Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 124 First Substitute (2021GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Johnson, D.N.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/16/2021

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• makes a technical change to the definition of basic civics test to reflect changes to the test form used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

CIVICS EDUCATION AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Dan N. Johnson
Senate Sponsor: 
Chris H. Wilson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill makes technical changes to provisions related to civics education graduation
requirements.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ makes a technical change to the definition of basic civics test to reflect changes to
the test form used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-4-205
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 408
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53E-4-205
 is amended to read:
53E-4-205.
American civics education initiative.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Adult education program" means an organized educational program below the
postsecondary level, other than a regular full-time K-12 secondary education program,
provided by an LEA or nonprofit organization that provides the opportunity for an adult to
further the adult's high school level education.
(b) "Basic civics test" means a test that includes 50 of the [
] questions on the civics
test form used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services:
(i) to determine that an individual applying for United States citizenship meets the
basic citizenship skills specified in 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1423; and
(ii) in accordance with 8 C.F.R. Sec. 312.2.
(2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the state board shall require:
(i) a public school student who graduates on or after January 1, 2016, to pass a basic
civics test as a condition for receiving a high school diploma; and
(ii) a student enrolled in an adult education program to pass a basic civics test as a
condition for receiving an adult education secondary diploma.
(b) The state board may require a public school student to pass an alternate assessment
instead of a basic civics test if the student qualifies for an alternate assessment, as defined in
state board rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
Rulemaking Act.
(3) An individual who correctly answers a minimum of 35 out of the 50 questions on a
basic civics test passes the test and an individual who correctly answers fewer than 35 out of 50
questions on a basic civics test does not pass the test.
(4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
state board shall make rules that:
(a) require an LEA that serves secondary students to administer a basic civics test or
alternate assessment to a public school student enrolled in the LEA;
(b) require an adult education program provider to administer a basic civics test to an
individual who intends to receive an adult education secondary diploma;
(c) allow an individual to take a basic civics test as many times as needed in order to
pass the test; and
(d) for the alternate assessment described in Subsection (2)(b), describe:
(i) the content of an alternate assessment;
(ii) how a public school student qualifies for an alternate assessment; and
(iii) how an LEA determines if a student passes an alternate assessment.