1     
SCHOOL ENERGY AND WATER REDUCTIONS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Gay Lynn Bennion

5     
Senate Sponsor: Kirk A. Cullimore

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses grant money for energy and water reductions.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     authorizes the state board to issue grants related to energy and water reductions;
14          ▸     provides for prioritizing certain projects;
15          ▸     requires rulemaking;
16          ▸     requires use of an evaluation panel;
17          ▸     requires reporting; and
18          ▸     provides a repeal date.
19     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20          None
21     Other Special Clauses:
22          None
23     Utah Code Sections Affected:
24     AMENDS:
25          63I-2-253, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 208, 229, 274, 354, 370,
26     and 409
27     ENACTS:
28          53F-5-220, Utah Code Annotated 1953

29     

30     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31          Section 1. Section 53F-5-220 is enacted to read:
32          53F-5-220. Management of energy and water use pilot program.
33          (1) As used in this section:
34          (a) "Energy" means natural gas or electricity.
35          (b) "Great Salt Lake watershed" means the drainage area for the Great Salt Lake, the
36     Bear River watershed, the Jordan River watershed, the Utah Lake watershed, the Weber River
37     watershed, and the West Desert watershed.
38          (c) "Rural school district or charter school" means a school district or charter school
39     that is located within a county of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class.
40          (2) (a) On or after May 3, 2023, but before July 1, 2028, the state board may award a
41     grant to a school district or charter school upon recommendation by the review panel created in
42     Subsection (5) to implement a program to reduce the use of energy or water by a school district
43     or charter school.
44          (b) When issuing a grant under this section, the state board shall prioritize outdoor
45     water conservation projects.
46          (c) When issuing a grant under this section during the period beginning on May 3,
47     2023, and ending October 31, 2023, the state board shall prioritize, in the order the state board
48     considers appropriate, a grant:
49          (i) to a rural school district or charter school;
50          (ii) to a school district or charter school that is located within the Great Salt Lake
51     watershed; and
52          (iii) for an outdoor water conservation project.
53          (3) (a) Grant money may be used to pay for any of the following, provided the use is
54     directly related to reducing the use of energy or water by the school district or charter school:
55          (i) computer equipment and peripherals;

56          (ii) software;
57          (iii) upgrades of existing computer equipment or software;
58          (iv) physical equipment used to deliver energy or water;
59          (v) upgrades of existing physical equipment used to deliver energy or water;
60          (vi) personnel to provide technical support or coordination and management;
61          (vii) staff or student management training;
62          (viii) recalibration of equipment for increased efficiency; or
63          (ix) another means of optimizing and measuring energy or water efficiency.
64          (b) Equipment or software purchased in compliance with Subsection (3)(a), when not
65     in use to reduce energy or water, may be used for other purposes.
66          (4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
67     state board shall make rules:
68          (a) establishing procedures for applying for and awarding a grant;
69          (b) establishing eligibility criteria;
70          (c) creating grant distribution thresholds;
71          (d) specifying how grant money is allocated among school districts and charter schools;
72          (e) requiring reporting of grant money expenditures and evidence showing that the
73     grant money has been used to implement reduced use of energy or water; and
74          (f) establishing technology standards.
75          (5) The state board shall establish a review panel to consider grant applications under
76     this section, which shall include in addition to a representative for the state board,
77     representation from the Office of Energy Development, the Department of Environmental
78     Quality, the Division of Water Resources, and private energy providers.
79          (6) By no later than the 2027 November interim meeting of the following, the state
80     board shall report on the effectiveness of grants issued under this section to the following:
81          (a) Education Interim Committee; and
82          (b) Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee.

83          Section 2. Section 63I-2-253 is amended to read:
84          63I-2-253. Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
85          (1) (a) Subsection 53B-2a-108(5), regarding exceptions to the composition of a
86     technical college board of trustees, is repealed July 1, 2022.
87          (b) When repealing Subsection 53B-2a-108(5), the Office of Legislative Research and
88     General Counsel shall, in addition to its authority under Subsection 36-12-12(3), make
89     necessary changes to subsection numbering and cross references.
90          (2) Section 53B-6-105.7 is repealed July 1, 2024.
91          (3) Section 53B-7-707 regarding performance metrics for technical colleges is repealed
92     July 1, 2023.
93          (4) Section 53B-8-114 is repealed July 1, 2024.
94          (5) The following provisions, regarding the Regents' scholarship program, are repealed
95     on July 1, 2023:
96          (a) in Subsection 53B-8-105(12), the language that states, "or any scholarship
97     established under Sections 53B-8-202 through 53B-8-205";
98          (b) Section 53B-8-202;
99          (c) Section 53B-8-203;
100          (d) Section 53B-8-204; and
101          (e) Section 53B-8-205.
102          (6) Section 53B-10-101 is repealed on July 1, 2027.
103          (7) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 14, Uintah Basin Air Quality Research Project, is
104     repealed July 1, 2023.
105          (8) Subsection 53E-1-201(1)(s) regarding the report by the Educational Interpretation
106     and Translation Services Procurement Advisory Council is repealed July 1, 2024.
107          (9) Section 53E-1-202.2, regarding a Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee
108     evaluation and recommendations, is repealed January 1, 2024.
109          (10) Subsection 53E-10-309(7), related to the PRIME pilot program, is repealed July 1,

110     2024.
111          (11) In Subsections 53F-2-205(4) and (5), regarding the State Board of Education's
112     duties if contributions from the minimum basic tax rate are overestimated or underestimated,
113     the language that states "or 53F-2-301.5, as applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
114          (12) Section 53F-2-209, regarding local education agency budgetary flexibility, is
115     repealed July 1, 2024.
116          (13) Subsection 53F-2-301(1), relating to the years the section is not in effect, is
117     repealed July 1, 2023.
118          (14) Section 53F-2-302.1, regarding the Enrollment Growth Contingency Program, is
119     repealed July 1, 2023.
120          (15) Subsection 53F-2-314(4), relating to a one-time expenditure between the at-risk
121     WPU add-on funding and previous at-risk funding, is repealed January 1, 2024.
122          (16) Section 53F-2-524, regarding teacher bonuses for extra work assignments, is
123     repealed July 1, 2024.
124          (17) In Subsection 53F-2-515(1), the language that states "or 53F-2-301.5, as
125     applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
126          (18) Subsection 53F-4-401(3)(b), regarding a child enrolled or eligible for enrollment
127     in kindergarten, is repealed July 1, 2022.
128          (19) In Subsection 53F-4-404(4)(c), the language that states "Except as provided in
129     Subsection (4)(d)" is repealed July 1, 2022.
130          (20) Subsection 53F-4-404(4)(d) is repealed July 1, 2022.
131          (21) Section 53F-5-220, regarding a management of energy and water pilot program, is
132     repealed July 1, 2028.
133          [(21)] (22) In Subsection 53F-9-302(3), the language that states "or 53F-2-301.5, as
134     applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
135          [(22)] (23) In Subsection 53F-9-305(3)(a), the language that states "or 53F-2-301.5, as
136     applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.

137          [(23)] (24) In Subsection 53F-9-306(3)(a), the language that states "or 53F-2-301.5, as
138     applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
139          [(24)] (25) In Subsection 53G-3-304(1)(c)(i), the language that states "or 53F-2-301.5,
140     as applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
141          [(25)] (26) On July 1, 2023, when making changes in this section, the Office of
142     Legislative Research and General Counsel shall, in addition to the office's authority under
143     Subsection 36-12-12(3), make corrections necessary to ensure that sections and subsections
144     identified in this section are complete sentences and accurately reflect the office's perception of
145     the Legislature's intent.