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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill amends provisions related to delivery of a seminar for parents related to
11 student mental health, bullying, and safety.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ requires the State Board of Education (state board) to offer a seminar for parents
15 related to student mental health, bullying, and safety (safety seminar) on a Saturday;
16 and
17 ▸ permits the state board to offer a safety seminar through a virtual platform in a
18 school district where a local or state public health order restricts gatherings in the
19 school district's geographic area.
20 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21 None
22 Other Special Clauses:
23 None
24 Utah Code Sections Affected:
25 AMENDS:
26 53G-9-703, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 293, 324, and 446
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28 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29 Section 1. Section 53G-9-703 is amended to read:
30 53G-9-703. Parent education -- Mental health -- Bullying -- Safety.
31 (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a school district shall offer a seminar for
32 parents of students in the school district that:
33 (i) is offered at no cost to parents;
34 (ii) (A) begins at or after 6 p.m.; or
35 (B) takes place on a Saturday;
36 (iii) is held in at least one school located in the school district; and
37 (iv) covers the topics described in Subsection (2).
38 (b) (i) A school district shall annually offer one parent seminar for each 11,000
39 students enrolled in the school district.
40 (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(b)(i), a school district may not be required to offer
41 more than three seminars.
42 (c) 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 under Subsection (2).
45 (d) A school district shall notify each charter school located in the attendance
46 boundaries of the school district of the date and time of a parent seminar, so the charter school
47 may inform parents of the seminar.
48 (2) The state board shall:
49 (a) develop a curriculum for the parent seminar described in Subsection (1) that
50 includes information on:
51 (i) substance abuse, including illegal drugs and prescription drugs and prevention;
52 (ii) bullying;
53 (iii) mental health, depression, suicide awareness, and suicide prevention, including
54 education on limiting access to fatal means;
55 (iv) Internet safety, including pornography addiction; and
56 (v) the SafeUT and Crisis Line established in Section 53B-17-1202; and
57 (b) provide the curriculum, including resources and training, to school districts upon
58 request.
59 (3) (a) A school district is not required to offer the parent seminar if the local school
60 board determines that the topics described in Subsection (2) are not of significant interest or
61 value to families in the school district.
62 (b) If a local school board chooses not to offer the parent seminar, the local school
63 board shall notify the state board and provide the reasons why the local school board chose not
64 to offer the parent seminar.
65 (c) A local school board may provide the parent seminar described in Subsection (1)
66 through a virtual platform if a local or state public health order restricts public gatherings in the
67 school district's geographic area.