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                     MINUTES OF THE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2011, 4:10 PM

ROOM 415, STATE CAPITOL




Members Present:        Sen. Howard A. Stephenson, Chair
                Sen. Karen Morgan
                Sen. Jerry Stevenson
                Sen. Daniel Thatcher
                
Members Excused:        Sen. Lyle Hillyard
                Sen. Wayne Niederhauser
                                
Staff Present:            Allison Nicholson, Policy Analyst
                Karen C. Allred, Secretary
                    
Public Speakers Present:    Senator Ralph Okerlund
                Senator Curtis Bramble
                Senator Stuart Adams
                Senator Chris Buttars
                Matt Hilton, Citizen
                Patti Harrington, Associate Executive Director, Utah State School
                    Boards Association
                Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh, President, Utah Education
                    Association
                Doug Foxley, Representing Beverly Taylor Sorenson Family
                Cheryl Ferrin, Member, Weber School Board
                Martell Menlove, Deputy Superintendent, Utah State Office of
                    Education
                Kory Holdaway, Utah Education Association
                Stan Rasmussen, Public Affairs Director, Sutherland Institute
                Peter Cannon, Citizen, Member, Davis School Board
                Gayle Ruzicka, Utah Eagle Forum
                Michael Jensen, Citizen, Member, Utah Board of Education
                Cheryl Phipps, Legislative Vice President, Utah State Parent
                    Teacher Association    
                Robyn Bagley, Board Chair, Open High School of Utah
                Fred Ash, Legislative Chair, Utah Retired School Employees
                    Association
                Jacki Evans, Research Director, Utah Taxpayers Association

        


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

Chair Stephenson called the meeting to order at 4:25 p.m.

    MOTION: Sen. Thatcher moved to approve the minutes of February 25, 2011.

    The motion passed unanimously.

1.         S.J.R. 27 - Bullying and Cyber Bullying Standards for School Districts Joint Resolution

        Sen. Okerlund introduced and explained the bill.

        Mr. Hilton and Dr. Harrington spoke in favor of the bill.

         MOTION: Sen. J. Stevenson moved to pass S.J.R. 27 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

        The motion passed unanimously.        

2.         S.B. 217 - Education Policy Amendments

        Sen. Bramble introduced and explained the bill.

        Ms. Gallagher-Fishbaugh, Mr. Foxley, and Dr. Harrington spoke in favor of the bill.

         MOTION: Sen. Thatcher moved to pass S.B. 217 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

        The motion passed unanimously.

         MOTION: Sen. Thatcher moved to place S.B. 217 on the Consent Calendar.

        The motion passed unanimously.

Sen. J. Stevenson assumed the Chair.

3.        S.B. 224 - Partisan School Board Elections

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

1.    Page 1, Lines 24 through 25 :    

             24      Other Special Clauses:


             25          
{   None   }        This bill coordinates with H.B. 143, Ballot Placement Amendments, by providing substantive and technical amendments.      


2.    Page 2, Line 38 :    

             38          53A-11-102.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 210
 

Utah Code Sections Affected by Coordination Clause:
    20A-6-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2006, Chapter 326  


3.    Page 17, Line 516 :    

             516      Education -- Selection of candidates by the governor -- Ballot placement.
 

Section 13. Coordinating S.B. 224 with H.B. 143 -- Substantive and technical amendments.
If this S.B. 224 and HB. 143, Ballot Placement Amendments, both pass, it is the intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall prepare the Utah Code database for publication by amending Subsection 20A-6-302(1)(c) to read:
" [(b)] (c) the names of candidates [for the State Board of Education] are placed on the ballot [as certified by the lieutenant governor under Section 20A-14-105;] in the order specified under Section 20A-6-305."  


        The motion passed unanimously.

        Sen. H. Stephenson introduced and explained the bill.

        Dr. Harrington, Ms. Ferrin, Mr. Holdaway, Mr. Jensen, and Ms. Phipps spoke in opposition to the bill.

        Mr. Menlove spoke to the bill.

        Mr. Rasmussen, Mr. Cannon, and Ms. Ruzicka spoke in favor of the bill.

         MOTION: Sen. H. Stephenson moved to pass S.B. 224 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

        The motion passed with Sens. H. Stephenson, J. Stevenson, and Thatcher voting in favor, and Sen. Morgan voting in opposition.




4.        S.B. 257 - Legislative Counsel Relating to United States Senators

        Sen. H. Stephenson introduced and explained the bill.

        Mr. Cannon and Ms. Ruzicka spoke in favor of the bill.
        
         MOTION: Sen. Thatcher moved to pass S.B. 257 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

        The motion passed unanimously.

5.        S.B. 263 - State Board of Education Powers Amendments

        Sen. Buttars introduced and explained the bill.

        Mr. Holdaway spoke in opposition of the bill.

        Mr. Cannon and Ms. Ruzicka spoke in favor of the bill.

        Dr. Harrington spoke to the bill.

         MOTION: Sen. Thatcher moved to pass S.B. 263 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

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

6.        S.B. 256 - Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation Process

        Sen. Adams introduced and explained the bill.

        Ms. Gallagher-Fishbaugh, Dr. Harrington, and Mr. Ash spoke in opposition to the bill.

        Mr. Menlove spoke to the bill.        

        Mr. Cannon, Ms. Bagley, and Ms. Evans spoke in favor of the bill.

         MOTION: Sen. J. Stevenson moved to pass S.B. 256 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

        The motion passed with Sens. H. Stephenson and J. Stevenson voting in favor; Sen. Thatcher voting in opposition; and Sen. Morgan absent for the vote.



     MOTION: Sen. Thatcher moved to adjourn.

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

    Chair Stephenson adjourned the meeting at 6:19 p.m.

    Minutes were reported by Karen C. Allred, Secretary.



___________________________________________
    
Sen. Howard A. Stephenson