MINUTES OF THE
PUBLIC EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Tuesday, August 20, 2019 • 8:30 a.m. • 445 State Capitol


Members Present:
Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard, Senate Chair
Rep. Steve Eliason, House Chair
Rep. Steve Waldrip, House Vice Chair
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Kathleen Riebe
Sen. Ronald Winterton
Rep. Joel K. Briscoe
Rep. Craig Hall
Rep. Dan N. Johnson
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Marie H. Poulson
Rep. Susan Pulsipher
Rep. V. Lowry Snow
Members Absent:
Sen. Ann Millner
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson
Rep. Francis D. Gibson
Rep. Bradley G. Last
Rep. Jefferson Moss
Rep. Robert M. Spendlove

Staff Present:
Mr. Sean C. Faherty, Financial Analyst
Mr. Ben Leishman, Finance Manager
Ms. Emily Willis, Financial Analyst
Ms. Nancy Skidmore, Committee Secretary

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

1. Call to Order
House Chair Eliason called the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes (June 18, 2019)
Chair Eliason announced that a quorum was not present so minutes could not be approved.
3. Legislative Audit - University Neuropsychiatric Institute and Crisis Services
Mr. Ben Leishman presented an overview of the report.
3a. A Performance Audit of the University Neuropsychiatric Institute and Crisis Services
3b. 2018-2019 SafeUT Annual Report
Mr. Darin Underwood, Deputy Auditor General, Office of Legislative Auditor General (OLAG), gave a background on the work of the audit committee.
Mr. Wayne Kidd, Audit Supervisor, OLAG, made his presentation on the University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI).
Chair Eliason asked for a clarification of page 59 of the report. He asked if the current level of appropriations for SafeUT are sufficient based on the auditor's findings.
Ms. Nicole Luscher, Audit Staff, OLAG, redirected Chair Eliason to page 15, figure 2.3 to answer his question.
Sen. Hillyard asked if the audit would pay for satellite offices for crisis counseling. Sen Hillyard expressed a need to address the shortage of nurses and counselors in the classroom.
Mr. Kidd addressed these questions about the crisis center.
Chair Eliason responded to Sen. Hillyard's concerns with an example of a facility he toured in Ogden. This facility is a state of the art youth receiving center for at-risk students. Chair Eliason felt that this is a model that other school districts might want to consider. He also addressed the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists in Utah.
Sen. Riebe expressed her appreciation to the Legislature for providing money for more school counselors. She is seeing the positive impact that this funding is having on the schools that she is involved with.
Chair Eliason added that youth suicide rates are going down in Utah.
Rep. Waldrip commented that the FCC had approved a three digit suicide hotline. He expressed his concern about the increased calls and asked how well positioned the state is for these anticipated increased calls.
Mr. Kidd responded that the calls would probably double with the three digit suicide hotline. There is a concern about this projected increase.
Chair Eliason stated that the phase into the three digit number will take some time to implement. There may be a bill being introduced in Congress to address the projected budget shortfalls of the states.
Mr. Underwood referred to page 25 of the audit. He explained what the audit subcommittee was asking the University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) to do.
Mr. Ross Van Vranken, Executive Director, University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI), responded to the audit.
Sen Hillyard asked about the turnover and burnout rate of UNI staff. He also asked if UNI has adequate staff and how do they keep them fresh.
Mr. Van Vranken responded that there are a number of processes in place that help UNI staff including breaks, supervision, and support.
Sen Hillyard asked about the number of employees that are currently employed at UNI.
Mr. Van Vranken said that there are currently 80 employees on staff at UNI.
Sen. Hillyard asked how the crisis center is funded.
Mr. Van Vranken responded that access needs to be for the entire population. He suggested that the funding needs to come out of the state because there is a statewide need.
Sen. Hillyard asked if there are insurance plans to cover costs.
Mr. Van Vranken responded that he does not know at this time how they would use insurance companies.
Chair Eliason gave an example of how students in Florida are using the SafeUT app.
Mr. Van Vranken expressed how he has seen the positive impact that the SafeUT app is making.
Sen. Riebe addressed deficits across the state. She asked which demographic areas are not being reached.
Mr. Van Vranken said that rural areas struggle to be attract doctors who are willing to practice in these locations. He also discussed initiatives that will address this issue.
Rep. Waldrip addressed page 50 - Quality Assurance. He asked how high quality assurance standards are maintained.
Mr. Van Vranken said that every crisis worker has to have 40 hours of crisis training. This mandate was passed by the Legislature last year.
Rep. Waldrip asked if the specific recommendations on the quality assurance table are being implemented.
Mr. Van Vranken said that every recommendation is in the process of being implemented.
Rep. Hall commented that the SafeUT app is available for everyone.
Chair Eliason explained the criteria of how the SafeUT app is used.
Rep. Hall and Mr. Van Vranken discussed staffing the SafeUT app and who is using it.
Sen Riebe observed that SafeUT works in the schools because of the relationships that are already established.
Sen. Hillyard expressed concern about where the funding for SafeUT will come from.
MOTION: House Vice Chair Waldrip moved that we refer the audit to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee for additional review and implementation of audit recommendations and further that we request that the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee consider moving the funding for UNI into a new line item or program in the University of Utah budget and allow for separate accounting of revenues and expenditures for the UNI crisis services in the SafeUT programs within the UNI budget. The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-9.
Yeas - 10Nays-0Abs-9
Rep. S. Eliason
Rep. C. Hall
Sen. L. Hillyard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Sen. R. Winterton
Rep. J. Briscoe
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. F. Gibson
Rep. B. Last
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Sen. A. Millner
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Spendlove
Sen. J. Stevenson
4. Accountable Process Budget - Detailed Issue Study
Mr. Leishman presented the Fiscal Note report prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's Office. He then discussed the at-risk programs that the Legislature funds at the State Board of Education.
4a. Fiscal Note Follow Up Report
4b. Fiscal Note Follow Up Report_PED-Related Items
4c. Issue Brief_At-Risk_08.20.19
4d. Utah Achievement Gaps
Sen. Riebe addressed a concern that schools are taking on more funding.
Mr. Leishman explained budget complexities.
Mr. Leishman spoke to the recommendations.
Senate Chair Hillyard assumed the chair.
Rep. Poulson asked if the committee will be able to hear from the districts and how they are using their money?
Mr. Leishman said that the committee can decide if they want to set time aside for this issue.
Mr. Scott Jones, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the issue of where we are in the study of reworking the WPU.
Sen. Reibe asked clarifying questions about additional WPU's.
Mr. Leishman explained "Add On's."
Rep. Pulsipher and Rep. Briscoe asked clarifying questions about the budget.
Mr. Leishman responded.
4e. Issue Brief_YIC_08.20.19
Mr. Leishman presented Youth In Custody.
House Chair Eliason resumed the chair.
Rep. Pulsipher suggested that definitions need to be changed so that the money is received by the in-custody students.
Rep. Snow addressed two issues - cost of custody and educational cost of custody.
Sen. Reibe spoke to efficacy of moving students out of custody to in custody.
4f. Issue Brief_Adult Ed_08.20.19
Mr. Leishman presented Adult Education.
4g. School Building Program Presentation
Mr. Leishman presented Distribution History.
4h. School Building Program_Distribution History
4i. Weber School District_School Buildings Programs Presentation
Mr. Robert Petersen, Business Administrator, Weber School District, addressed Capital Outlay Foundation (Equalization Program).
Chair Eliason asked if we are rewarding districts that are going into debt.
Mr. Petersen responded.
Rep. Poulson asked when this formula was set up and the rational behind this formula.
Mr. Petersen responded.
Sen. Hillyard spoke about Rich County school buildings.
Chair Eliason asked for a show of hands on whether this issue should be discussed at a future meeting. The majority of the committee agreed.
5. Break
No break was taken.
6. Teacher Salaries - 2019 Changes
Rep. Hall asked to speak to this agenda item before the presentation by the financial analyst.
Ms. Emily Willis, Financial Analyst, introduced Teacher's Salaries and Benefits - 2019 Changes.
Mr. Martin Bates, Superintendent, Granite School District, spoke to Wellness Center.
6a. GSD Wellness Center 8.20.19
Granite School District
Ms. Karyn Winder, President, Granite School Board, spoke to Wellness Center.
Ms. Donnette McNeill-Waters, Human Resources, Granite School District, spoke to Wellness Center.
6b. Canyons School District Teacher Recruiting and Pipeline Changes
Canyons page 2
Ms. Nancy Tingey, President, Canyons Board of Education, spoke to teacher salaries.
Mr. Steve Dimond, Director, Human Resources, spoke to teacher salaries.
Mr. Leon Wilcox, Business Administrator, Canyons School District, spoke to teachers salaries.
Mr. Matthew Young, Chair, Board Finance Committee, Jordan School District, spoke to Jordan Teacher Grant Program.
Mr. Anthony Godfrey, Superintendent, Jordan School District, spoke to Jordan Teacher Grant Program.
6d. After-school Survival English (Video)
Sen. Hillyard expressed appreciation for the thanks the school districts have given the Legislature.
Rep. Hall spoke to Granite School District Wellness Center and its success.
Rep. Pulsipher expressed appreciation for the innovation that these three school districts have shown.
Rep. Poulson expressed her appreciation for the Granite School District Wellness Center.
7. Other business
No other business was addressed.
8. Adjourn
MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-6.
Yeas - 13Nays-0Abs-6
Rep. J. Briscoe
Rep. S. Eliason
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. C. Hall
Sen. L. Hillyard
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. M. Poulson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Sen. K. Riebe
Rep. V. Snow
Rep. S. Waldrip
Sen. R. Winterton
Rep. F. Gibson
Rep. B. Last
Sen. A. Millner
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. R. Spendlove
Sen. J. Stevenson
Chair Eliason adjourned the meeting at 11:12 a.m.