H.B. 298 Enrolled

1

PARENT SEMINAR ON YOUTH PROTECTION
2 2013 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason
5 Senate Sponsor: Aaron Osmond
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies Title 53A, Chapter 15, Standards and Programs, by requiring the
10 State Board of Education and school districts to implement a parent seminar on various
11 issues.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . requires school districts to offer an annual seminar to parents with information on
15 substance abuse, bullying, mental health, and Internet safety;
16 . requires the State Board of Education to:
17 . develop a curriculum and provide it to requesting school districts; and
18 . report on the program to the Education Interim Committee;
19 . requires a school district to notify charter schools located within the school district's
20 boundaries of the parent seminar; and
21 . allows a school district to opt out of providing the parent seminar if the local school
22 board determines the seminar is not needed in its district.
23 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
24 None
25 Other Special Clauses:
26 None
27 Utah Code Sections Affected:
28 ENACTS:
29 53A-15-1301, Utah Code Annotated 1953

30
31 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
32 Section 1. Section 53A-15-1301 is enacted to read:
33 Part 13. Parent Education
34 53A-15-1301. Parent education -- Mental health -- Bullying -- Safety.
35 (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (5), a school district shall offer a seminar for
36 parents of students in the school district that:
37 (i) is offered at no cost to parents;
38 (ii) begins at or after 6 p.m.;
39 (iii) is held in at least one school located in the school district;
40 (iv) is offered once a year; and
41 (v) covers the topics described in Subsection (2).
42 (b) A school district may:
43 (i) develop its own curriculum for the seminar described in Subsection (1)(a); or
44 (ii) use the curriculum developed by the State Board of Education under Subsection
45 (2).
46 (c) A school district shall notify each charter school located in the attendance
47 boundaries of the school district of the date and time of the parent seminar, so the charter
48 school may inform parents of the seminar.
49 (2) The State Board of Education shall:
50 (a) develop a curriculum for the parent seminar described in Subsection (1) that
51 includes information on:
52 (i) substance abuse, including illegal drugs and prescription drugs and prevention;
53 (ii) bullying;
54 (iii) mental health, depression, and suicide awareness; and
55 (iv) Internet safety, including pornography addiction; and
56 (b) provide the curriculum, including resources and training, to school districts upon
57 request.

58 (3) The State Board of Education shall report to the Legislature's Education Interim
59 Committee, by the November 2013 meeting, on the progress of implementation of the parent
60 seminar, including if a local school board has opted out of providing the parent seminar, as
61 described in Subsection (5), and the reasons why a local school board opted out.
62 (4) The State Board of Education shall report to the Legislature's Education Interim
63 Committee by the November 2014 meeting on:
64 (a) the progress of implementation of the parent seminar;
65 (b) the estimated attendance reported by each school district;
66 (c) a recommendation of whether to continue the parent seminar program; and
67 (d) if a local school board has opted out of providing the parent seminar, as described
68 in Subsection (5), and the reasons why a local school board opted out.
69 (5) (a) A school district is not required to offer the parent seminar if the local school
70 board determines that the topics described in Subsection (2) are not of significant interest or
71 value to families in the school district.
72 (b) If a local school board chooses not to offer the parent seminar, the local school
73 board shall notify the State Board of Education and provide the reasons why the local school
74 board chose not to offer the parent seminar.

[Bill Documents]