Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 334 (2020GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Johnson, D.N.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/30/2020

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• creates a civics engagement pilot program to assess the benefits of, and methods for, implementing a requirement to complete a civics engagement project as a condition for receiving a high school diploma;
• provides for training for teachers in schools participating in the pilot program; and
• requires schools participating in the pilot program to submit a report to the State Board of Education.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

CIVICS EDUCATION AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Dan N. Johnson
Senate Sponsor: 
Lyle W. Hillyard
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates a civics engagement pilot program to assess the benefits of, and
methods for, implementing a requirement to complete a civics engagement project as a
condition for receiving a high school diploma.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ creates a civics engagement pilot program to assess the benefits of, and methods for,
implementing a requirement to complete a civics engagement project as a condition
for receiving a high school diploma;
▸ provides for training for teachers in schools participating in the pilot program; and
▸ requires schools participating in the pilot program to submit a report to the State
Board of Education.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53G-10-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 48, 246, 293, 324 and
last amended by Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 246
63I-2-253
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 41, 129, 136, 223, 324,
325, and 444
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53G-10-204
 is amended to read:
53G-10-204.
Civic and character education -- Definitions -- Legislative finding --
Elements -- Reporting requirements.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Character education" means reaffirming values and qualities of character which
promote an upright and desirable citizenry.
(b) "Civic education" means the cultivation of informed, responsible participation in
political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of
representative democracy in Utah and the United States.
(c) "Civics engagement pilot program" means the pilot program described in
Subsection (7).
(d) "Civics engagement project" means the civics engagement project described in
Subsection (7), which a student enrolled in a participating LEA may complete.
(e) "Participating LEA" means an LEA that meets the eligibility criteria, and is selected
by the state board, to participate in the civics engagement pilot program.
[
(c)
] 
(f)
 "Values" means time-established principles or standards of worth.
(2) The Legislature recognizes that:
(a) Civic and character education are fundamental elements of the public education
system's core mission as originally intended and established under Article X of the Utah
Constitution;
(b) Civic and character education are fundamental elements of the constitutional
responsibility of public education and shall be a continuing emphasis and focus in public
schools;
(c) the cultivation of a continuing understanding and appreciation of a constitutional
republic and principles of representative democracy in Utah and the United States among
succeeding generations of educated and responsible citizens is important to the nation and
state;
(d) the primary responsibility for the education of children within the state resides with
their parents and that the role of state and local governments is to support and assist parents in
fulfilling that responsibility;
(e) public schools fulfill a vital purpose in the preparation of succeeding generations of
informed and responsible citizens who are deeply attached to essential democratic values and
institutions; and
(f) the happiness and security of American society relies upon the public virtue of its
citizens which requires a united commitment to a moral social order where self-interests are
willingly subordinated to the greater common good.
(3) Through an integrated curriculum, students shall be taught in connection with
regular school work:
(a) honesty, integrity, morality, civility, duty, honor, service, and obedience to law;
(b) respect for and an understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the
constitutions of the United States and of the state of Utah;
(c) Utah history, including territorial and preterritorial development to the present;
(d) the essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system;
(e) respect for parents, home, and family;
(f) the dignity and necessity of honest labor; and
(g) other skills, habits, and qualities of character which will promote an upright and
desirable citizenry and better prepare students to recognize and accept responsibility for
preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured
by the constitution.
(4) Local school boards and school administrators may provide training, direction, and
encouragement, as needed, to accomplish the intent and requirements of this section and to
effectively emphasize civic and character education in the course of regular instruction in the
public schools.
(5) Civic and character education in public schools are:
(a) not intended to be separate programs in need of special funding or added specialists
to be accomplished; and
(b) core principles which reflect the shared values of the citizens of Utah and the
founding principles upon which representative democracy in the United States and the state of
Utah are based.
(6) In accordance with Section 
53E-1-203
, the state board shall report to the Education
Interim Committee the methods used, and the results being achieved, to instruct and prepare
students to become informed and responsible citizens through an integrated curriculum taught
in connection with regular school work as required in this section.
(7) (a) In accordance with this section, subject to appropriations by the Legislature for
this purpose, beginning with the 2020-21 school year, the state board shall administer a
three-year civics engagement pilot program to assess the benefits of, and methods for,
implementing a requirement to complete a civics engagement project as a condition for
receiving a high school diploma.
(b) The state board shall:
(i) make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
Rulemaking Act:
(A) to create a civics engagement project that complies with core standards for Utah
public education for social studies and prepares students for lifelong civic motivation and
participation through applied learning of civics content;
(B) to establish eligibility requirements for participating LEAs;
(C) to create an application process for LEAs to apply to participate in the pilot
program; and
(D) for a report that a participating LEA is required to submit to the state board at the
end of the pilot program;
(ii) select participating LEAs:
(A) from diverse geographic areas within the state; and
(B) with a range of student population sizes; and
(iii) subject to appropriations by the Legislature for this purpose, in cooperation with
school districts, charter schools, and interested private and nonprofit entities, provide training
that prepares teachers in a participating LEA to assist students to successfully complete the
civics engagement project.
(c) A participating LEA shall submit a report to the state board in accordance with the
rules described in Subsection (7)(b)(i)(D).
Section 2. Section 
63I-2-253
 is amended to read:
63I-2-253.
 Repeal dates -- Titles 53 through 53G.
(1) (a) Subsections 
53B-2a-103
(2) and (4), regarding the composition of the UTech
Board of Trustees and the transition to that composition, are repealed July 1, 2019.
(b) When repealing Subsections 
53B-2a-103
(2) and (4), the Office of Legislative
Research and General Counsel shall, in addition to its authority under Subsection 
36-12-12
(3),
make necessary changes to subsection numbering and cross references.
(2) (a) Subsection 
53B-2a-108
(5), regarding exceptions to the composition of a
technical college board of directors, is repealed July 1, 2022.
(b) When repealing Subsection 
53B-2a-108
(5), the Office of Legislative Research and
General Counsel shall, in addition to its authority under Subsection 
36-12-12
(3), make
necessary changes to subsection numbering and cross references.
(3) Section 
53B-6-105.7
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(4) (a) Subsection 
53B-7-705
(6)(b)(ii)(A), the language that states "Except as provided
in Subsection (6)(b)(ii)(B)," is repealed July 1, 2021.
(b) Subsection 
53B-7-705
(6)(b)(ii)(B), regarding comparing a technical college's
change in performance with the technical college's average performance, is repealed July 1,
2021.
(5) (a) Subsection 
53B-7-707
(3)(a)(ii), the language that states "Except as provided in
Subsection (3)(b)," is repealed July 1, 2021.
(b) Subsection 
53B-7-707
(3)(b), regarding performance data of a technical college
during a fiscal year before fiscal year 2020, is repealed July 1, 2021.
(6) Section 
53B-8-112
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(7) Section 
53B-8-114
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(8) (a) The following sections, regarding the Regents' scholarship program, are
repealed on July 1, 2023:
(i) Section 
53B-8-202
;
(ii) Section 
53B-8-203
;
(iii) Section 
53B-8-204
; and
(iv) Section 
53B-8-205
.
(b) (i) Subsection 
53B-8-201
(2), regarding the Regents' scholarship program for
students who graduate from high school before fiscal year 2019, is repealed on July 1, 2023.
(ii) When repealing Subsection 
53B-8-201
(2), the Office of Legislative Research and
General Counsel shall, in addition to its authority under Subsection 
36-12-12
(3), make
necessary changes to subsection numbering and cross references.
(9) Section 
53B-10-101
 is repealed on July 1, 2027.
(10) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 14, Uintah Basin Air Quality Research Project, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(11) Section 
53E-3-519
 regarding school counselor services is repealed July 1, 2020.
(12) Section 
53E-3-520
 is repealed July 1, 2021.
(13) Subsection 
53E-5-306
(3)(b)(ii)(B), related to improving school performance and
continued funding relating to the School Recognition and Reward Program, is repealed July 1,
2020.
(14) Section 
53E-5-307
 is repealed July 1, 2020.
(15) In Subsections 
53F-2-205
(4) and (5), regarding the State Board of Education's
duties if contributions from the minimum basic tax rate are overestimated or underestimated,
the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
(16) Subsection 
53F-2-301
(1), relating to the years the section is not in effect, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(17) In Subsection 
53F-2-515
(1), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(18) Section 
53F-4-204
 is repealed July 1, 2019.
]
[
(19)
] 
(18)
 In Subsection 
53F-9-302
(3), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(20)
] 
(19)
 In Subsection 
53F-9-305
(3)(a), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(21)
] 
(20)
 In Subsection 
53F-9-306
(3)(a), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(22)
] 
(21)
 In Subsection 
53G-3-304
(1)(c)(i), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
,
as applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
(22) Subsections 
53G-10-204
(1)(c) through (e), and Subsection 
53G-10-204
(7), related
to the civics engagement pilot program, are repealed on July 1, 2023.
(23) On July 1, 2023, when making changes in this section, the Office of Legislative
Research and General Counsel shall, in addition to the office's authority under Subsection
36-12-12
(3), make corrections necessary to ensure that sections and subsections identified in
this section are complete sentences and accurately reflect the office's perception of the
Legislature's intent.