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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill creates a civics engagement pilot program to assess the benefits of, and
10 methods for, implementing a requirement to complete a civics engagement project as a
11 condition for receiving a high school diploma.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ defines terms;
15 ▸ creates a civics engagement pilot program to assess the benefits of, and methods for,
16 implementing a requirement to complete a civics engagement project as a condition
17 for receiving a high school diploma;
18 ▸ provides for training for teachers in schools participating in the pilot program; and
19 ▸ requires schools participating in the pilot program to submit a report to the State
20 Board of Education.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 None
23 Other Special Clauses:
24 None
25 Utah Code Sections Affected:
26 AMENDS:
27 53G-10-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 48, 246, 293, 324 and
28 last amended by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 246
29 63I-2-253, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 41, 129, 136, 223, 324,
30 325, and 444
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32 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
33 Section 1. Section 53G-10-204 is amended to read:
34 53G-10-204. Civic and character education -- Definitions -- Legislative finding --
35 Elements -- Reporting requirements.
36 (1) As used in this section:
37 (a) "Character education" means reaffirming values and qualities of character which
38 promote an upright and desirable citizenry.
39 (b) "Civic education" means the cultivation of informed, responsible participation in
40 political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of
41 representative democracy in Utah and the United States.
42 (c) "Civics engagement pilot program" means the pilot program described in
43 Subsection (7).
44 (d) "Civics engagement project" means the civics engagement project described in
45 Subsection (7), which a student enrolled in a participating LEA may complete.
46 (e) "Participating LEA" means an LEA that meets the eligibility criteria, and is selected
47 by the state board, to participate in the civics engagement pilot program.
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49 (2) The Legislature recognizes that:
50 (a) Civic and character education are fundamental elements of the public education
51 system's core mission as originally intended and established under Article X of the Utah
52 Constitution;
53 (b) Civic and character education are fundamental elements of the constitutional
54 responsibility of public education and shall be a continuing emphasis and focus in public
55 schools;
56 (c) the cultivation of a continuing understanding and appreciation of a constitutional
57 republic and principles of representative democracy in Utah and the United States among
58 succeeding generations of educated and responsible citizens is important to the nation and
59 state;
60 (d) the primary responsibility for the education of children within the state resides with
61 their parents and that the role of state and local governments is to support and assist parents in
62 fulfilling that responsibility;
63 (e) public schools fulfill a vital purpose in the preparation of succeeding generations of
64 informed and responsible citizens who are deeply attached to essential democratic values and
65 institutions; and
66 (f) the happiness and security of American society relies upon the public virtue of its
67 citizens which requires a united commitment to a moral social order where self-interests are
68 willingly subordinated to the greater common good.
69 (3) Through an integrated curriculum, students shall be taught in connection with
70 regular school work:
71 (a) honesty, integrity, morality, civility, duty, honor, service, and obedience to law;
72 (b) respect for and an understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the
73 constitutions of the United States and of the state of Utah;
74 (c) Utah history, including territorial and preterritorial development to the present;
75 (d) the essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system;
76 (e) respect for parents, home, and family;
77 (f) the dignity and necessity of honest labor; and
78 (g) other skills, habits, and qualities of character which will promote an upright and
79 desirable citizenry and better prepare students to recognize and accept responsibility for
80 preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured
81 by the constitution.
82 (4) Local school boards and school administrators may provide training, direction, and
83 encouragement, as needed, to accomplish the intent and requirements of this section and to
84 effectively emphasize civic and character education in the course of regular instruction in the
85 public schools.
86 (5) Civic and character education in public schools are:
87 (a) not intended to be separate programs in need of special funding or added specialists
88 to be accomplished; and
89 (b) core principles which reflect the shared values of the citizens of Utah and the
90 founding principles upon which representative democracy in the United States and the state of
91 Utah are based.
92 (6) In accordance with Section 53E-1-203, the state board shall report to the Education
93 Interim Committee the methods used, and the results being achieved, to instruct and prepare
94 students to become informed and responsible citizens through an integrated curriculum taught
95 in connection with regular school work as required in this section.
96 (7) (a) In accordance with this section, subject to appropriations by the Legislature for
97 this purpose, beginning with the 2020-21 school year, the state board shall administer a
98 three-year civics engagement pilot program to assess the benefits of, and methods for,
99 implementing a requirement to complete a civics engagement project as a condition for
100 receiving a high school diploma.
101 (b) The state board shall:
102 (i) make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
103 Rulemaking Act:
104 (A) to create a civics engagement project that complies with core standards for Utah
105 public education for social studies and prepares students for lifelong civic motivation and
106 participation through applied learning of civics content;
107 (B) to establish eligibility requirements for participating LEAs;
108 (C) to create an application process for LEAs to apply to participate in the pilot
109 program; and
110 (D) for a report that a participating LEA is required to submit to the state board at the
111 end of the pilot program;
112 (ii) select participating LEAs:
113 (A) from diverse geographic areas within the state; and
114 (B) with a range of student population sizes; and
115 (iii) subject to appropriations by the Legislature for this purpose, in cooperation with
116 school districts, charter schools, and interested private and nonprofit entities, provide training
117 that prepares teachers in a participating LEA to assist students to successfully complete the
118 civics engagement project.
119 (c) A participating LEA shall submit a report to the state board in accordance with the
120 rules described in Subsection (7)(b)(i)(D).
121 Section 2. Section 63I-2-253 is amended to read:
122 63I-2-253. Repeal dates -- Titles 53 through 53G.
123 (1) (a) Subsections 53B-2a-103(2) and (4), regarding the composition of the UTech
124 Board of Trustees and the transition to that composition, are repealed July 1, 2019.
125 (b) When repealing Subsections 53B-2a-103(2) and (4), the Office of Legislative
126 Research and General Counsel shall, in addition to its authority under Subsection 36-12-12(3),
127 make necessary changes to subsection numbering and cross references.
128 (2) (a) Subsection 53B-2a-108(5), regarding exceptions to the composition of a
129 technical college board of directors, is repealed July 1, 2022.
130 (b) When repealing Subsection 53B-2a-108(5), the Office of Legislative Research and
131 General Counsel shall, in addition to its authority under Subsection 36-12-12(3), make
132 necessary changes to subsection numbering and cross references.
133 (3) Section 53B-6-105.7 is repealed July 1, 2024.
134 (4) (a) Subsection 53B-7-705(6)(b)(ii)(A), the language that states "Except as provided
135 in Subsection (6)(b)(ii)(B)," is repealed July 1, 2021.
136 (b) Subsection 53B-7-705(6)(b)(ii)(B), regarding comparing a technical college's
137 change in performance with the technical college's average performance, is repealed July 1,
138 2021.
139 (5) (a) Subsection 53B-7-707(3)(a)(ii), the language that states "Except as provided in
140 Subsection (3)(b)," is repealed July 1, 2021.
141 (b) Subsection 53B-7-707(3)(b), regarding performance data of a technical college
142 during a fiscal year before fiscal year 2020, is repealed July 1, 2021.
143 (6) Section 53B-8-112 is repealed July 1, 2024.
144 (7) Section 53B-8-114 is repealed July 1, 2024.
145 (8) (a) The following sections, regarding the Regents' scholarship program, are
146 repealed on July 1, 2023:
147 (i) Section 53B-8-202;
148 (ii) Section 53B-8-203;
149 (iii) Section 53B-8-204; and
150 (iv) Section 53B-8-205.
151 (b) (i) Subsection 53B-8-201(2), regarding the Regents' scholarship program for
152 students who graduate from high school before fiscal year 2019, is repealed on July 1, 2023.
153 (ii) When repealing Subsection 53B-8-201(2), the Office of Legislative Research and
154 General Counsel shall, in addition to its authority under Subsection 36-12-12(3), make
155 necessary changes to subsection numbering and cross references.
156 (9) Section 53B-10-101 is repealed on July 1, 2027.
157 (10) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 14, Uintah Basin Air Quality Research Project, is
158 repealed July 1, 2023.
159 (11) Section 53E-3-519 regarding school counselor services is repealed July 1, 2020.
160 (12) Section 53E-3-520 is repealed July 1, 2021.
161 (13) Subsection 53E-5-306(3)(b)(ii)(B), related to improving school performance and
162 continued funding relating to the School Recognition and Reward Program, is repealed July 1,
163 2020.
164 (14) Section 53E-5-307 is repealed July 1, 2020.
165 (15) In Subsections 53F-2-205(4) and (5), regarding the State Board of Education's
166 duties if contributions from the minimum basic tax rate are overestimated or underestimated,
167 the language that states "or 53F-2-301.5, as applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
168 (16) Subsection 53F-2-301(1), relating to the years the section is not in effect, is
169 repealed July 1, 2023.
170 (17) In Subsection 53F-2-515(1), the language that states "or 53F-2-301.5, as
171 applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
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174 applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
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176 applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
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178 applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
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180 as applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
181 (22) Subsections 53G-10-204(1)(c) through (e), and Subsection 53G-10-204(7), related
182 to the civics engagement pilot program, are repealed on July 1, 2023.
183 (23) On July 1, 2023, when making changes in this section, the Office of Legislative
184 Research and General Counsel shall, in addition to the office's authority under Subsection
185 36-12-12(3), make corrections necessary to ensure that sections and subsections identified in
186 this section are complete sentences and accurately reflect the office's perception of the
187 Legislature's intent.