Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 360 (2020GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Waldrip, S.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/30/2020

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• moves an authorization for an analytical software program out of a specific appropriation allocation;
• allows for the use of a specific appropriation allocation for administrative costs; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

INTERACTIVE READING SOFTWARE AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve Waldrip
Senate Sponsor: 
Lyle W. Hillyard
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions related to an interactive reading software.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ moves an authorization for an analytical software program out of a specific
appropriation allocation;
▸ allows for the use of a specific appropriation allocation for administrative costs; and
▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53F-4-203
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 164, 186, and 324
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53F-4-203
 is amended to read:
53F-4-203.
Early interactive reading software -- Independent evaluator.
(1) (a) Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall select and contract
with one or more technology providers, through a request for proposals process, to provide
early interactive reading software for literacy instruction and assessments for students in
kindergarten through grade 3.
(b) By August 1 of each year, the state board shall distribute licenses for early
interactive reading software described in Subsection (1)(a) to the school districts and charter
schools of LEA governing boards that apply for the licenses.
(c) Except as provided in state board rule, a school district or charter school that
received a license described in Subsection (1)(b) during the prior year shall be given first
priority to receive an equivalent license during the current year.
(d) Licenses distributed to school districts and charter schools in addition to the
licenses described in Subsection (1)(c) shall be distributed through a competitive process.
(2) A public school that receives a license described in Subsection (1)(b) shall use the
license for a student in kindergarten or grade 1, 2, or 3:
(a) for intervention for the student if the student is reading below grade level; or
(b) for advancement beyond grade level for the student if the student is reading at or
above grade level.
(3) (a) On or before August 1 of each year, the state board shall select and contract with
an independent evaluator, through a request for proposals process, to act as an independent
contractor to evaluate early interactive reading software provided under this section.
(b) The state board shall ensure that a contract with an independent evaluator requires
the independent evaluator to:
(i) evaluate a student's learning gains as a result of using early interactive reading
software provided under Subsection (1);
(ii) for the evaluation under Subsection (3)(b)(i), use an assessment that is not
developed by a provider of early interactive reading software; and
(iii) determine the extent to which a public school uses the early interactive reading
software.
(c) The state board and the independent evaluator selected under Subsection (3)(a)
shall submit a report on the results of the evaluation in accordance with Section 
53E-1-201
.
(4) The state board may acquire an analytical software program that:
(a) monitors, for an individual school, early intervention interactive reading software
use and the associated impact on student performance; and
(b) analyzes the information gathered under Subsection (4)(a) to prescribe individual
school usage time to maximize the beneficial impact on student performance.
[
(4)
] 
(5)
 The state board may use up to 4% of the appropriation provided under
Subsection (1)(a) [
to
]:
[
(a) acquire an analytical software program that:
]
[
(i) monitors, for an individual school, early intervention interactive reading software
use and the associated impact on student performance; and
]
[
(ii) analyzes the information gathered under Subsection (4)(a)(i) to prescribe
individual school usage time to maximize the beneficial impact on student performance; or
]
[
(b)
] 
(a) to
 contract with an independent evaluator selected under Subsection (3)(a)[
.
]
;
and
(b) for administrative costs associated with this section.