S.J.R. 4

1

PUBLIC SCHOOL SNOW DAYS RESOLUTION
2 1997 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Scott N. Howell
5 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE ENCOURAGING LOCAL SCHOOL
6 BOARDS TO DESIGN THEIR SCHOOL YEAR CALENDARS SO THAT SNOW DAYS
7 CAN BE MADE UP ON DAYS OTHER THAN SATURDAY.
8 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
9 WHEREAS weather conditions often prevent students from getting to school safely, and
10 the danger to students increases on snowy days;
11 WHEREAS when schools close for the day because of weather conditions, lost school days
12 typically have been made up on Saturdays;
13 WHEREAS according to the National Weather Service, the average number of days in
14 which Utah receives more than three inches of snow is eight days per year;
15 WHEREAS many students are members of religious denominations that attend church on
16 Saturdays, such as the Greek Orthodox, Jewish and Seventh-Day Adventist Churches, and those
17 students must choose between school and religious obligations on Saturday make-up school days;
18 WHEREAS in the Bill of Rights it says that the government cannot interfere with religion;
19 WHEREAS students should not be penalized for acts of Mother Nature; and
20 WHEREAS many students and teachers have family or work obligations on weekends:
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
22 encourage local school boards to design their school calendars so that snow days can be made up
23 on days other than Saturday.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the state's 40 local
25 school boards and Rosamond Elementary School.

Legislative Review Note
as of 1-24-97 9:55 AM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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