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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill enacts an advanced degree scholarship program.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ defines terms;
13 ▸ enacts an advanced degree scholarship program for educators who pursue advanced
14 degrees in education;
15 ▸ grants the State Board of Education rulemaking authority to create and administer
16 the program;
17 ▸ provides for the use of the Public Education Economic Stabilization Account to
18 fund an advanced degree scholarship grant program to assist educators seeking
19 advanced degrees in education; and
20 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
21 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22 This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2025:
23 ▸ to State Board of Education - Educator Licensing as a one-time appropriation:
24 • from the Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account,
25 One-time, $200,000,000
26 Other Special Clauses:
27 This bill provides a special effective date.
28 Utah Code Sections Affected:
29 AMENDS:
30 53F-9-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 386, 456
31 ENACTS:
32 53F-5-222, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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34 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
35 Section 1. Section 53F-5-222 is enacted to read:
36 53F-5-222. Advanced Degree Scholarship Program.
37 (1) As used in this section:
38 (a) "Advanced degree" means a master or doctoral level degree.
39 (b) "Eligible educator" means an educator who is employed as an educator by an LEA.
40 (c) "Program" means the Advanced Degree Scholarship Program that this section
41 creates.
42 (2) This section creates the Advanced Degree Scholarship Program.
43 (3) Subject to Section 53F-9-204, the state board shall award a scholarship to an
44 eligible educator who:
45 (a) pursues an advanced degree in education;
46 (b) submits an application to the state board;
47 (c) submits a letter of recommendation from the principal of the qualified applicant's
48 school;
49 (d) subject to Subsection (4), is enrolled in an advanced degree program from:
50 (i) an institution of higher education within the state system of higher education
51 described in Section 53B-1-102; or
52 (ii) a private, non-profit institution of higher education in the state that is accredited by
53 the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; and
54 (e) will complete the advanced degree program no later than three years from the day
55 on which the advanced degree program begins.
56 (4) For purposes of Subsection (3)(d), the state board shall determine the programs that
57 qualify for a scholarship award.
58 (5) The state board shall determine the amount of the scholarship award, ensuring that
59 the amount does not exceed the combined costs of tuition, fees, and required textbooks.
60 (6) The state board shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3.
61 Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
62 (a) create a scholarship application process and appeal process for the program;
63 (b) establish criteria for awarding a scholarship;
64 (c) require a scholarship recipient to use the scholarship award exclusively for the
65 purposes of pursuing an advanced degree in education described in this section; and
66 (d) establish policies and procedures for cancellation or repayment of scholarship
67 awards if the scholarship recipient fails to meet the requirements under this section.
68 (7) If an appropriation under this section is insufficient to cover the costs associated
69 with the program, the state board may:
70 (a) reduce the amount of the scholarship award; and
71 (b) distribute scholarship awards on a pro rate basis to all eligible educators who
72 submitted a completed application before the application deadline.
73 Section 2. Section 53F-9-204 is amended to read:
74 53F-9-204. Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account.
75 (1) There is created within the Uniform School Fund a restricted account known as the
76 "Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account."
77 (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the account shall be funded from the
78 following revenue sources:
79 (i) 15% of the difference between, as determined by the Office of the Legislative Fiscal
80 Analyst:
81 (A) the estimated amount of ongoing Income Tax Fund and Uniform School Fund
82 revenue available for the Legislature to appropriate for the next fiscal year; and
83 (B) the amount of ongoing appropriations from the Income Tax Fund and Uniform
84 School Fund in the current fiscal year; and
85 (ii) other appropriations as the Legislature may designate.
86 (b) If the appropriation described in Subsection (2)(a) would cause the ongoing
87 appropriations to the account to exceed 11% of Uniform School Fund appropriations described
88 in Section 53F-9-201.1 for the same fiscal year, the Legislature shall appropriate only those
89 funds necessary to ensure that the ongoing appropriations to the account equal 11% of Uniform
90 School Fund appropriations for that fiscal year.
91 (3) Subject to the availability of ongoing appropriations to the account, in accordance
92 with Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 5, Subsection (4), the ongoing appropriation to the
93 account shall be used to fund:
94 (a) except for a year described in Subsection (3)(b), one-time appropriations to the
95 public education system; and
96 (b) the Minimum School Program for a year in which Income Tax Fund revenue and
97 Uniform School Fund revenue are insufficient to fund:
98 (i) ongoing appropriations to the public education system; and
99 (ii) enrollment growth and inflation estimates, as defined in Section 53F-9-201.1.
100 (4) (a) The account shall earn interest.
101 (b) All interest earned on account money shall be deposited in the account.
102 (5) On or before December 31, 2023, and every three years thereafter, the Office of the
103 Legislative Fiscal Analyst shall:
104 (a) review the percentages described in Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (2)(b); and
105 (b) recommend to the Executive Appropriations Subcommittee any changes based on
106 the review described in Subsection (5)(a).
107 (6) In preparing budget bills for a given fiscal year, the Executive Appropriations
108 Committee shall make the one-time appropriations described in Subsection (3)(a) by
109 appropriating at least the lesser of 10% of the total amount of the one-time appropriations or:
110 (a) the cost of providing 32 paid professional hours for teachers in accordance with
111 Section 53F-7-203[
112 (b) the cost of pursuing an advanced degree or certification for educators in accordance
113 with Section 53F-5-222.
114 Section 3. FY 2025 Appropriation.
115 The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
116 2024, and ending June 30, 2025. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
117 fiscal year 2025.
118 Subsection 3(a). Expendable Funds and Accounts.
119 Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
120 Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
121 the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
122
ITEM 1
To State Board of Education - Educator Licensing| 123 | From Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account, One-time | $200,000,000 | |||
| 124 | Schedule of Programs: | ||||
| 125 | Educator Licensing | $200,000,000 | |||
126 Section 4. Effective date.
127 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2024.