Representative Melissa G. Ballard proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
SCHOOL ASSEMBLY NOTICE REQUIREMENTS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Melissa G. Ballard

5     
Senate Sponsor: John D. Johnson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill requires prior parental notice of certain school assemblies.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms; and
13          ▸     requires local education agencies to provide prior notice of certain school
14     assemblies to parents and guardians in certain circumstances.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          This bill provides a special effective date.
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     ENACTS:
21          53G-7-224, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 53G-7-224 is enacted to read:
25          53G-7-224. Notice of assemblies.

26          (1) As used in this section:
27          (a) "Assembly" means a meeting or gathering of all or part of the student body of a
28     school for the purpose of special programming or substantive information dissemination.
29          (b) "Assembly" does not include a gathering that does not contain a component of
30     substantive information dissemination and is intended:
31          (i) to support a school sports team; or
32          (ii) only for entertainment, fine arts or science education outreach, or amusement.
33          (c) "Prevention program" means:
34          (i) a program to address substance abuse under Section 53E-3-522;
35          (ii) youth suicide prevention programs described in Section 53G-9-702;
36          (iii) dropout prevention programs described in Section 53G-9-802; or
37          (iv) positive behaviors plans described in Section 53G-10-407.
38          (d) "Prevention topic" means:
39          (i) a topic or issue that is the focus of a prevention program;
40          (ii) bullying, cyber-bullying, or hazing;
41          (iii) physical or sexual abuse; or
42          (iv) mental health.
43          (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), at least three calendar days before the day on
44     which an assembly takes place relating to a prevention topic or educational equity, as that term
45     is defined by the state board, an LEA shall ensure that the LEA or the relevant school gives
46     notice to parents and legal guardians of students attending the relevant school, through the
47     LEA's or school's regular form of parental communication, regarding:
48          (a) the date and time of the assembly; and
49          (b) the relevant prevention topic, subject matter, and purpose of the assembly.
50          (3) The three-day notice requirement in Subsection (2) does not apply in exigent
51     circumstances when a school or LEA holds an assembly:
52          (a) in response to an emergency or other unforeseen event that effects the school or
53     LEA; and
54          (b) within three calendar days of the emergency or unforeseen event described in
55     Subsection (3)(a).
56          Section 2. Effective date.

57          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.