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MINUTES OF THE

SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2009

ROOM 415, STATE CAPITOL



Members Present:        Sen. Curtis Bramble, Chair
                Sen. Margaret Dayton
                Sen. Brent Goodfellow
                Sen. Scott Jenkins
                Sen. Karen Morgan
                Sen. Howard A. Stephenson
                
Members Excused:        Sen. Lyle Hillyard        
                    
Staff Present:            Allison Nicholson, Policy Analyst
                Dee Larsen, Associate General Counsel
                Karen C. Allred, Secretary
                    
Public Speakers Present:    Steven H. Peterson, Executive Director, Utah School Boards
                    Association and Representative, Superintendents Association
                Jeff Leonard, Utah School Employees Association
                Holly Langton, Education Commissioner, Utah PTA
                Susan Kusiak, Utah Education Association
                Michael Clara, Gang Task Force Member
                Debbie White, President, American Federation of Teachers, Utah
                Tom Love, Chair, United Way Board of Directors
                Greg Summerhays, Hispanic Affairs Director, Workers'
                    Compensation Fund    
                Bob Babcock, President, Babcock Scott Construction
                John C. Wester, Bishop, Salt Lake Diocese, Catholic Church
                Kevin Taylor, Trustee, Liahona Self Reliance Foundation
                Stan Rasmussen, Public Affairs, Sutherland Institute
                Juan M. Ruiz, President, Latin American Chamber of Commerce
                Tim Wheelwright, Attorney, American Immigration Lawyers
                    Association
                Octavio Villalpando, Citizen
                Melva Sine, President/CEO, Utah Restaurant Association
                Lee Gardner, Salt Lake County Assessor
                Ana Archuleta, Civic Leader, Hispanic Community
                Antonella Packerd, Co-Chair, Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force
                Ronald Mortensen, Citizen, Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration
                Michael Sanchez, Citizen, Utah Minuteman
                Jennifer M. Seelig, Utah State Representative


                Larry Shumway, Deputy Superintendent, Utah State Office of
                    Education
                Leslie Gertsch, Chair, Utah Council of the Blind
                Joe Zeidner, Parent of a Deaf Child
                Von Horten, Institutional Council, Utah Schools for the Deaf and
                    the Blind
                Mike Hadden, Deputy Director, Utah Department of Corrections
                Mason Bishop, Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Salt
                    Lake Community College
                Derek Monson, Policy Analyst, Sutherland Institute    

    A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

    Chair Bramble called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m.

     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2009 meeting.

    The motion passed unanimously, with Sens. Dayton, Jenkins, and Stephenson absent for the vote.

1.          S.B. 241 -- Instructional Expenses Requirements

        Sen. Madsen introduced and explained the bill, and an amendment was adopted at the last meeting, February 27, 2009.

        Steven H. Peterson, Jeff Leonard, Holly Langton, and Susan Kusiak, spoke in opposition to the bill.

         MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to go to the next item on the agenda.

        The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Dayton, Jenkins, and Stephenson absent for the vote.

2.         S.B. 74 -- At Risk Student Provisions

         MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to adopt the following amendment:

1.    Page 2, Lines 53 through 55 :    

             53          (1) In addition to
{   participation   }        the individual schools that participate       in the gang prevention and intervention program

             54      established under Section 53A-15-601 for at-risk students, a local school board or governing
             55      board of a charter school shall enact policies to ensure the following
  at all public schools       :



2.    Page 2, Line 58 through Page 3, Line 59 :    

             58          (b) a student who participates in gang activities
{   shall   }        may       be excluded from participation in

             59      extracurricular activities, including interscholastic athletics, as determined by school

3.    Page 3, Line 62 :    

             62      notification and appropriate administrative and law enforcement actions,
{   including   }        which may include       obtaining


4.    Page 3, Line 64 :    

             64      (d) if a serious gang-related incident
  , as determined by the school administrator in consultation with local law enforcement,       occurs on school property, at school related


5.    Page 3, Line 67 :    

                 67      (i) informing them, in general terms, about the incident
  , but removing all personally identifiable information about students from the notice       ;


6.    Page 4, Line 90 :    

             90      through school websites, handbooks, letters to parents and guardians,
{   and   }        or       other reasonable

        
        The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Dayton, Jenkins, and Stephenson absent for the vote.

        Sen. Robles explained the amendment and introduced and explained the bill.

        Michael Clara and Debbie White spoke in favor of the bill.

Sen. Dayton assumed the chair.

        MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to pass S.B. 74 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

        The motion passed with Sens. Goodfellow, Jenkins, and Morgan voting in favor, and Sen. Dayton voting in opposition.

3.     S.B. 113 -- Delayed Effective Date for Illegal Immigration Legislation

    Sen. Jones introduced and explained the bill.




    Tom Love, Greg Summerhayes, Bob Babcock, John C. Wester, Kevin Taylor, and Stan Rasmussen spoke in favor of the bill.

Sen. Bramble resumed the Chair.

    Juan M. Ruiz, Tim Wheelwright, Octavio Villalpando, Melva Sine, Lee Gardner, Ana Archuleta, and Antonella Packerd spoke in favor of the bill.

    Ronald Mortenson, and Michael Sanchez spoke in opposition of the bill.
    
     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to pass S.B. 113 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion failed with Sens. Goodfellow, Morgan, and Stephenson voting in favor; and Sens. Bramble, Dayton, and Jenkins voting in opposition.

    MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to pass S.B. 241 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed with Sens. Bramble, Dayton, Jenkins, and Stephenson voting in favor, and Sens. Goodfellow and Morgan voting in opposition

4.     H.B. 312 -- Amended Campaign Finance Filings

    Rep. Allen introduced and explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Goodfellow moved to pass H.B. 312 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion failed with Sen. Goodfellow voting in favor, Sens. Bramble, Dayton, Jenkins, and Stephenson voting in opposition, and Sen. Morgan absent for the vote.

5.     H.B. 1st Sub. H.B. 296 -- Schools for the Deaf and Blind

    Rep. Sumsion introduced and explained the bill.

    Representative Jennifer M. Seelig, Larry Shumway, Leslie Gertsch, Joe Zeidner, and Von Horten, spoke in favor of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Morgan moved to pass 1st Sub. H.B. 296 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.



6.     1st Sub. H.B. 100 -- Department of Corrections -- Tracking and Reimbursement of Individual Prisoner Costs

     MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to adopt the following amendment:

1.    Page 3, Line 77
    House Floor Amendments
    2-23-2009 :
    

             77          (2)
{   In order to   }        (a) To       fulfill      {   this   }        the       responsibility        under Subsection (1)       , the [boards] State Board of Education and the


2.    Page 3, Line 79
    House Floor Amendments
    2-23-2009 :
    

             79      public agencies to provide educational and related administrative services
  . Contracts for postsecondary education and training shall be under Subsection (2)(b)       .

  (b)(i) The contract under Subsection (2)(a) to provide postsecondary education and training shall be with a community college if the correctional facility is located within the service region of a community college, except under Subsection (2)(b)(ii).

    (ii) If the community college under Subsection (2)(b)(i) declines to provide the education and training or cannot meet reasonable contractual terms for providing the education and training as specified by the Utah Department of Corrections, postsecondary education and training under Subsection (2)(a) may be procured through other appropriate private or public agencies.  


3.    Page 7, Line 193
    House Floor Amendments
    2-23-2009 :
    

             193      offenders and inmates as defined in Section 64-13-1 .
  (3) Funds appropriated from the Prison Telephone Surcharge Account may only be used by the Department purposes under Subsections 53A-1-403.5(3)(a)(i) and (iv).      

    
    The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.

    Rep. Wimmer introduced and explained the bill.

    Mike Hadden and Mason Bishop spoke in favor of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen Goodfellow moved to adopt the following amendment:


1.    Page 1, Line 12
    House Floor Amendments
    2-23-2009 :
    

             12      require offenders who receive medical
{   ,   }        and       dental      {   , and postsecondary educational   } services,


2.    Page 1, Line 27 through Page 2, Line 45
    House Floor Amendments
    2-23-2009 :
    

             27      pay for the treatment because of inadequate financial resources;
{  

             28          .    requires an inmate participating in postsecondary education through the department
             29      to pay or reimburse the department for 50% of the costs of tuition;  
}

             30          
{   .    requires the department to coordinate a deferred postsecondary education tuition

             31      repayment program with the Office of State Debt Collection to provide a
             32      participating inmate:
             33              .    a reasonable time frame to make payments, beginning no later than two years
             34      after termination of the inmate's parole; and
             35              .    a reasonable payment amount to allow an inmate to reimburse the tuition
             36      obligation incurred while under the supervision of the department;
             37          .    provides that tuition costs not paid by the inmate at the time of participating in
             38      postsecondary education will be paid from the Prison Telephone Surcharge
             39      Account;
             40          .    provides that of the amounts collected by the Office of State Debt Collection:
             41              .    10% may be used by the Office of State Debt Collection for purposes of
             42      operating the deferred payment program; and
             43              .     all other funds collected as repayment for postsecondary tuition costs will be
             44      deposited into the Prison Telephone Surcharge Account to be used by the
             45      department for education and training programs for inmates;  
}


3.    Page 3, Line 65
    House Floor Amendments
    2-23-2009 :
    

             65     
{   64-13-30.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953   }


4.    Page 6, Lines 136 through 165 :    

             136          
{   Section 3. Section 64-13-30.5 is enacted to read:

             137          64-13-30.5. Payment by inmate for postsecondary educational tuition.
             138          (1) (a) An inmate participating in a postsecondary education program through the
             139      department shall pay to the department at the time of enrollment H. [tuition for] .H 50% of the
             139a      costs of
             140      H. the .H postsecondary education H. tuition .H .
             141          (b) If an inmate desires to participate in the postsecondary education program but is
             142      unable to pay the costs of the education because of inadequate financial resources, the inmate
             143      may participate in a deferred tuition payment program under this section.
             144          (c) The department and the Office of State Debt Collection shall coordinate a deferred
             145      postsecondary education tuition repayment program to provide inmates a reasonable payment
             146      schedule and payment amount to allow for deferred payment of the postsecondary educational
             147      tuition obligation the inmate incurred while under supervision of the department, which shall:
             148          (i) account for all postsecondary education tuition costs incurred by the inmate while
             149      under the supervision of the department;
             150          (ii) establish an appropriate time for the inmate to begin payment of postsecondary
             151      education tuition costs, which shall require that payments start no later than two years after
             152      termination of parole; and
             153          (iii) establish a payment schedule and payment amounts, including prevailing interest
             154      rates, commensurate with student loans currently being offered by local financial institutions.
             155          (d) Neither the department nor the Office of State Debt Collection may relieve an
             156      offender of the postsecondary tuition repayment responsibility.
             157          (e) The department shall pay costs of postsecondary education not paid by the offender
             158      at the time of participation in the program from the Prison Telephone Surcharge Account.
             159          (2) (a) Of those tuition funds collected by the Office of State Debt Collection under
             160      this section, 10% may be used by the Office of State Debt Collection for operation of the
             161      deferred payment program.
             162          (b) All other funds collected as repayment for postsecondary tuition costs shall be
             163      deposited in the Prison Telephone Surcharge Account.
             164          (3) Only inmates lawfully present in the United States may participate in the
             165      postsecondary educational program offered through the department.  
}


5.    Page 7, Lines 181 through 190 :    

             181      located at any correctional facility as defined in Section 64-13-1 ;
{   [   } and      {   ]   }

             182          (ii) interest on account monies[.]
{   ;   } H. [and] .H        .      

             183          
{   (iii) (A) money paid by inmates participating in postsecondary education provided by

             184      the department; and
             185          (B) money repaid by former inmates who have a written agreement with the


             186      department to pay for a specified portion of the tuition costs under the department's deferred
             187      tuition payment program;
             188          (iv) money collected by the Office of State Debt Collection for debt described in
             189      Subsection (1)(b)(iii); and
             190          (v) money appropriated by the Legislature.  
}


    The motion failed with Sens. Goodfellow and Morgan voting in favor, Sens. Bramble, Dayton, and Stephenson voting in opposition, and Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass 2nd Sub. H.B. 100 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed with Sens. Bramble, Dayton, Morgan, and Stephenson voting in favor, Sen. Goodfellow voting in opposition, and Sen. Jenkins absent for the vote.

7.     H.B. 328 -- Teacher Quality Amendments

    Sen. Stephenson introduced and explained the bill.

    Larry Shumway and Derek Monson spoke in favor of the bill.

    Steve Peterson spoke against the bill.    

     MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to pass H.B. 328 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed with Sens. Bramble, Dayton, and Stephenson voting in favor; Sen. Morgan voting in opposition, and Sens. Goodfellow and Jenkins absent for the vote.

8.     H.B. 194 -- Education Policies for Military Children

    Rep. Menlove introduced and explained the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to pass H.B. 194 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Goodfellow and Jenkins absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Dayton moved to place H.B. 194 on the Consent Calendar.

    The motion passed unanimously with Sens. Goodfellow and Jenkins absent for the vote.


     MOTION: Sen. Stephenson moved to adjourn.

    The motion passed with Sens. Bramble, Dayton, and Stephenson voting in favor, Sen. Morgan voting in opposition, and Sens. Goodfellow and Jenkins absent for the vote.

    Committee Chair Bramble adjourned the meeting at 6:48 p.m.

    Minutes were reported by Karen C. Allred, Secretary.




___________________________________________
    
Sen. Curtis Bramble