H.B. 252

1

PUBLIC EDUCATION JOB ENHANCEMENT
2 PROGRAM AMENDMENTS
3 2006 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove
6 Senate Sponsor: ____________
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies and appropriates money for the Public Education Job Enhancement
11 Program.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . allows secondary school teachers with engineering expertise to qualify for cash
15 awards and scholarships;
16 . waives scholarship repayment requirements for teachers assigned to administrative
17 positions before their teaching requirements are met; and
18 . appropriates monies to the Public Education Job Enhancement Program.
19 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
20 This bill appropriates:
21 . as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $2,500,000 from
22 the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2006-07 to the Public Education Job
23 Enhancement Program.
24 Other Special Clauses:
25 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2006.
26 Utah Code Sections Affected:
27 AMENDS:

28 53A-1a-601, as last amended by Chapter 174, Laws of Utah 2005
29 53A-1a-602, as last amended by Chapter 174, Laws of Utah 2005
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 53A-1a-601 is amended to read:
33 53A-1a-601. Job enhancements for mathematics, science, engineering,
34 technology, and special education training.
35 (1) The Public Education Job Enhancement Program is established to attract, train, and
36 retain highly qualified:
37 (a) secondary teachers with expertise in mathematics, physics, chemistry, physical
38 science, engineering, learning technology, or information technology; and
39 (b) special education teachers.
40 (2) The program shall provide for the following:
41 (a) application by a school district superintendent or the principal of a school on behalf
42 of a qualified teacher;
43 (b) an award of up to $20,000 or a scholarship to cover the tuition costs for a master's
44 degree, an endorsement, or graduate education in the areas identified in Subsection (1) to be
45 given to selected public school teachers on a competitive basis:
46 (i) whose applications are approved under [Subsection] Section 53A-1a-602 [(4)]; and
47 (ii) who teach in the state's public education system for four years in the areas
48 identified in Subsection (1);
49 (c) (i) as to the cash awards under Subsection (2)(b), payment of the award in two
50 installments, with an initial payment of up to $10,000 at the beginning of the term and up to
51 $10,000 at the conclusion of the term;
52 (ii) repayment of a portion of the initial payment by the teacher if the teacher fails to
53 complete two years of the four-year teaching term in the areas identified in Subsection (1) as
54 provided by rule of the State Board of Education in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a,
55 Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, unless waived for good cause by the Job Enhancement
56 Committee created in Section 53A-1a-602 ; and
57 (iii) nonpayment of the second installment if the teacher fails to complete the four-year
58 teaching term; and

59 (d) (i) as to the scholarships awarded under Subsection (2)(b), provision for the
60 providing institution to certify adequate performance in obtaining the master's degree,
61 endorsement, or graduate education in order for the teacher to maintain the scholarship; [and]
62 (ii) repayment by the teacher of a prorated portion of the scholarship, if the teacher fails
63 to complete the authorized classes or program or to teach in the state system of public
64 education in the areas identified in Subsection (1) for four years after obtaining the master's
65 degree, the endorsement, or graduate education[.]; and
66 (iii) a waiver of the repayment requirements specified in Subsection (2)(d)(ii) if the
67 teacher is assigned to a school or district administrative position before completing the
68 four-year teaching term.
69 (3) An individual teaching in the public schools under a letter of authorization may
70 participate in the cash award program if:
71 (a) the individual has taught under the letter of authorization for at least one year in the
72 areas referred to in Subsection (1); and
73 (b) the application made under Subsection (2)(a) is based in large part upon the
74 individual receiving a superior evaluation as a classroom teacher.
75 (4) (a) The program may provide for the expenditure of up to $1,000,000 of available
76 monies, if at least an equal amount of matching monies become available, to provide
77 professional development training to superintendents, administrators, and principals in the
78 effective use of technology in public schools.
79 (b) An award granted under this Subsection (4) shall be made in accordance with
80 criteria developed and adopted by the Job Enhancement Committee created in Section
81 53A-1a-602 .
82 (c) An amount up to $120,000 of the $1,000,000 authorized in Subsection (4)(a) may
83 be expended, regardless of the matching monies being available.
84 Section 2. Section 53A-1a-602 is amended to read:
85 53A-1a-602. Job Enhancement Committee -- Composition -- Duties --
86 Appropriation.
87 (1) There is created a Job Enhancement Committee to implement and administer the
88 Public Education Job Enhancement Program established in Section 53A-1a-601 .
89 (2) (a) The committee shall consist of:

90 (i) two members of the State Board of Education selected by the board;
91 (ii) two members of the State Board of Regents selected by the board;
92 (iii) six members of the general public who have business experience in mathematics,
93 physics, chemistry, physical science, engineering, learning technology, or information
94 technology selected by the governor;
95 (iv) a master high school teacher, who has teaching experience in mathematics,
96 physics, chemistry, physical science, engineering, learning technology, or information
97 technology, selected by the superintendent of public instruction; and
98 (v) a master special education teacher, selected by the superintendent of public
99 instruction.
100 (b) Committee members shall receive no compensation or benefits for their service on
101 the committee, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of their
102 duties at rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and
103 63A-3-107 .
104 (3) (a) The committee shall receive and review applications submitted for participation
105 in the Public Education Job Enhancement Program established under Section 53A-1a-601 .
106 (b) In reviewing applications, the committee shall focus on:
107 (i) the prioritized critical areas of need identified under Subsection (5)(a); and
108 (ii) the awards being made on a competitive basis.
109 (c) If the committee approves an application received under Subsection (3)(a), it shall
110 contract directly with the teacher applicant to receive the award or the scholarship for a
111 master's degree, an endorsement, or graduate education, subject to Section 53A-1a-601 .
112 (d) The State Board of Education, through the superintendent of public instruction,
113 shall provide staff support for the committee and adequate and reliable data on the state's
114 supply of and demand for qualified:
115 (i) secondary teachers with expertise in mathematics, physics, chemistry, physical
116 science, engineering, learning technologies, or information technology; and
117 (ii) special education teachers.
118 (4) The committee may apply for grants and matching monies to enhance funding
119 available for the program established in Section 53A-1a-601 .
120 (5) The committee shall make a rule in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah

121 Administrative Rulemaking Act, establishing policies and procedures for:
122 (a) making the awards and offering the scholarships in accordance with prioritized
123 critical areas of need as determined by the committee;
124 (b) timelines for the submission and approval of applications under Subsection (3); and
125 (c) the distribution of the awards and scholarships to successful applicants based on
126 available monies provided by legislative appropriation.
127 (6) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall make an annual
128 appropriation to the State Board of Education to fund the Public Education Job Enhancement
129 Program established under Section 53A-1a-601 .
130 Section 3. Appropriation.
131 (1) As an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, there is
132 appropriated from the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2006-07, $2,500,000 to the Public
133 Education Job Enhancement Program created in Section 53A-1a-601 .
134 (2) The monies shall be used to provide:
135 (a) signing bonuses to attract new teachers who have at least a baccalaureate degree in
136 mathematics, physics, chemistry, physical science, engineering, learning technology,
137 information technology, or special education; or
138 (b) scholarships for teachers to cover tuition costs for a master's degree, an
139 endorsement, or graduate education in mathematics, physics, chemistry, physical science,
140 engineering, learning technology, information technology, or special education.
141 (3) The money provided in Subsection (1) is nonlapsing.
142 Section 4. Effective date.
143 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2006.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-9-06 4:36 PM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel