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H.B. 163

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 11:43 AM by ddonat. -->              1     

SCHOOL FEE AMENDMENTS

             2     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Craig A. Frank

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill prohibits certain school fees.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    provides definitions;
             13          .    prohibits course fees, rental and use fees, certain charges for student supplies, and
             14      textbook fees;
             15          .    allows extracurricular fees under certain conditions; H. [ and ]
             15a          . links an appropriation item to the value of the weighted pupil unit; and .H
             16          .    makes technical corrections.
             17      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          This bill appropriates:
             19          .    as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $13,100,000 from
             20      the Uniform School Fund.
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.
             23          This bill coordinates with S.B. 2 by providing that certain amendments in this bill
             24      supersede the amendments in S.B. 2 and that certain amendments in S.B. 2 supersede
             25      the amendments in this bill.
             26          This bill coordinates with H.B. 1 by providing that certain amendments in this bill
             27      supersede the amendments in H.B. 1 and that certain amendments in H.B. 1 supersede


             28      the amendments in this bill.
             29      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             30      AMENDS:
             31          53A-12-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 119
             32          53A-17a-104, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapters 2, 344, 368, and 372
             33      ENACTS:
             34          53A-12-101.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          53A-12-102.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          53A-17a-154, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37      REPEALS AND REENACTS:
             38          53A-12-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 2
             39      REPEALS:
             40          53A-12-201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 2
             41          53A-12-202, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 2
             42          53A-12-203, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 2
             43          53A-12-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 299
             44          53A-12-205, as enacted by Laws of Utah 1988, Chapter 2
             45     
             46      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             47          Section 1. Section 53A-12-101.5 is enacted to read:
             48          53A-12-101.5. Definitions.
             49          As used in this chapter:
             50          (1) "Course fee" means a fee charged relating to any course required for graduation or
             51      given credit towards graduation whether to cover instructional costs or to defray certain
             52      materials or equipment costs for courses or classes, including arts, music, science, laboratory,
             53      physical education, information technology, applied technology education, vocational, home
             54      economic, and industrial arts courses.
             55          (2) "Extracurricular fee" means a fee charged for student participation in
             56      extracurricular activities, including participation fees or dues for clubs, performing groups,
             57      sports, school-sponsored activities, social events, and summer programs.
             58          (3) (a) "Fee" means a charge or mandatory payment, however designated, whether in


             59      the form of money or goods, required of a student or the student's parent or guardian, as a
             60      condition for student participation in an activity, class, function, or program provided,
             61      sponsored, or supported by or through a public school or school district.
             62          (b) "Fee" does not include:
             63          (i) charges relating to the National School Lunch Program;
             64          (ii) a reasonable deposit collected for a secondary student to secure school property that
             65      is returned at the end of the school year unless the deposit is retained to cover damage to the
             66      school property caused by the student; and
             67          (iii) charges for textbooks, materials, or school supplies that are sold to students by a
             68      public school on a voluntary or optional basis, including school publications, class rings,
             69      annuals, and similar items.
             70          (4) "Rental and use fee" means a fee charged for student use of school property or
             71      equipment, including school lockers, musical instruments, uniforms, library access, textbook
             72      rental, or parking.
             73          (5) "Student supplies" means items or materials that are the personal property of a
             74      student which, although used in the instructional process, are also commonly purchased and
             75      used by persons not enrolled in the class or activity in question and have a high probability of
             76      regular use in other than school-sponsored activities, including pencils, papers, notebooks,
             77      crayons, scissors, basic clothing for healthy lifestyle classes, and similar personal or
             78      consumable items over which a student retains ownership.
             79          (6) (a) "Textbooks" means textbooks and workbooks necessary for participation in any
             80      instructional course.
             81          (b) "Textbooks" do not include student supplies.
             82          Section 2. Section 53A-12-102 is repealed and reenacted to read:
             83          53A-12-102. State policy on student fees, deposits, or other charges.
             84          (1) A public school may not charge:
             85          (a) a fee for students in kindergarten through the sixth grade;
             86          (b) a course fee;
             87          (c) a rental and use fee; or
             88          (d) a textbook fee.
             89          (2) A public school may charge reasonable extracurricular fees as authorized by the


             90      local school board under rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
             91          (3) (a) Students in kindergarten through sixth grades may not be charged for school
             92      supplies used in any course or regular school day activity.
             93          (b) (i) Students of all grade levels may be required to provide materials for their
             94      optional projects, but a student may not be required to select an optional project as a condition
             95      for enrolling in or completing a course.
             96          (ii) Project-related courses must be based upon projects and experiences that are free to
             97      all students.
             98          (c) (i) Student supplies shall be provided for elementary students.
             99          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (3)(c)(i), a student may be required to replace supplies
             100      provided by the school which are lost, wasted, or damaged by the student through careless or
             101      irresponsible behavior.
             102          (d) Secondary students may be required to provide their own school supplies, subject to
             103      the fee waiver provisions in Section 53A-12-103 .
             104          Section 3. Section 53A-12-102.5 is enacted to read:
             105          53A-12-102.5. State policy on textbooks.
             106          (1) It is the public policy of this state that public education shall be free.
             107          (2) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules necessary to ensure satisfactory
             108      distribution and proper care of textbooks on a statewide basis.
             109          (3) Each local school board shall provide, free of charge, textbooks and workbooks
             110      required for courses of instruction for each child attending public schools.
             111          (4) A local school board, under rules adopted by the State Board of Education, may
             112      purchase textbooks for use in the public schools directly from the publisher at prices and terms
             113      approved by the state board and may sell those books to pupils in grades nine through 12 at a
             114      cost not to exceed the actual cost of the book plus costs of transportation and handling.
             115          (5) The local school board shall also purchase all books necessary for teachers to
             116      conduct their classes.
             117          (6) The cost of furnishing textbooks and workbooks may be paid from school operating
             118      funds or from other available funds.
             119          Section 4. Section 53A-12-103 is amended to read:
             120           53A-12-103. Waiver of fees.


             121          (1) [(a)] A local school board shall require, as part of an authorization granted under
             122      Section 53A-12-102 , that adequate waivers or other provisions are available to ensure that no
             123      student is denied the opportunity to participate because of an inability to pay the required fee[,]
             124      or deposit[, or charge].
             125          [(b) (i) If, however, a student must repeat a course or requires remediation to advance
             126      or graduate and a fee is associated with the course or the remediation program, it is presumed
             127      that the student will pay the fee.]
             128          [(ii) If the student or the student's parent or guardian is financially unable to pay the
             129      fee, the board shall provide for alternatives to waiving the fee, which may include installment
             130      payments and school or community service or work projects for the student.]
             131          [(iii) In cases of extreme financial hardship or where the student has suffered a
             132      long-term illness, or death in the family, or other major emergency and where installment
             133      payments and the imposition of a service or work requirement would not be reasonable, the
             134      student may receive a partial or full waiver of the fee required under Subsection (1)(b)(i).]
             135          [(iv) The waiver provisions in Subsections (2) and (3) apply to all other fees, deposits,
             136      and charges made in the secondary schools.]
             137          (2) (a) The board shall require each school in the district that charges a fee under this
             138      chapter to provide a variety of alternatives for satisfying the fee requirement to those who
             139      qualify for fee waivers, in addition to the outright waiver of the fee.
             140          (b) The board shall develop and provide a list of alternatives for the schools, including
             141      such options as allowing the student to provide:
             142          (i) tutorial assistance to other students;
             143          (ii) assistance before or after school to teachers and other school personnel on school
             144      related matters; and
             145          (iii) general community or home service.
             146          (c) Each school may add to the list of alternatives provided by the board, subject to
             147      approval by the board.
             148          (3) A local school board may establish policies providing for partial fee waivers or
             149      other alternatives for those students who, because of extenuating circumstances, are not in a
             150      financial position to pay the entire fee.
             151          (4) With regard to children who are in the custody of the Division of Child and Family


             152      Services who are also eligible under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act, local school
             153      boards shall require fee waivers or alternatives in accordance with Subsections (1) through (3).
             154          (5) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             155      State Board of Education shall make rules:
             156          (a) requiring a parent or guardian of a student applying for a fee waiver to provide
             157      documentation and certification to the school verifying:
             158          (i) the student's eligibility to receive the waiver; and
             159          (ii) that the alternatives for satisfying the fee requirements under Subsection (2) have
             160      been complied with to the fullest extent reasonably possible according to the individual
             161      circumstances of both the fee waiver applicant and the school; and
             162          (b) specifying the acceptable forms of documentation for the requirement under
             163      Subsection (5)(a), which shall include verification based on income tax returns or current pay
             164      stubs.
             165          (6) Notwithstanding the requirements under Subsection (5), a school is not required to
             166      keep documentation on file after the verification is completed.
             167          Section 5. Section 53A-17a-104 is amended to read:
             168           53A-17a-104. Amount of state's contribution toward minimum school program.
             169          (1) The total contribution of the state toward the cost of the minimum school program
             170      may not exceed the sum of $2,273,574,120 for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, except as
             171      otherwise provided by the Legislature through supplemental appropriations.
             172          (2) There is appropriated from state and local funds for fiscal year 2007-08 for
             173      distribution to school districts and charter schools, in accordance with this chapter, monies for
             174      the following purposes and in the following amounts:
             175          (a) basic program - kindergarten, $61,819,260 (24,590 WPUs);
             176          (b) basic program - grades 1-12, $1,202,446,200 (478,300 WPUs);
             177          (c) basic program - professional staff, $112,436,136 (44,724 WPUs);
             178          (d) basic program - administrative costs, $4,072,680 (1,620 WPUs);
             179          (e) basic program - necessarily existent small schools and units for consolidated
             180      schools, $19,229,586 (7,649 WPUs);
             181          (f) special education - regular program - add-on WPUs for students with disabilities,
             182      $143,034,030 (56,895 WPUs);


             183          (g) preschool special education program, $20,918,994 (8,321 WPUs);
             184          (h) self-contained regular WPUs, $33,587,040 (13,360 WPUs);
             185          (i) extended year program for severely disabled, $922,638 (367 WPUs);
             186          (j) special education programs in state institutions and district impact aid, $4,090,278
             187      (1,627 WPUs);
             188          (k) career and technical education district programs, $65,147,796 (25,914 WPUs),
             189      including $1,114,000 for summer career and technical education agriculture programs;
             190          (l) career and technical education district set-aside, $2,742,774 (1,091 WPUs);
             191          (m) class size reduction, $82,330,986 (32,749 WPUs);
             192          (n) Social Security and retirement programs, $333,315,119;
             193          (o) pupil transportation to and from school, $70,928,797, of which not less than
             194      $2,462,300 shall be allocated to the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind to pay for
             195      transportation costs of the schools' students;
             196          (p) guarantee transportation levy, $500,000;
             197          (q) Local Discretionary Block Grant Program, $21,820,748;
             198          (r) Interventions for Student Success Block Grant Program, $17,953,612;
             199          (s) Quality Teaching Block Grant Program, $73,947,829;
             200          (t) highly impacted schools, $5,123,207;
             201          (u) at-risk programs, $29,926,867;
             202          (v) adult education, $9,781,008;
             203          (w) accelerated learning programs, $3,975,546;
             204          (x) concurrent enrollment, $9,215,497;
             205          (y) electronic high school, $2,000,000;
             206          (z) School LAND Trust Program, $21,000,000;
             207          (aa) state-supported voted leeway, $227,700,777;
             208          (bb) state-supported board leeway, $62,066,336;
             209          (cc) charter schools, pursuant to Section 53A-1a-513 , $28,509,000;
             210          (dd) charter school administrative costs, $750,000;
             211          (ee) K-3 Reading Improvement Program, $12,500,000;
             212          (ff) state-supported board leeway for K-3 Reading Improvement Program,
             213      $15,000,000; [and]


             214          (gg) Public Education Job Enhancement Program, $2,430,000[.]; and
             215          (hh) School Fee Replacement Program, $13,100,000 H. (5,211 WPUs) .H .
             216          Section 6. Section 53A-17a-154 is enacted to read:
             217          53A-17a-154. School Fee Replacement Program.
             218          (1) There is established the School Fee Replacement Program to compensate school
             219      districts and charter schools for the fees for secondary students that are prohibited as provided
             220      in Title 53A, Chapter 12, Fees and Textbooks.
             221          (2) The State Board of Education shall distribute money appropriated in Section
             222      53A-17a-104 for the School Fee Replacement Program to school districts and charter schools
             223      that enroll secondary students in accordance with a formula adopted by the board, after
             224      consultation with school districts and charter schools, that allocates the funding in a fair and
             225      equitable manner.
             226          (3) The State Board of Education shall make rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter
             227      46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to administer this section.
             228          Section 7. Repealer.
             229          This bill repeals:
             230          Section 53A-12-201, State policy on providing textbooks.
             231          Section 53A-12-202,"Textbooks" defined.
             232          Section 53A-12-203, Regulation and supervision of distribution of textbooks by
             233      board of education.
             234          Section 53A-12-204, Purchase of textbooks by local school board -- Sales to pupils
             235      -- Free textbooks -- Textbooks provided to teachers -- Payment of costs -- Rental of
             236      textbooks.
             237          Section 53A-12-205, Free textbook system.
             238          Section 8. Effective date.
             239          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.
             240          Section 9. Coordinating H.B. 163 with H.B. 1 -- Substantively superseding
             241      amendments.
             242          If this H.B. 163 and H.B. 1, Minimum School Program Base Budget Amendments, both
             243      pass, it is the intent of the Legislature that when the Office of Legislative Research and General
             244      Counsel prepares the Utah Code database for publication, the appropriation under Subsection


             245      53A-17a-104 (1) in H.B. 1 supersedes the appropriation in Subsection 53A-17a-104 (1) in this
             246      bill, except that the appropriation under Subsection 53A-17a-104 (1) in H.B. 1 shall be
             247      increased by $13,100,000.
             248          Section 10. Coordinating H.B. 163 with S.B. 2 -- Substantively superseding
             249      amendments.
             250          If this H.B. 163 and S.B. 2, Minimum School Program Budget Amendments, both pass,
             251      it is the intent of the Legislature that when the Office of Legislative Research and General
             252      Counsel prepares the Utah Code database for publication, the appropriation under Subsection
             253      53A-17a-104 (1) in S.B. 2 supersedes the appropriation in Subsection 53A-17a-104 (1) in this
             254      bill, except that the appropriation under Subsection 53A-17a-104 (1) in S.B. 2 shall be
             255      increased by $13,100,000.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 9-20-07 9:29 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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