MINUTES OF THE SENATE EDUCATION
STANDING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, February 5, 2002
Room 414, STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
Members Present: Sen. Bill Wright, Chair
Sen. Ron Allen
Sen. D. Chris Buttars
Sen. David L. Gladwell
Sen. Karen Hale
Sen. David H. Steele
Sen. Howard A. Stephenson
Sen. Alicia L. Suazo
Sen. Michael G. Waddoups
Sen. Carlene M. Walker
Staff Present: Constance C. Steffen, Research Analyst
Dee S Larsen, Assoc. General Counsel
Saundra Maeser, Secretary
Public Speakers Present: Michael McCoy, General Counsel, Utah Education Association
Michael Boyer, Attorney, Odgen-Weber Education Association
Phyllis Sorensen, Utah Education Association
Jeff Leonard, Utah School Employee Association
Bonnie Palmer, Utah School Boards Association
Karen, Derrick, Salt Lake City School Board
Steve Peterson, Utah School Superintendents Association
Winston Gleave, Utah School Boards Association
Laura Campbell, parent
Michael Hurst, parent
Mineris Huerta, parent
John Christensen, National Federation of Independent Business
Wendy McKay, PTA President, Snow Crest Junior High
Ralph Haws, Jordan School District Board of Education
Lynn Price, citizen
Hank Burtosh, parent
John Pingree, State Board of Education
Brinton Burbidge, attorney for Utah School Boards Association
Visitor list on file.
Chair Wright called the meeting to order at 3:49 p.m.
MOTION: Sen. Walker moved to approve the minutes of January 31, 2002. The motion passed unanimously.
Sen. Waddoups assumed the chair.
1. SB0157 Local School Board Employer Powers (B. Wright)
Sen. Wright explained changes the bill makes to law regarding the termination of school employees. Mr. Blake Ostler, attorney, representing the Utah School Boards Association, said the bill allows local school boards to negotiate individual contracts with employees.
The following spoke in opposition to the bill:
Mr. Michael McCoy, Utah Education Association
Mr. Michael Boyer, Ogden Education Association and Weber Education Association
Ms. Phyllis Sorensen, Utah Education Association
Mr. Jeff Leonard, Utah School Employee Association
The following spoke in support of the bill:
Ms. Bonnie Palmer, Utah School Boards Association
Ms. Karen Derrick, Salt Lake City School Board
Mr. Steve Peterson, Utah School Superintendents Association
Mr. Winston Gleave, Utah School Boards Association
MOTION: Sen. Steele moved to amend the bill as follows:
Page 5, Line 141: After "(1)" delete "(a)"
Page 5, Lines 143-145: Delete lines 143-145.
The motion passed with Sen. Wright, Sen. Stephenson, Sen. Gladwell, and Sen. Buttars voting in opposition and Sen. Walker absent for the vote.
MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to pass the bill out favorably, as amended. The motion passed with Sen. Allen and Sen. Steele voting in opposition and Sen. Walker absent for the vote.
Sen. Waddoups relinquished the chair to Sen. Wright.
2. S.B. 69 Tuition Tax Credits and Payments to School Districts (D. C. Buttars)
Sen. Buttars declared a conflict of interest, because he is executive director of the Utah Boys Ranch whose students may be eligible for the tax credits proposed by the bill.
Sen. Buttars made a presentation showing the financial impacts of the bill.
The following spoke in support of the bill:
Ms. Laura Campbell, parent
Mr. Michael Hurst, parent
Ms. Mineris Huerta, parent
Mr. John Christensen, National Federation of Independent Business
Ms. Wendy McKay, PTA president, Snow Crest Junior High
The following spoke in opposition to the bill:
Mr. Ralph Haws, Jordan School District Board of Education
Ms. Lynn Price, citizen
Mr. Hank Burtosh, parent
Mr. John Pingree, State Board of Education
Ms. Bonnie Palmer, Utah School Boards Association
Mr. Brinton Burbidge, attorney for Utah School Boards Association
MOTION: Sen. Gladwell moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Allen, Sen. Hale, Sen. Steele and Sen. Suazo voting in opposition.
MOTION: Sen. Gladwell moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Wright adjourned the meeting at 5:53 p.m.
Minutes were reported by Saundra Maeser, Secretary.
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Sen. Bill Wright, Chair