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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.