Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 165 First Substitute (2017GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Mayne, K.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/25/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• creates the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program to provide up to $5,000 annually for qualified applicants;
• appropriates funds for the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program;
• dedicates a portion of the scholarship funds for officers currently working in smaller counties;
• requires that an individual who receives a scholarship through the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program continue to work with their current law enforcement agency for an additional year for each year that they apply for and receive scholarship funds;
• requires an individual to reimburse the State Board of Regents for any scholarship money awarded to them if they fail to comply with the requirements of the scholarship; and
• requires the board to annually report on the scholarship program to the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Karen Mayne
House Sponsor: 
 Lee B. Perry
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program
under the State Board of Regents.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ creates the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program to
provide up to $5,000 annually for qualified applicants;
▸ appropriates funds for the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship
program;
▸ dedicates a portion of the scholarship funds for officers currently working in smaller
counties;
▸ requires that an individual who receives a scholarship through the Public Safety
Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program continue to work with their
current law enforcement agency for an additional year for each year that they apply
for and receive scholarship funds; 
▸ requires an individual to reimburse the State Board of Regents for any scholarship
money awarded to them if they fail to comply with the requirements of the
scholarship; and
▸ requires the board to annually report on the scholarship program to the Higher
Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2018:
▸ to the State Board of Regents - Student Assistance, as an ongoing appropriation:
• from the Education Fund, $200,000.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
53B-8-112
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
53B-8-113
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53B-8-112
 is enacted to read:
 53B-8-112.
Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship.
(1) The Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program is created.
(2) A Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship may only be used at:
(a) a credit-granting higher education institution within the state system of higher
education, described in Section 
53B-1-102
; or
(b) a private, nonprofit college or university in the state that is accredited by the
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.
(3) A scholarship authorized in this section may only be awarded to an applicant who:
(a) is a certified public safety officer, currently employed by a law enforcement agency
within the state;
(b) has been employed as a certified public safety officer for three or more consecutive
years; and
(c) is seeking a post-secondary degree in the area of criminal justice.
(4) Subject to Legislative appropriations, of the funds appropriated for the Public
Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program:
(a) $50,000 each year shall be designated for applicants who are currently employed by
a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in a county of the third or fourth class; and
(b) $25,000 each year shall be designated for applicants who are currently employed by
a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in a county of the fifth or sixth class.
(5) The board may grant a leave of absence to a scholarship holder, but the applicant
may only receive scholarship money within eight years of the initial application for a
scholarship.
(6) (a) For each year that the applicant is awarded a scholarship from the Public Safety
Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program, the applicant shall remain employed with
that law enforcement agency for an additional year after being awarded a scholarship.
(b) If an applicant is awarded a scholarship authorized by this section and fails to
comply with the provisions of Subsection (6)(a), the applicant shall reimburse the board for any
scholarship funds awarded to the applicant under this section.
(7) The board shall:
(a) adopt policies establishing the application process and an appeal process for a
scholarship from the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program,
including procedures to allow for online application submittals; and
(b) include a disclosure on all applications and related materials that the amount of the
awarded scholarships may be subject to funding or be reduced, in accordance with Subsection
(8).
(8) (a) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall make an annual
appropriation from the Education Fund to the board for the costs associated with the Public
Safety Officer Career Advancement Scholarship program authorized under this section.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the appropriation under this
section is insufficient to cover the costs associated with the Public Safety Officer Career
Advancement Scholarship program, the board may reduce the amount of any scholarship.
(9) The board shall set deadlines for receiving scholarship applications and supporting
documentation.
(10) The amount of each scholarship awarded from the Public Safety Officer Career
Advancement Scholarship program is up to $5,000 each year, per applicant.
Section 2. Section 
53B-8-113
 is enacted to read:
 53B-8-113.
Reporting.
The board shall report annually on the Public Safety Officer Career Advancement
Scholarship program no later than December 1 to the Higher Education Appropriations
Subcommittee regarding the following information for the previous calendar year:
(1) the number of certified public safety officer applicants for scholarship;
(2) the number of scholarships awarded from the Public Safety Officer Career
Advancement Scholarship program; and
(3) the total amount in scholarships awarded.
Section 3. 
Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2017, and ending June 30, 2018. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2018. Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures
Act, the Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts
indicated for the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
To State Board of Regents -- Student Assistance
From Education Fund
$200,000
Schedule of Programs:
Public Safety Officer Career Advancement
Scholarship Program $200,000
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel