H.B. 339

1

COMMISSION ON CIVIC AND CHARACTER
2 EDUCATION
3 2006 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: LaVar Christensen
6 Senate Sponsor: D. Chris Buttars
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies the State Officers and Employees Code to create the Commission on
11 Civic and Character Education within the lieutenant governor's office and appropriates
12 certain ongoing General Fund monies to the lieutenant governor's office for funding the
13 activities of the commission.
14 Highlighted Provisions:
15 This bill:
16 . creates the Commission on Civic and Character Education within the lieutenant
17 governor's office;
18 . establishes the duties of the commission to promote and ensure the implementation
19 of the provisions of Section 53A-13-109 related to civic and character education;
20 . provides that the lieutenant governor's office shall provide leadership to the
21 commission;
22 . appropriates from the General Fund to the lieutenant governor's office as an ongoing
23 appropriation, subject to future budget constraints, $85,000 for fiscal year 2006-07
24 for funding of the Commission on Civic and Character Education including
25 leadership of the commission; and
26 . makes technical changes.
27 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:

28 This bill appropriates:
29 . from the General Fund to the lieutenant governor's office as an ongoing
30 appropriation, subject to future budget constraints, $85,000 for fiscal year 2006-07.
31 Other Special Clauses:
32 None
33 Utah Code Sections Affected:
34 ENACTS:
35 67-1a-10, Utah Code Annotated 1953
36 67-1a-11, Utah Code Annotated 1953
37 Uncodified Material Affected:
38 ENACTS UNCODIFIED MATERIAL
39
40 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
41 Section 1. Section 67-1a-10 is enacted to read:
42 67-1a-10. Commission on Civic and Character Education -- Membership -- Chair
43 -- Expenses.
44 (1) There is created within the lieutenant governor's office the Commission on Civic
45 and Character Education.
46 (2) The commission consists of five members appointed as follows:
47 (a) the lieutenant governor, as chief election officer of the state, or a designee;
48 (b) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the
49 House;
50 (c) one member of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate;
51 (d) the superintendent of public instruction, or a designee; and
52 (e) one justice of the Supreme Court or one appellate court judge appointed by the
53 Supreme Court.
54 (3) (a) The lieutenant governor shall serve as chairperson or if the lieutenant governor
55 is unable to serve, the commission shall annually elect a chairperson from its membership.
56 (b) The commission shall hold meetings as needed to carry out its duties. A meeting
57 may be held on the call of the chair or a majority of the commission members.
58 (c) Three commission members are necessary to constitute a quorum at any meeting

59 and, if a quorum exists, the action of a majority of members present shall be the action of the
60 commission.
61 (4) (a) An appointed commission member shall be appointed for a two-year term or
62 until their successors are appointed.
63 (b) When a vacancy occurs in the appointed membership for any reason, the
64 replacement shall be appointed for the unexpired term.
65 (5) (a) Commission members who are not government employees may not receive
66 compensation or benefits for the services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in
67 the performance of their official duties at rates established by the Division of Finance under
68 Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
69 (b) A commission member may decline to receive per diem and expenses for service to
70 the commission.
71 (6) The duties of the lieutenant governor's office shall include leadership of the
72 commission.
73 (7) The funding of the commission shall be a separate line item to the lieutenant
74 governor's office in the annual appropriations act.
75 Section 2. Section 67-1a-11 is enacted to read:
76 67-1a-11. Commission on Civic and Character Education -- Duties and
77 responsibilities.
78 The commission shall:
79 (1) promote supportive coalitions and collaborative efforts to develop public
80 awareness, and training regarding the provisions of Section 53A-13-109 in recognition that the
81 cultivation of a continuing understanding and appreciation of representative democracy in Utah
82 and the United States among succeeding generations of educated and responsible citizens is
83 important to the nation and state; and
84 (2) provide leadership to the state's continuous focus on civic and character education
85 in the public schools and make recommendations to local school boards and school
86 administrators.
87 Section 3. Appropriation.
88 There is appropriated from the General Fund to the lieutenant governor's office as an
89 ongoing appropriation, subject to future budget constraints, $85,000 for fiscal year 2006-07 for

90 funding of the Commission on Civic and Character Education including leadership to the
91 commission.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-20-06 10:01 AM

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