S.B. 54

1

EDUCATION ROUNDTABLE
2 2001 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: D. Chris Buttars
5 This act modifies provisions related to the State System of Public Education by creating an
6 Education Roundtable to assist and advise the Legislature, the governor, and the State Board
7 of Education on matters related to ensuring, maintaining, and funding high quality
8 education programs in the state's public schools. The act takes effect July 1, 2001.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 ENACTS:
11 53A-1-901, Utah Code Annotated 1953
12 53A-1-902, Utah Code Annotated 1953
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
14 Section 1. Section 53A-1-901 is enacted to read:
15 Part 9. Education Roundtable
16 53A-1-901. Creation of an Education Roundtable -- Membership -- Quorum.
17 (1) An Education Roundtable is created to assist and advise the Legislature, the governor,
18 and the State Board of Education on matters related to ensuring, maintaining, and funding high
19 quality education programs in all of the state's public schools.
20 (2) (a) The roundtable shall consist of the following members:
21 (i) the governor or the governor's designee;
22 (ii) the state superintendent of public instruction;
23 (iii) two members of the Senate from different political parties, appointed by the president
24 of the Senate;
25 (iv) two members of the House of Representatives from different political parties,
26 appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and
27 (v) a number of members appointed by the president of the Senate h AND SPEAKER OF THE
27a HOUSE h , who are representative

28 of:
29 (A) business, community, and philanthropic leaders;
30 (B) elementary and secondary education, including special education; S [ and ] s
31 (C) higher education S [ . ] ;AND
31a (D) OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS APPROVED OR APPOINTED BY THE SENATE
31b PRESIDENT h AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE h . s
32 (b) The number of members appointed under Subsection (2)(a)(v)(A) shall be equal to the
33 total number of members appointed under Subsections (2)(a)(v)(B) and (C).
34 (c) (i) The president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall
35 jointly appoint cochairs for the roundtable.
36 (ii) The roundtable shall meet at the call of the cochairs.
37 (3) (a) (i) One-half of the members appointed under Subsection (2)(a)(v) shall serve two-
38 year terms and the remainder shall serve four-year terms.
39 (ii) Members appointed under Subsection (2)(a)(v) after the first appointments shall serve
40 four-year terms.
41 (b) Of the Senate members initially appointed under Subsection (2)(a)(iii), one shall serve
42 a two-year term and one shall serve a four-year term, and all subsequent appointments shall be for
43 four-year terms.
44 (c) House members appointed under Subsection (2)(a)(iv) shall serve two-year terms.
45 (4) (a) Members who are not government employees shall receive no compensation or
46 benefits for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of
47 their official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106
48 and 63A-3-107 .
49 (b) Public and higher education members who do not receive salary, per diem, or expenses
50 from the entity that they represent for their service may receive per diem and expenses incurred
51 in the performance of their official duties at rates established by the Division of Finance under
52 Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
53 (c) Legislative members shall be reimbursed as provided by legislative rule.
54 (d) Members may decline to receive per diem and expenses for their service on the
55 roundtable.
56 (5) (a) A quorum is required to conduct official business of the roundtable.
57 (b) A quorum consists of a majority of the members appointed to the roundtable.
58 Section 2. Section 53A-1-902 is enacted to read:

59 53A-1-902. Duties and responsibilities.
60 (1) The Education Roundtable shall make recommendations to the Legislature, the
61 governor, and the State Board of Education on subjects related to the State System of Public
62 Education that include:
63 h [ (a) the improvement of academic standards in all grades, focusing on the conditions and
64 tools that will enable schools to provide each student with a reasonable opportunity to achieve
65 expected educational goals or objectives;
66 (b) assessment and accountability programs;
67 (c) parental and community involvement in public schools;
68 (d) quality teaching;
69 (e) equity and adequacy in both seeking and overall funding of public education;
70 (f) the depth and breadth of courses and programs provided to students as related to
71 available resources;
72 (g) safe schools; and
73 (h) school building construction and modifications. ]
73a (a) NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL
73b TAX INCREASES SUCH AS:
73c (i) PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING;
73d (ii) CORPORATE AND BUSINESS FUNDING;
73e (iii) CURRENT TAX EXEMPTIONS, INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE;
73f (iv) A REDUCTION IN ADMINISTRATIVE AND OVERHEAD COSTS AND REALLOCATION OF
73g THOSE MONIES TO CLASSROOM PROGRAMS; AND
73h (v) A REALLOCATION OF TAX DOLLARS CURRENTLY BEING USED TO SUBSIDIZE
73i PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT, SUCH AS THE HOGEL
73j ZOO, THE TRACEY AVIARY, AND THE STATE'S SKI INDUSTRY BY IDENTIFYING PRIVATE
73k ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL REPLACE THESE SUBSIDIES WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
73l TAX DOLLARS WOULD BE REALLOCATED TO FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION; AND
73m (b) HOW TO GENERATE AND REDIRECT AT LEAST $100,000,000 OF EXISTING TAX MONIES
73n AND OTHER NONTAX REVENUE IDENTIFIED UNDER SUBSECTION (1)(a) INTO THE STATE SYSTEM
73o OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS. h
74 (2) The roundtable shall make formal annual reports to the Legislature, the governor, and
75 the State Board of Education and may report on a more frequent basis as determined by a majority
76 of the roundtable.
77 Section 3. Effective date.
78 This act takes effect on July 1, 2001.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-5-01 2:02 PM

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

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel