Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 93 Third Substitute (2016GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Stephenson, H.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/28/2016

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• creates the computer science initiative;
• requires the STEM Action Center Board and the State Board of Education to collaborate to develop and implement the initiative; and
• requires the STEM Action Center Board to include information on the initiative in the board's annual report to the Education Interim Committee.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

COMPUTER SCIENCE INITIATIVE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
House Sponsor: 
Bradley G. Last
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill enacts provisions regarding computer science instruction in public schools.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ creates the computer science initiative;
▸ requires the STEM Action Center Board and the State Board of Education to
collaborate to develop and implement the initiative; and
▸ requires the STEM Action Center Board to include information on the initiative in
the board's annual report to the Education Interim Committee.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates:
▸ to the State Board of Education - State Office of Education - Initiative Programs, as
a one-time appropriation:
• from the Education Fund, $400,000.
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
63N-12-213
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
63N-12-213
 is enacted to read:
 63N-12-213.
Computer science initiative for public schools.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Computational thinking" means the set of problem-solving skills and techniques
that software engineers use to write programs that underlie computer applications, including
decomposition, pattern recognition, pattern generalization, and algorithm design.
(b) "Computer coding" means the process of writing script for a computer program or
mobile device.
(c) "Educator" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
53A-6-103
.
(d) "Endorsement" means a stipulation, authorized by the State Board of Education and
appended to a license, that specifies the areas of practice to which the license applies.
(e) (i) "Institution of higher education" means the same as that term is defined in
Section 
53B-3-102
.
(ii) "Institution of higher education" includes the Utah College of Applied Technology.
(f) "Employer" means a private employer, public employer, industry association, union,
or the military.
(g) "License" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
53A-6-103
.
(2) Subject to legislative appropriations, on behalf of the board, the staff of the board
and the staff of the State Board of Education shall collaborate to develop and implement a
computer science initiative for public schools by:
(a) creating an online repository that:
(i) is available for school districts and charter schools to use as a resource; and
(ii) includes high quality computer science instructional resources that are designed to
teach students in all grade levels:
(A) computational thinking skills; and
(B) computer coding skills;
(b) providing for professional development on teaching computer science by:
(i) including resources for educators related to teaching computational thinking and
computer coding in the STEM education high quality professional development application
described in Section 
63N-12-210
; and
(ii) providing statewide or regional professional development institutes; and
(c) awarding grants to a school district or charter school, on a competitive basis, that
may be used to provide incentives for an educator to earn a computer science endorsement.
(3) A school district or charter school may enter into an agreement with one or more of
the following entities to jointly apply for a grant under Subsection (2)(c):
(a) a school district;
(b) a charter school;
(c) an employer;
(d) an institution of higher education; or
(e) a non-profit organization.
(4) To apply for a grant described in Subsection (2)(c), a school district or charter
school shall submit a plan to the State Board of Education for the use of the grant, including a
statement of purpose that describes the methods the school district or charter school proposes
to use to incentivize an educator to earn a computer science endorsement.
(5) The board and the State Board of Education shall encourage schools to
independently pursue computer science and coding initiatives, subject to local school board or
charter school governing board approval, based on the unique needs of the school's students.
(6) The board shall include information on the status of the computer science initiative
in the annual report described in Section 
63N-12-208
.
Section 2. 
Appropriation.
Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017, the following sums of money
are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
previously appropriated, out of the funds or amounts indicated. These sums of money are in
addition to amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2017.
To State Board of Education -- State Office of Education -- Initiative Programs
From Education Fund, one-time
$400,000
Schedule of Programs:
Computer Science Initiative $400,000
The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education use:
(1) at least $390,000 of the appropriation provided in this section for grants described
in Subsection 
63N-12-213
(2)(c); and
(2) up to $10,000 of the appropriation provided in this section for administration of the
initiative described in Section 
63N-12-213
.
Section 3. 
Effective date.
If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
the date of veto override.