H.B. 417

1

EDUCATION ON PROCESS FOR ELECTING PUBLIC
2 OFFICIALS
3 2012 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Stewart Barlow
6 Senate Sponsor: ____________
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies a provision relating to public school curriculum.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . includes instruction about the system of electing public officials in a list of subjects
14 that students are required to be taught in connection with regular school work.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53A-13-109, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapters 404 and 405
22
23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 53A-13-109 is amended to read:
25 53A-13-109. Civic and character education -- Definitions -- Legislative finding --
26 Elements -- Reporting requirements.
27 (1) As used in this section:

28 (a) "Character education" means reaffirming values and qualities of character which
29 promote an upright and desirable citizenry.
30 (b) "Civic education" means the cultivation of informed, responsible participation in
31 political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of
32 representative democracy in Utah and the United States.
33 (c) "Values" means time-established principles or standards of worth.
34 (2) The Legislature recognizes that:
35 (a) Civic and character education are fundamental elements of the public education
36 system's core mission as originally intended and established under Article X of the Utah
37 Constitution;
38 (b) Civic and character education are fundamental elements of the constitutional
39 responsibility of public education and shall be a continuing emphasis and focus in public
40 schools;
41 (c) the cultivation of a continuing understanding and appreciation of a constitutional
42 republic and principles of representative democracy in Utah and the United States among
43 succeeding generations of educated and responsible citizens is important to the nation and
44 state;
45 (d) the primary responsibility for the education of children within the state resides with
46 their parents or guardians and that the role of state and local governments is to support and
47 assist parents in fulfilling that responsibility;
48 (e) public schools fulfill a vital purpose in the preparation of succeeding generations of
49 informed and responsible citizens who are deeply attached to essential democratic values and
50 institutions; and
51 (f) the happiness and security of American society relies upon the public virtue of its
52 citizens which requires a united commitment to a moral social order where self-interests are
53 willingly subordinated to the greater common good.
54 (3) Through an integrated curriculum, students shall be taught in connection with
55 regular school work:
56 (a) honesty, integrity, morality, civility, duty, honor, service, and obedience to law;
57 (b) respect for and an understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the
58 constitutions of the United States and of the state of Utah;

59 (c) Utah history, including territorial and preterritorial development to the present;
60 (d) about the process of electing federal, state, and county public officials, including:
61 (i) registered political party caucuses and the process of selecting delegates to party
62 conventions;
63 (ii) a registered political party's nomination of candidates for the ballot; and
64 (iii) the qualification of unaffiliated candidates for the ballot;
65 [(d)] (e) the essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system;
66 [(e)] (f) respect for parents, home, and family;
67 [(f)] (g) the dignity and necessity of honest labor; and
68 [(g)] (h) other skills, habits, and qualities of character which will promote an upright
69 and desirable citizenry and better prepare students to recognize and accept responsibility for
70 preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured
71 by the constitution.
72 (4) Local school boards and school administrators may provide training, direction, and
73 encouragement, as needed, to accomplish the intent and requirements of this section and to
74 effectively emphasize civic and character education in the course of regular instruction in the
75 public schools.
76 (5) Civic and character education in public schools are:
77 (a) not intended to be separate programs in need of special funding or added specialists
78 to be accomplished; and
79 (b) core principles which reflect the shared values of the citizens of Utah and the
80 founding principles upon which representative democracy in the United States and the state of
81 Utah are based.
82 (6) To assist the Commission on Civic and Character Education in fulfilling the
83 commission's duties under Section 67-1a-10 , by December 30 of each year, each school district
84 and the State Charter School Board shall submit to the lieutenant governor and the commission
85 a report summarizing how civic and character education are achieved in the school district or
86 charter schools through an integrated school curriculum and in the regular course of school
87 work as provided in this section.
88 (7) Each year, the State Board of Education shall report to the Education Interim
89 Committee, on or before the October meeting, the methods used, and the results being

90 achieved, to instruct and prepare students to become informed and responsible citizens through
91 an integrated curriculum taught in connection with regular school work as required in this
92 section.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-15-12 11:41 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel