MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


Members Present:
Rep. Candice B. Pierucci, Chair
Rep. Dan N. Johnson, Vice Chair
Rep. Kera Birkeland
Rep. Tyler Clancy
Rep. Joseph Elison
Rep. Katy Hall
Rep. Steven J. Lund
Rep. Carol S. Moss
Rep. Susan Pulsipher
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. R. Neil Walter

Members Absent:
Rep. Karianne Lisonbee
Rep. Jefferson Moss
Rep. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Mike Schultz

Staff Present:
Robert Wood, Policy Analyst
Shay Berger, Committee Secretary

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

Vice-Chair Johnson called the meeting to order.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-7.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
1.1st Sub. S.B. 143 Public School District Resource Sharing Agreements and Student Transportation Amendments (Anderegg, J.)
Sen. Jacob Anderegg introduced the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Birkeland moved to pass 1st Substitute S.B. 143 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
2.H.B. 477 Full-day Kindergarten Amendments (Spendlove, R.)
Rep. Robert Spendlove introduced the bill with Sara Wiebke, Literacy Coordinator from the Utah State Board of Education, and Sydnee Dickson, Superintendent of Utah State Board of Education.
Whit Cook, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke against the bill.
Stacey M, President of Utah Parent Teacher Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dr. Sara Jones, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Scott Howell, former state senator, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mark Clement, Utah School Boards Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jenny Taylor, mother, spoke in favor of the bill.
Abigail Cook, Junior Intern for Utah Eagle Forum, spoke against the bill.
Karina Barker, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Becca Goldrup, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Briawna Ainge Hugh, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melarie Wheat, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Alexander Hamm, Solutions Utah, spoke in favor of the bill.
Cissy Rasmussen, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to pass H.B. 477 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-7.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
3.H.B. 190 Local Education Agency Personnel Amendments (Ballard, M.G.)
Rep. Melissa Ballard introduced the bill with, Lauren Rich, Utah Association of School Psychologists.
Kristina Pexton, Utah Parent Teacher Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kirsten Mele, President of the Utah Association of School Psychologists, spoke in favor of the bill.
Bethanie Monsen-Ford, Former President of Utah Association of School Psychologists, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Chair Pierucci moved to replace H.B. 190 with 1st Substitute H.B. 190.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-8.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Chair Pierucci moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 190 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-8.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 8
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. M. Schultz
4.H.B. 398 Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments (Abbott, N.)
Rep. Nelson Abbott introduced the bill with Ronnie Daniel, Executive Director of the Utah Children First Education Fund.
Dr. Galey Colosimo, Executive Director of the Utah Private Schools Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Dallin Doc Richardson, Breakout School, spoke in favor of the bill.
Speaker Handout for HB398
Greg Hughes, Board Member of Utah Children First Education Fund, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kellee England, mother, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jonathan Bejarano, citizen, spoke to the bill.
Emily Niehaus, former mayor of Moab and mother, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to replace H.B. 398 with 1st Substitute H.B. 398.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 398 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-2-6.
Yeas - 8Nays- 2Abs- 6
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
5.H.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Mental Health Support in Schools (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Steve Eliason introduced the bill with Lauren Rich, Utah Association of School Psychologists.
Jay Blaine, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kristina Pexton, Utah Parent Teacher Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to replace H.C.R. 6 with 1st Substitute H.C.R. 6.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Pierucci moved to pass 1st Substitute H.C.R. 6 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-6.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. M. Schultz
NOTE: H.B. 0441 was not discussed in the meeting.