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STANDING COMMITTEE
Room 445, State Capitol
February 8, 2012
Rep. Bill Wright, Vice Chair
Rep. Patrice Arent
Rep. LaVar Christensen
Rep. Becky Edwards
Rep. Steven Eliason
Rep. Greg H. Hughes
Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart
Rep. John G. Mathis
Rep. Kay L. McIff
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
Rep. Merlynn Newbold
Rep. Marie H. Poulson
Rep. Kraig Powell
Rep. Ken W. Sumsion
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Rep. Rebecca D. Lockhart
STAFF PRESENT: Constance C. Steffen, Policy Analyst
Linda Service, Committee Secretary
Note: List of visitors and copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes.
Chair Gibson called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m.
MOTION: Rep. Poulson moved to approve the minutes of February 6, 2012. The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Arent, Rep. Christensen, Rep. Hughes, Rep. Mathis, and Rep. McIff were absent for the vote.
H.B. 115 Peer Assistance and Review Pilot Program (Rep. C. Moss)
Rep. Moss introduced the bill which appropriates money for school districts to pilot programs that utilize peer assistance and review in evaluating certain teachers. Dr. Sydnee Dickson, Director of Teaching and Learning, Utah State Office of Education, assisted in the presentation of the bill.
The following spoke in support of the bill:
Ms. Patti Harrington, Utah School Boards Association and Utah School Superintendents Association
Ms. Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh, , Utah Education Association
Ms. Elizabeth Wade, American Federation of Teachers
Mr. Peter Cannon, citizen, spoke in opposition to the bill.
MOTION: Rep. Poulson moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion
passed with Rep. Christensen, Rep. Sumsion, and Rep. Wright voting in opposition.
H.B. 128 School Community Council Revisions (Rep. B. Wright)
Rep. Wright introduced the bill which modifies requirements for the operation of school community
councils.
MOTION: Rep. Wright moved to amend the bill as follows:
1. Page
6, Lines 154 through 157
:
154
(iv) An election for the parent or guardian members of a school community council
155
shall:
156
(A) extend for a period of at least three consecutive school days;
and
}
157
(B) commence no later than [30] 15 days after the first day of the school
year
.
}
; and
(C) end no later than 20 days after the first day of the school year.
2. Page
6, Lines 158 through 160
:
158
(c) (i) The principal of the school, or the principal's designee, shall provide notice of
159
the available community council positions to school employees, parents, and guardians at
least
160
[21]
15
}
10
days before the date that voting commences for the elections held
under Subsections
3. Page
9, Line 266
:
266
(iii)
,
}
or
email address, or both, where
each school community council
The motion passed unanimously. Rep. Mathis was absent for the vote.
The following spoke in support of the bill:
Ms. Patti Harrington, Utah School Boards Association and Utah School
Superintendents Association
Dr. Martell Menlove, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction
Ms. Susan Edwards, school community council member
Mr. Ben Horsley, Granite School District
MOTION: Rep. Newbold moved to pass the bill out as amended with a favorable recommendation.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Rep. Edwards moved to amend the bill as follows:
On line 157 delete "15" and reinsert "30".
The motion passed unanimously.
A vote was taken on the motion to pass the bill out as amended with a favorable recommendation. The
motion passed unanimously.
H.B. 322 Higher Education Tenure (Rep. C. Herrod)
Rep. Herrod introduced the bill which prohibits state institutions of higher education from granting
academic tenure.
MOTION: Rep. Edwards moved to delete in title and body H.B. 322 and replace it with 1st
Substitute H.B. 322. The motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Cherie Gardner Rawlings, citizen, spoke in support of the bill.
The following spoke in opposition to the bill:
Mr. Dave Buhler, Associate Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
Dr. Brad Cook, Provost, South Utah University
Dr. Loris Betts, Interim President, University of Utah
Ms. Marilyn Bown, League of Women Voters
MOTION: Rep. Wright moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation. The motion
failed with Rep. Hughes, Rep. Newbold, Rep. Sumsion, and Rep. Wright voting in support of the bill.
Chair Gibson adjourned the meeting at 3:57 p.m.
___________________________________
Rep. Francis Gibson, Chair