MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 27, 2023 • 4:00 p.m. • 210 Senate Building


Members Present:
Sen. John D. Johnson, Chair
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. Keith Grover
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. Michael K. McKell
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe
Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson

Members Absent:
Sen. Ann Millner

Staff Present:
Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst
Tisha Gibby, Committee Secretary

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

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the February 24, 2023 minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
1.3rd Sub. H.B. 118 Education Procurement Amendments (Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Jordan Teuscher presented the bill with the assistance of Angie Stallings, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education.
MOTION:Sen. McKell moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 118 out favorably.The motion failed with a vote of 1-4-4.
Yeas - 1Nays- 4Abs- 4
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
2.H.B. 477 Full-day Kindergarten Amendments (Spendlove, R.)
Rep. Robert Spendlove presented the bill with the assistance of Sara Wiebke, Literacy Coordinator, Utah State Board of Education.
Abigail Cook, Intern, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke against the bill.
Kristina Pexton, Health Commissioner, Utah PTA, spoke in favor of the bill.
Whit Cook, Utah Eagle Forum, spoke against the bill.
Scott Howell, grandfather, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melarie Wheat, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
Aimee Warren, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
Melinda LaMont, Kindergarten specialist, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass H.B. 477 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
3.3rd Sub. H.B. 448 Election Changes (Maloy, A. Cory)
Rep. Cory Maloy presented the bill with the assistance of Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor, County Clerks Legislative Group.
Ryan Cowley, Director of Elections, Lt. Governor's Office, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass 3rd Substitute H.B. 448 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
4.H.J.R. 1 Joint Resolution Designating National Speech and Debate Education Day (Welton, D.)
Rep. Welton presented the resolution.
Jennie Earl, Vice-Chair, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in favor of the resolution.
Von Christiansen, assistant speech and debate coach, spoke in favor of the resolution.
Lindie Williams, speech and debate student, spoke in favor of the resolution.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass H.J.R. 1 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-0-4.
Yeas - 5Nays- 0Abs- 4
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
5.1st Sub. H.B. 373 Law Enforcement Training and Recruitment (Welton, D.)
Rep. Welton requested the bill not be heard.
6.1st Sub. H.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Regarding Mental Health Support in Schools (Eliason, S.)
Rep. Steve Eliason presented the resolution.
Dr. Bill Cosgrove, citizen, spoke in favor of the resolution.
Marsha Neuhaus, Utah Association of School Psychologists, spoke in favor of the resolution.
Kevin Labresh, Utah Association of School Psychologists, spoke in favor of the resolution.
Brad Asay, President, American Federation of Teachers, spoke in favor of the resolution.
Lauren Rich, Utah Coalition of School Based Specialists, spoke in favor of the resolution.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass 1st Substitute H.C.R. 6 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to place 1st Substitute H.C.R. 6 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
7.1st Sub. H.B. 400 School Absenteeism Amendments (Johnson, D.N.)
AbsenteeismTwoPager HB400
Rep. Dan Johnson presented the bill with the assistance of Shauntelle Cota and Brett Peterson, Utah State Board of Education.
Jennie Earl spoke to the bill.
France Barral, Utah PTA, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to replace 1st Substitute H.B. 400 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 400.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 400 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
8.1st Sub. H.B. 190 Local Education Agency Personnel Amendments (Ballard, M.G.)
Rep. Melissa Ballard presented the bill.
Kevin Labresh spoke in favor of the bill.
Marsha Neuhaus, Rural School Psychologists, spoke in favor of the bill.
Bethanie Monsen-Ford, Utah Association of School Psychologists, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lauren Rich, Utah Association of School Psychologists, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 190 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to place 1st Substitute H.B. 190 on the Consent Calendar.The motion passed with a vote of 4-0-5.
Yeas - 4Nays- 0Abs- 5
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Sen. J. Stevenson
9.1st Sub. H.B. 398 Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship Program Amendments (Abbott, N.)
BreakOutSchool HB-398 Senate Committee presentation
Rep. Nelson Abbott presented the bill with the assistance of Greg Hughes, board member, Utah Children First Education Fund.
Dallin "Doc" Richardson, Director, BreakOut School, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lori Jackson, mother, spoke in favor of the bill.
Galey Colosimo, Director, Utah Private Schools Association and Principal of Juan Diego Catholic High School, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kellee England, parent, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rachel Winsley, mother, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jonathan Bejarano, citizen, spoke to the bill.
France Barral spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Sen. Fillmore moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 398 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 5-1-3.
Yeas - 5Nays- 1Abs- 3
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
MOTION:Sen. Riebe moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-3.
Yeas - 6Nays- 0Abs- 3
Sen. J. Adams
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Sen. K. Riebe
Sen. J. Stevenson
Sen. K. Grover
Sen. M. McKell
Sen. A. Millner
Chair Johnson adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m.