Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 327 First Substitute (2018GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Noel, M.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2018

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• requires Utah State University to:
• administer a pilot program, through a county extension office, to help individuals living in rural areas take advantage of freelance, job, and business opportunities available online;
• include certain components in the pilot program;
• initially administer the pilot program in a geographic area based on certain criteria and expand the pilot program to other geographic areas if resources allow; and
• report to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee; and
• provides a sunset date.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

RURAL ONLINE INITIATIVE
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Michael E. Noel
Senate Sponsor: 
____________
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill establishes a pilot program to help individuals living in rural areas take
advantage of freelance, job, and business opportunities available online.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ requires Utah State University to:
• administer a pilot program, through a county extension office, to help
individuals living in rural areas take advantage of freelance, job, and business
opportunities available online;
• include certain components in the pilot program;
• initially administer the pilot program in a geographic area based on certain
criteria and expand the pilot program to other geographic areas if resources
allow; and
• report to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim
Committee; and
▸ provides a sunset date.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2019:
▸ to Utah State University - Cooperative Extension - Rural Workforce Online
Development, as a one-time appropriation:
• from the Education Fund, one-time, $1,740,000. 
• from the General Fund, one-time, $120,000.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-1-253
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapters 166 and 181
ENACTS:
53B-18-1501
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53B-18-1501
 is enacted to read:
Part 15. Rural Online Initiative
 53B-18-1501.
Remote online opportunities -- Pilot program -- Report to
Legislature .
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Association of governments" means an association of political subdivisions
established pursuant to an interlocal agreement under Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal
Cooperation Act.
(b) "Pilot program" means the pilot program administered by Utah State University in
accordance with this section.
(c) "Remote online opportunity" means employment, including freelance employment,
or the operation of an online business for which an individual:
(i) can complete duties primarily online; and
(ii) is not required to work from a specific geographic location.
(2) (a) Subject to legislative appropriations, Utah State University, through a county
extension office, shall administer a pilot program that helps individuals who live in rural areas
access remote online opportunities.
(b) In administering the pilot program, Utah State University shall consider input from
a county located in a geographic area selected for the pilot program under Subsection (4).
(3) Utah State University shall, as part of the pilot program:
(a) provide training modules to adults and high school students;
(b) coordinate with rural high schools and postsecondary institutions;
(c) develop marketing materials;
(d) develop relationships with information technology companies that offer remote
online opportunities;
(e) partner with websites that list freelance remote online opportunities;
(f) provide scholarships for individuals who live in rural areas to access online
skill-based training for remote online opportunities;
(g) provide one on one coaching for an individual who pursues a remote online
opportunity; and
(h) conduct other activities related to remote online opportunities as determined by
Utah State University.
(4) (a) Utah State University shall administer the pilot program:
(i) in at least one geographic area in the state initially; and
(ii) in additional geographic areas if resources allow.
(b) In determining where to initially administer the pilot program, Utah State
University shall consider whether counties in a geographic area:
(i) are primarily rural or have remote rural areas;
(ii) face high unemployment rates;
(iii) have access to high speed Internet;
(iv) have a large percentage of high school graduates leave the geographic area after
graduating from high school; and
(v) are members of an association of governments that supports helping individuals
who live in rural areas access remote online opportunities.
(5) On or before November 1, 2020, Utah State University shall report to the Economic
Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee on:
(a) the number of individuals who receive training through the pilot program;
(b) the number and percentage of individuals who participate in the pilot program and
access a remote online opportunity; and
(c) whether there is a reduction in the unemployment rate in a geographic area included
in the pilot program.
Section 2. Section 
63I-1-253
 is amended to read:
63I-1-253.
Repeal dates, Titles 53, 53A, and 53B.
The following provisions are repealed on the following dates:
(1) Subsection 
53-10-202
(18) is repealed July 1, 2018.
(2) Section 
53-10-202.1
 is repealed July 1, 2018.
[
(3) Title 53A, Chapter 1a, Part 6, Public Education Job Enhancement Program, is
repealed July 1, 2020.
]
[
(4) Section 
53A-13-106.5
 is repealed July 1, 2019.
]
[
(5) Section 
53A-15-106
 is repealed July 1, 2019.
]
[
(6) Sections 
53A-15-206
 and 
53A-15-207
 are repealed January 1, 2023.
]
[
(7) Title 53A, Chapter 31, Part 4, American Indian and Alaskan Native Education
State Plan Pilot Program, is repealed July 1, 2022.
]
(3) Section 
53B-18-1501
 is repealed July 1, 2021.
[
(8)
] 
(4)
 Section 
53B-24-402
, Rural residency training program, is repealed July 1,
2020.
[
(9)
] 
(5)
 Subsection 
53C-3-203
(4)(b)(vii), which provides for the distribution of money
from the Land Exchange Distribution Account to the Geological Survey for test wells, other
hydrologic studies, and air quality monitoring in the West Desert, is repealed July 1, 2020.
(6) Section 
53E-3-515
 is repealed January 1, 2023.
(7) Section 
53F-2-514
 is repealed July 1, 2020.
(8) Section 
53F-5-203
 is repealed July 1, 2019.
(9) Title 53F, Chapter 5, Part 6, American Indian and Alaskan Native Education State
Plan Pilot Program, is repealed July 1, 2022.
(10) Section 
53F-6-201
 is repealed July 1, 2019.
(11) Section 
53F-9-501
 is repealed January 1, 2023.
Section 3. 
Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2018, and ending June 30, 2019. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2019. 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.
ITEM 1
To Utah State University -- Cooperative Extension
From Education Fund, One-time
$1,740,000
From General Fund, One-time
$120,000
Schedule of Programs:
Rural Online Initiative $1,860,000
The Legislature intends that:
(1) Utah State University expend:
(a) the appropriation from the General Fund provided under this item for scholarships
described in Subsection 
53B-18-1501
(3)(f); and
(b) the appropriation from the Education Fund provided under this item for the pilot
program described in Section 
53B-18-1501
, except for the purposes described in Subsection
(1)(a);
(2) Utah State University expend the appropriations provided in this item in fiscal
years 2019, 2020, and 2021, in an amount not to exceed $680,000 in 2019, $590,000 in 2020,
and the remainder in fiscal year 2021; and
(3) under Section 
63J-1-603
, appropriations provided under this item not lapse at the
close of fiscal year 2019 or 2020.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel