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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
    Thursday, February 13, 2003
Room 131, STATE CAPITOL BUILDING


Members Present:        Sen. Bill Wright, Committee Chair
                Sen. Patrice M. Arent
                Sen. D. Chris Buttars
                Sen. David L. Gladwell
                Sen. Karen Hale
                Sen. David H. Steele
                Sen. Howard A. Stephenson
                Sen. John L. Valentine                

Staff Present:            Constance C. Steffen, Policy Analyst
                Saundra Maeser, Secretary
                    
Public Speakers Present:    Leon Johnson, citizen
                Steven Peterson, Assoc. Director, Utah School Boards Association and Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association    
                Margaret Bird, Education Specialist, Utah State Office of Education
                Pat Rusk, President, Utah Education Association
                Don Jensen, Director, Utah Climate Center and Professor, USU
                Sterling Brown, North Region Manager, Utah Farm Bureau
                Kevin Eubank, KUTV Television
                Mark Eubank, KSL Television
                Paul Rasmussen, Director, Agricultural Experiment Station, USU

Visitor list on file.

Committee Chair Wright called the meeting to order at 8:17 a.m.

     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to approve the minutes of February 11, 2003. The motion passed unanimously, with Sen. Gladwell, Sen. Steele and Sen. Valentine absent for the vote.

1.     H.B. 169 Process for Creation of New School Districts (D. Cox)

    Rep. David Cox explained the bill provides a process for the creation of new school districts. He distributed handouts.

    Mr. Leon Johnson, citizen, spoke in support of the bill.

    Mr. Steven Peterson, Assoc. Director, Utah School Boards Association and Executive Director, Utah School Superintendents Association, spoke in opposition to the bill.




     MOTION: Sen. Buttars moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed with Sen. Arent, Sen. Hale, and Sen. Steele voting in opposition.

2.     H.B. 92 School Funds Amendments (B. Last)

    Rep. Bradley Last said the bill conforms state law on the permanent State School Fund and Uniform School Fund with the Utah Constitution. Ms. Margaret Bird, Education Specialist, Utah State Office of Education, assisted in the presentation.

    The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Mr. Steven Peterson, Assoc. Director, Utah School Boards Association and Exec. Director, Utah School Superintendents Association
    Ms. Pat Rusk, President, Utah Education Association

     MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Valentine absent for the vote.

3.     H.B. 192 Oversight of Utah Climate Center by Utah State University (B. Ferry)

    Rep. Ben Ferry said the bill transfers the responsibility for the Utah Climate Center to Utah State University. Dr. Don Jensen, Director, Utah Climate Center and Professor at Utah State University, assisted in the presentation.

    The following spoke in support of the bill:
    Mr. Sterling Brown, North Region Manager, Utah Farm Bureau
    Mr. Kevin Eubank, KUTV Television
    Mr. Mark Eubank, KSL Television
    Dr. Paul Rasmussen, Director, Agricultural Experiment Station, Utah State University

     MOTION: Sen. Arent moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed unanimously.

    MOTION: Sen. Hale moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

    Committee Chair Wright adjourned the meeting at 9:26 a.m.

    Minutes were reported by Saundra Maeser, Secretary.



_________________________________
    Sen. Bill Wright, Chair