H.B. 214

1

SCHOOL TESTING SPECIALISTS
2 2008 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Stephen E. Sandstrom
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill provides money for school testing specialists to allow teachers to have more
10 time for instruction.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . directs the Legislature, subject to future budget constraints, to annually appropriate
14 money to the State Board of Education for school testing specialists to allow
15 teachers to have more time for instruction; and
16 . requires the State Board of Education to:
17 . adopt a formula for the distribution of money appropriated for school testing
18 specialists; and
19 . make rules specifying how money for school testing specialists may be used and
20 requiring reporting of monies spent.
21 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
22 This bill appropriates:
23 . as an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, $3,600,000 from
24 the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2008-09 to the State Board of Education.
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:

28 ENACTS:
29 53A-17a-154, Utah Code Annotated 1953
30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 53A-17a-154 is enacted to read:
33 53A-17a-154. Appropriation for testing specialists.
34 (1) As used in this section, "testing specialist" means a school employee who:
35 (a) works under the supervision of a teacher, counselor, or administrator; and
36 (b) (i) administers standardized, district-created, or teacher-created tests; and
37 (ii) performs related duties.
38 (2) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall annually appropriate
39 money to the State Board of Education for testing specialists to administer tests to students so
40 that teachers have more time for instruction.
41 (3) (a) The State Board of Education shall distribute money appropriated for testing
42 specialists to school districts and charter schools in accordance with a formula adopted by the
43 board, in consultation with school districts and charter schools, that allocates the money in a
44 fair and equitable manner.
45 (b) In allocating money for testing specialists, priority shall be given to elementary
46 schools.
47 (4) A school district or charter school may not use money received under Subsection
48 (3) to supplant funds used for teachers' assistants.
49 (5) The State Board of Education shall makes rules in accordance with Title 63,
50 Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, that:
51 (a) specifies how monies distributed for testing specialists may be used; and
52 (b) requires a school district or charter school to report how money received under
53 Subsection (3) was used.
54 Section 2. Appropriation.
55 As an ongoing appropriation subject to future budget constraints, there is appropriated
56 from the Uniform School Fund for fiscal year 2008-09, $3,600,000 to the State Board of
57 Education for testing specialists as provided in Section 53A-17a-154 .
58 Section 3. Effective date.

59 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2008.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-5-08 1:23 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel