MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Monday, February 5, 2024 • 3:40 p.m. • 120 Senate Building


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

Staff Present:
Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst
Reese Boardman, Committee Secretary

Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
Chair Pierucci called the meeting to order at 3:51 p.m. of February 5, 2024.
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
1.H.B. 121 Educator Background Check Amendments (Lee, T.)
Rep. Lee presented the bill.
Grant Bess, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Malia Hite, Utah State Board of Education, Executive Coordinator of Educator Licensing, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to replace H.B. 121 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 121.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Lisonbee moved to amend 2nd Substitute H.B. 121 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Amendment 1
2nd Sub. H.B. 121
1 .        Page 6, Lines 173 through 178 :  Page 6, Lines 173 through 178
173                 (5) An LEA or qualifying private school shall provide another LEA or qualifying
174         private school that requires { the same or less than } a national background check, as described in
175         Subsection 53G-11-402(1)(a), an opportunity to clone the subscription or data from the FBI
176         Rap Back System, as those terms are defined in Section 53-10-108, for employees or
177         volunteers who are relocating, providing temporary volunteer services, or under contract, and
178         in accordance with186 Section 53-10-108.

Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 121 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-2-3.
Yeas - 10Nays- 2Abs- 3
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
2.H.B. 301 Charter School Accountability Amendments (Lisonbee, K.)
Rep. Lisonbee presented the bill.
Cynthia Phillips, Vice Chair, State Charter School Board, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rita Heagren, American Federation of Teachers, spoke to the bill.
Jay Blain, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Carolyn Sharette, American Preparatory Academy, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to replace H.B. 301 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 301.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 301 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
3.H.B. 105 Tax Credit for Educator Expenses (Birkeland, K.)
Rep. Birkeland presented the bill.
Jay Blain, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Grant Bess, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to replace H.B. 105 with 1st Substitute H.B. 105.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 105 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-3.
Yeas - 12Nays- 0Abs- 3
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
4.H.B. 161 School Board Amendments (Shipp, R.P.)
Rep. Shipp presented the bill.
Mark Clement, Utah School Boards Association, spoke to the bill.
Corinne Johnson, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
Greg Green, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Nancy Lord, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Andrea Nelson, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to replace H.B. 161 with 1st Substitute H.B. 161.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 161 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-2-4.
Yeas - 9Nays- 2Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. K. Peterson
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. V. Peterson
5.1st Sub. H.B. 173 Local School Board Amendments (Pierucci, C.)
Rep. Pierucci presented the bill with assistance from Rep. Jay Cobb.
Rusty Cannon, President, Utah Taxpayers Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Kim Coleman, Senior Policy Advisor, Salt Lake Council Member Sheldon Stewart, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association and Utah School Boards Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Corinne Johnson, Utah Parents United, spoke in favor of the bill.
John, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Nancy Lord, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Birkeland moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 173 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-5-0.
Yeas - 10Nays- 5Abs- 0
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
6.H.B. 192 Local Education Agency Employee Paid Leave (Ballard, M.G.)
Rep. Ballard presented the bill with assistance from Lauren Avelar, teacher.
Brooke Ballard, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Rachel Snyder, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association and Utah School Boards Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Rita Heagren, American Federation of Teachers, spoke in favor of the bill.
Grant Bess, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jordan Chaves, citizen, spoke to the bill.
Emily Bastian, citizen, spoke in favor of bill.
Emily Passey Yorgason, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to replace H.B. 192 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 192.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to amend 2nd Substitute H.B. 192 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Amendment 1
2nd Sub. H.B. 192
1 .        Page 2, Lines 39 through 42 :  Page 2, Lines 39 through 42
39                 (d) "Postpartum recovery leave eligible employee" means an employee:
40                 { (i) whom an LEA employs as a general education or special education teacher; }
41                 { (ii) } (i) who accrues paid leave benefits in accordance with the LEA's leave policies; and
42                 { (iii) } (ii) who gives birth to a child.

Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 192 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
7.H.J.R. 18 Joint Resolution for Education That Encourages Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (Lund, S.)
Rep. Lund presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass H.J.R. 18 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
8.H.B. 431 Teacher Retention (Pierucci, C.)
Rep. Pierucci presented the bill with assistance from Utah State Board of Education Chair Jim Moss.
Lexi Cunningham, Utah School Superintendents Association and Utah School Boards Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Sarah Jones, Utah Education Association, spoke to the bill.
Grant Bess, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to replace H.B. 431 with 1st Substitute H.B. 431.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 431 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Amendment 1
1st Sub. H.B. 431
1 .        Page 4, Lines 109 through 113 :  Page 4, Lines 109 through 113
109                 (6) An LEA or RESA that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant award
110         for an eligible initiative to achieve the purposes described in Subsection (2) including:
111                 (a) allowing a teacher to be released from all or part of an existing teacher contract to
112         engage in teacher leader work, which may involve a new contract for a master teacher, for a
113         period determined { by the LEA including indefinitely } by the LEA and the teacher, while maintaining the master teacher's status as a teacher ;

Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 431 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-1-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
9.H.B. 347 Special Education Modifications (Ward, R.)
Rep. Ward presented the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Lund moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Chair Pierucci adjourned the meeting.
NOTE: H.B. 0082 was not discussed in the meeting.