1     
STUDENT GRADUATION ATTIRE REVISIONS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Andrew Stoddard

5     
Senate Sponsor: Luz Escamilla

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill allows individuals to wear cultural attire during graduation ceremonies.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     allows all public school students to wear items of religious or cultural significance
13     as part of their graduation attire.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     ENACTS:
20          53G-4-414, Utah Code Annotated 1953
21     

22     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          Section 1. Section 53G-4-414 is enacted to read:
24          53G-4-414. Religious or cultural attire at school graduation ceremonies.
25          (1) As used in this section:
26          (a) "Adornment" means something attached to, or worn with, but not replacing, the cap
27     and gown customarily worn at school graduation ceremonies.

28          (b) "Cultural" means recognized practices and traditions of a certain group of people.
29          (2) An LEA governing board may not prohibit a student from wearing traditional
30     recognized objects of religious or cultural significance as an adornment at school graduation
31     ceremonies.
32          (3) In determining whether an adornment is a recognized object of religious or cultural
33     significance, the LEA governing board shall seek input from parents that are reflective of the
34     members of the religious or cultural group that the object is associated with.
35          (4) This section does not:
36          (a) limit an LEA governing board's discretion and authority to prohibit adornment that
37     is likely to cause a substantial disruption of, or material interference with, the graduation
38     ceremony;
39          (b) limit an LEA's authority related to student expression under applicable federal and
40     state law; or
41          (c) limit or impair the rights of a qualifying student under Section 53G-4-412 to wear
42     tribal regalia to a graduation ceremony.