipher, Vice Chair
Rep. Melissa G. Ballard
Rep. Dan N. Johnson
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
Rep. Lee B. Perry
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Marie H. Poulson
Rep. Adam Robertson
Rep. Steve Waldrip
Rep. Christine F. Watkins

Members Absent:
Rep. Bradley G. Last
Rep. Jefferson Moss

Staff Present:
Mr. Nathan W. Brady, Policy Analyst
Ms. Wendy Hill, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.

Chair Pulsipher called the meeting to order at 8:11 a.m.
MOTION: Rep. Johnson moved to approve the minutes of the February 19, 2019 meeting. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.
Yeas - 10Nays-0Abs-3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Last
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Snow
1. H.B. 213 Promotion of Student Loan Forgiveness (Duckworth, S.)
Rep. Susan Duckworth explained the bill with the assistance of Rita Heagren, Vice President of Political Action, American Federation of Teachers Utah.
A handout "Highlights of HB 213: Promotion of Student Loan Forgiveness" was distributed to the committee.
Highlights of HB 213: Promotion of Student Loan Forgiveness
MOTION: Rep. Perry moved to replace H.B. 213 with 1st Substitute H.B. 213. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays-0Abs-2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Last
Rep. J. Moss
MOTION: Rep. Perry moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 213 with Amendment #1. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Amendment 1
1st Sub. H.B. 213
1.        Page 3, Lines 78 through 83: 
78         additional information about the loan forgiveness program; and
79                 { (b) a detailed fact sheet that:
80                   (i) describes the loan forgiveness program; and
81                   (ii) includes a phone number and email address where an individual may report a
82         violation of this chapter to the division; and }
83                 { (c) } (b) a document that contains answers to frequently asked questions about the loan

Yeas - 11Nays-0Abs-2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Last
Rep. J. Moss
MOTION: Rep. Poulson moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 213 as amended out favorably. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays-0Abs-2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Last
Rep. J. Moss
MOTION: Rep. Watkins moved to place 1st Substitute H.B. 213 as amended on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-2.
Yeas - 11Nays-0Abs-2
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Last
Rep. J. Moss
2. H.B. 273 School Fees Modifications (Robertson, A.)
Rep. Adam Robertson explained the bill.
A handout "HB 272 Prohibition on School Fees for Curricular Activities" was distributed to the committee.
HB 273 Prohibition on School Fees for Curricular Activities
Royce Van Tassell, Executive Director, Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jay Blain, Director of Policy and Research, Utah Education Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Terry Shoemaker, Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association, Utah School Boards Association, spoke to the bill.
MOTION: Rep. Robertson moved to hold H.B. 273. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.
Yeas - 10Nays-0Abs-3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Last
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
3. H.B. 248 Education Fund Designation Ratio (Judkins, M.)
Rep. Marsha Judkins explained the bill.
Handouts "Distribution of the Education Fund," "Education Fund in Higher Education" and "Education Fund in Higher Education - Impact of Potential Appropriation Limit" was distributed to the committee.
Distribution of the Education Fund
David L. Buhler, Commissioner of Higher Education, Utah System of Higher Education, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Sydnee Dickson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the bill.
Howard Stephenson, President, Utah Taxpayers Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
A handout "No More Fiscal Wiggle Room" was distributed to the committee.
No More Fiscal Wiggle Room...
MOTION: Rep. Robertson moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-3.
Yeas - 10Nays-0Abs-3
Rep. M. Ballard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. L. Perry
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Robertson
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Rep. C. Watkins
Rep. B. Last
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Chair Pulsipher adjourned the meeting at 9:54 a.m.