MINUTES OF THE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
Thursday, February 8, 2024 • 2:00 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. Karen M. Peterson
Rep. Val L. Peterson
Rep. Susan Pulsipher
Rep. Angela Romero
Rep. R. Neil Walter

Members Absent:
Rep. Jefferson Moss

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 2:27 p.m. of February 8, 2024.
1.H.B. 347 Special Education Modifications (Ward, R.)
MOTION:Rep. Johnson moved to approve the minutes.The motion passed with a vote of 8-0-7.
Yeas - 8Nays- 0Abs- 7
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. Ward presented the bill.
Nate Crippes, Public Affairs Attorney, Disabilty Law Center, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jay Blain, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Ben Horsley, Granite School District, spoke to the bill.
Christina Boggess, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Monica Stewart, We All Belong, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Amanda Sandy, We All Belong, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Kim Garrett, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Jake Shewmake, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Julie Beane, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Karen Conder, Utah PTA, spoke to the bill.
Amanda Longwell, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Tucker Garrett, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to replace H.B. 347 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 347.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
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. A. Romero
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to amend 2nd Substitute H.B. 347 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 10-1-4.
Amendment 1
2nd Sub. H.B. 347
1 .        Page 2, Lines 38 through 45 :  Page 2, Lines 38 through 45
38                 (ii) provide an environment to all educators, school staff, and students that does not
39         pose a predictable threat of serious bodily injury to the educators, school staff, or students;
40                 (iii) provide an education to all students in which the students' classroom is not
41         { predictably } significantly disrupted in an ongoing fashion;
42                 (iv) provide an environment to all educators, school staff, and students that is free from
43         repeated:
44                 (A) verbal or physical sexual harassment; or
45                 (B) sexual assault;

2 .        Page 5, Lines 125 through 127 :  Page 5, Lines 125 through 127
125                 (6) An LEA shall provide education to all students within the LEA in the least
126         restrictive environment possible that does not { predictably } significantly disrupt the education of other
127         students within the classroom in an ongoing fashion.

Yeas - 10Nays- 1Abs- 4
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
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 347 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 8-2-5.
Yeas - 8Nays- 2Abs- 5
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. A. Romero
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. S. Pulsipher
2.H.B. 82 Public Education Program Modifications (Pierucci, C.)
Rep. Pierucci presented the bill with assistance from Angie Stallings, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education.
Christina Boggess, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to replace H.B. 82 with 1st Substitute H.B. 82.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
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. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to amend 1st Substitute H.B. 82 with Amendment #4.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Amendment 4
1st Sub. H.B. 0082
1 .        Page 16, Lines 467 through 468 :  Page 16, Lines 467 through 468
467                 (2) The state board shall develop or select a school readiness assessment [that aligns with the
468         kindergarten entry and exit assessment described in Section 53G-7-203].

2 .        Page 29, Lines 878 through 881 :  Page 29, Lines 878 through 881
878                 (a) the parent's rights as specified in this part[.]; and
879                 (b) the constitutional protections as described in Section { 53G-6-808 } 53G-10-205 .
880                 (2) An LEA satisfies the notification requirement described in Subsection (1) by
881         posting the information on the LEA's website or through other means of electronic

3 .        Page 29, Line 887 through Page 30, Line 895 :  Page 29, Line 887 through Page 30, Line 895
887                 (2) On or before October 1 of each year, an LEA shall provide the state board with the
888         { official } work email address of each school employee.
889                 (3) { The state board shall provide the email address described in Subsection (1) to the
890         Legislature upon request. } The state board may email school employees for official communication:
(a) if the state board provides 48 hours notice to the local superintendent; and
(b) no more than four times per calendar year.
891                 (4) The state board { and the Legislature } :
892                 (a) may use an employee's email address provided under Subsection { (1) } (2) for official communication
893         between the state board { or Legislature } and the school employee; and
894                 (b) may not disclose an email address provided under Subsection { (1) } (2) to a third party.
895                 Section 16. Section 53G-7-501 is amended to read:

4 .        Page 37, Lines 1118 through 1120 :  Page 37, Lines 1118 through 1120
1118         become public knowledge unless it can be shown by clear and convincing evidence that the
1119         information became public knowledge through an intentional act of the superintendent, superintendent's designee,
1120         principal, or a staff member.

Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
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. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 82 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
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. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
3.H.B. 208 Teacher Licensure Amendments (Thurston, N.)
Rep. Thurston presented the bill.
Travis Rawlings, citizen, spoke to the bill.
Jay Blain, Utah Education Association, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jennie Earl, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to replace H.B. 208 with 2nd Substitute H.B. 208.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to amend 2nd Substitute H.B. 208 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Amendment 1
2nd Sub. H.B. 208
1 .        Page , Line 119 through Page 5, Line 120 :  Page , Line 119 through Page 5, Line 120
119         consultation with administrators and staff directly responsible for hiring licensed educators at an LEA
120         or regional education service agency as defined in Section 53G-4-410, shall develop a strategy

Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Hall moved to pass 2nd Substitute H.B. 208 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 10-1-4.
Yeas - 10Nays- 1Abs- 4
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
4.H.B. 438 Higher Education Revisions (Peterson, K.)
Rep. Peterson presented the bill.
Brad Asay, President, American Federation of Teachers, spoke in favor of the bill.
John Cox, Utah State Board of Higher Education, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to replace H.B. 438 with 1st Substitute H.B. 438.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Walter moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 438 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-6.
Yeas - 9Nays- 0Abs- 6
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
5.H.B. 415 School Fees Amendments (Strong, M.A.)
Rep. Strong presented the bill.
Angie Stallings, Deputy Superintendent of Policy, Utah State Board of Education spoke to the bill.
Barbie Faust, School Fees Specialist, Utah State Board of Education, spoke to the bill.
Jenny Earl, Utah State Board of Education, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Todd Hauber, USBA, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to amend H.B. 415 with Amendment #4.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-5.
Amendment 4
H.B. 415
1 .        Page 19, Lines 572 through 573 :  Page 19, Lines 572 through 573
572                 (b) Beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2029, an LEA shall determine a
573         phase-out plan for charging fees under this section , including the fees described in Subsection (3) .

2 .        Page 19, Line 585 through Page 20, Line 586 :  Page 19, Line 585 through Page 20, Line 586
585                 (3) { Subject to Subsection (11)(a) , beginning } Beginning with the { 2024-2025 } 2028-2029 school year:
586                 (a) for a curricular activity or a co-curricular activity, an LEA may not charge a

3 .        Page 21, Lines 631 through 634 :  Page 21, Lines 631 through 634
631                 (10) An LEA may not charge a fee under this part after the 2028-2029 school year other than for an extracurricular activity, including the life-cycle replacement costs for school equipment
directly related to the extracurricular activity. .
632         {           (11) If the Legislature does not appropriate funds, in whole or in part, to offset the
633         fiscal impact of an LEA's inability to charge fees under this part in a given fiscal year, the
634         Legislature may provide future appropriations to LEAs.   }

Yeas - 10Nays- 0Abs- 5
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass H.B. 415 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Yeas - 11Nays- 0Abs- 4
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. A. Romero
6.H.B. 419 Charter School Funding Amendments (Walter, N.)
Rep. Walter presented the bill with assistance from Clint Biesinger, Rountable Funding.
Kim Frank, Utah Charter Network, spoke in favor of the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass H.B. 419 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 13-0-2.
Yeas - 13Nays- 0Abs- 2
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. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Birkeland moved to place H.B. 419 on the Consent Calendar.The motion failed with a vote of 12-1-2.
Yeas - 12Nays- 1Abs- 2
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
7.H.B. 202 Student Athlete Amendments (Teuscher, J.)
Rep. Teuscher presented the bill with assistance from Russell White, CEO, Opendorse.
Doug Wilks, Deseret News Editor, Media Coalition, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Henrie Walton, Utah Tech University, spoke in favor of the bill.
Jeff Hunt, Utah Media Coalition, spoke in opposition to the bill.
Lars Birkeland, citizen, spoke in favor of the bill.
Bryan Scott, Publisher, The City Journal, spoke to the bill.
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to replace H.B. 202 with 1st Substitute H.B. 202.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. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Elison moved to pass 1st Substitute H.B. 202 out favorably.The motion passed with a vote of 11-1-3.
Yeas - 11Nays- 1Abs- 3
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. T. Clancy
Rep. J. Elison
Rep. K. Hall
Rep. D. Johnson
Rep. S. Lund
Rep. K. Peterson
Rep. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
8.H.B. 250 Driver Education Modifications (Defay, A.)
Rep. Defay presented the bill with the assistance of Angie Stallings, Deputy Director, USBE.
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to amend H.B. 250 with Amendment #1.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-4.
Amendment 1
H.B. 250
1 .        Page 1, Lines 9 through 10 :  Page 1, Lines 9 through 10
9                 This bill makes changes to the way { an } a local education agency may fund driver
10         education classes.

2 .        Page 1, Lines 12 through 15 :  Page 1, Lines 12 through 15
12                 This bill:
13                 ▸         allows for additional funding to be used by { an } a local education agency to fund driver
14         education classes; and
15                 ▸         increases driver education student reimbursement amounts.

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. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Peterson moved to pass H.B. 250 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. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
MOTION:Rep. Johnson moved to adjourn.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. V. Peterson
Rep. C. Pierucci
Rep. S. Pulsipher
Rep. R. Walter
Rep. K. Birkeland
Rep. K. Lisonbee
Rep. J. Moss
Rep. A. Romero
Chair Pierucci adjourned the meeting.