| Members Present: Sen. Ann Millner, Chair Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, Chair Sen. Derrin R. Owens Phil Bates Troy Carr Jarad Carson Joe Kerry Matt Pennington Leah Voorhies Randy Watt Rick Woodford | Members Absent: Rep. Steve Eliason Rep. Matthew H. Gwynn Jason Garrison April Graham Tyson Huntington Keith Squires Zach Van Emmerik Staff Present: Micah Ann Wixom, Policy Analyst Shad Larson, Associate General Counsel Tracey Fredman, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| 1.Task Force Business |
| Chair Wilcox called the meeting to order at 10:17 a.m. |
| Chair Wilcox introduced Phil Bates, Chief Information Security Officer, and a new task force member, and Mr. Bates spoke briefly about his work on cybersecurity issues related to the work of the task force. |
| 2.Higher Education Campus Safety |
| Sen. Millner and Chair Wilcox made brief statements about the shooting incident at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. |
| MOTION:Sen. Millner moved to approve the minutes of the August 18, 2025, and August 20, 2025, meetings.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| P. Bates T. Carr J. Carson J. Kerry Sen. A. Millner Sen. D. Owens M. Pennington L. Voorhies R. Watt Rep. R. Wilcox R. Woodford | Rep. S. Eliason J. Garrison A. Graham Rep. M. Gwynn T. Huntington K. Squires Z. Van Emmerik |
| 3.School Safety Updates from the School Security Task Force |
| Matt Pennington, State Security Chief, gave an update on the implementation of school safety amendments. |
| 3 - School Security Updates (State Board of Education School Safety Center) |
| Shauntelle Cota, Director of Student Services and School Safety, USBE, gave a presentation that included a progress report related to the USBE Strategic Plan and School Safety Center Recommendations. |
| Molly Hart, Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction, responded to task force members' questions. |
| Joseph Kerry, USBE, spoke to the issue. |
| 3 - School Security Task Force Considerations and Updates (St. George Police Department) |
| Lt. Jared Carson, St. George Police Department, discussed security concerns as well as progress in the implementation of effective school safety measures. |
| Chief Randy Watt, State Security Chief, highlighted the importance of collaboration between school security personnel, police departments, and other safety systems to prevent or lessen the severity of incidents. |
| 4.Roundtable Discussion |
| Chair Wilcox outlined topics that will be discussed in future meetings, including a standardized communications response to potential hoax threats. |
| 5.Adjourn |
| MOTION:Sen. Millner moved to adjourn the meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| P. Bates T. Carr J. Carson J. Kerry Sen. A. Millner Sen. D. Owens M. Pennington L. Voorhies R. Watt Rep. R. Wilcox R. Woodford | Rep. S. Eliason J. Garrison A. Graham Rep. M. Gwynn T. Huntington K. Squires Z. Van Emmerik |
| Chair Wilcox adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m. |