Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 160 (2020GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Moss, C.

Final action

House/ filed 3/12/2020

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• authorizes DWS to partner with one or more local education agencies to create an education program for refugees; and
• describes that the education program would assist adult refugee students, who are no longer eligible for traditional high school, in obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent;
• describes the rulemaking authority for DWS to administer the education program; and
• describes the annual reporting requirement of DWS related to the education program.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

REFUGEE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Carol Spackman Moss
Senate Sponsor: 
 Kathleen Riebe
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates an education program for refugee students within the Refugee Services
Office of the Department of Workforce Services (DWS). 
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ authorizes DWS to partner with one or more local education agencies to create an
education program for refugees; and
▸ describes that the education program would assist adult refugee students, who are
no longer eligible for traditional high school, in obtaining a high school diploma or
its equivalent;
▸ describes the rulemaking authority for DWS to administer the education program;
and
▸ describes the annual reporting requirement of DWS related to the education
program.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2021:
▸ to the Department of Workforce Services -- Operations and Policy -- Workforce
Development as an ongoing appropriation:
• from the General Fund, $500,000.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
35A-3-703
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
35A-3-703
 is enacted to read:
 35A-3-703.
Continuation of high school education.
(1) As used in this section, "local education agency" means a school district or charter
school.
(2) Subject to appropriations from the Legislature, the department may partner with
one or more local education agencies to provide an education program to assist refugees in:
(a) obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent; and
(b) career pathway planning.
(3) The education program may only assist refugees who:
(a) have not obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(b) are no longer eligible for traditional high school; and
(c) are 18 years of age or older and 23 years of age or younger.
(4) The department shall administer and coordinate the provision of the education
program described in this section, including determining eligibility for the program:
(a) with input from any office or advisory committee involved with the provision of
refugee services within the department;
(b) with input from any partnering local education agency; and
(c) in accordance with any state and federal requirements related to the provision of
services to refugees.
(5) The department may make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, to provide for the administration and coordination of the
education program described in this section.
(6) The department shall include in its annual report described in Section 
35A-1-109
the following information:
(a) the name of each local education agency that the department is partnering with to
provide an education program described in this section;
(b) the number of refugee students being served by the education program described in
this section;
(c) the number of refugee students who have obtained a high school diploma or its
equivalent as a result of the education program described in this section; and
(d) recommendations to the Legislature regarding what is working well and what
improvements could be made to the education program described in this section.
Section 2. 
Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2020, and ending June 30, 2021. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2021. 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 the Department of Workforce Services -- Operations and Policy
From General Fund
$500,000
Schedule of Programs:
Workforce Development
$500,000