Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 340 (2021GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Eliason, S.

Final action

House/ filed 3/5/2021

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• reinstates the Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers (MOST) Program;
• addresses the duties and authority of the State Board of Education related to the funding of the MOST Program and associated grants;
• addresses the allowable expenditures for MOST Program grant money; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
STUDENTS AND TEACHERS PROGRAM
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason
Senate Sponsor: 
Curtis S. Bramble
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill reinstates the Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers
Program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ reinstates the Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers (MOST)
Program;
▸ addresses the duties and authority of the State Board of Education related to the
funding of the MOST Program and associated grants;
▸ addresses the allowable expenditures for MOST Program grant money; and
▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates in fiscal year 2022:
▸ to the State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic
School Programs, as an ongoing appropriation:
• from the Education Fund, $3,900,000; and
▸ to the State Board of Education - MSP Categorical Program Administration, as an
ongoing appropriation:
• from the Education Fund, $100,000.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53F-2-203
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Fifth Special Session, Chapter 14
ENACTS:
53F-2-505.1
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53F-2-203
 is amended to read:
53F-2-203.
Reduction of LEA governing board allocation based on insufficient
revenues.
(1) As used in this section, "Minimum School Program funds" means the total of state
and local funds appropriated for the Minimum School Program, excluding:
(a) an appropriation for a state guaranteed local levy increment as described in Section
53F-2-601
; and
(b) the appropriation to charter schools to replace local property tax revenues pursuant
to Section 
53F-2-704
.
(2) If the Legislature reduces appropriations made to support public schools under this
chapter because an Education Fund budget deficit, as defined in Section 
63J-1-312
, exists, the
state board, after consultation with each LEA governing board, shall allocate the reduction
among school districts and charter schools in proportion to each school district's or charter
school's percentage share of Minimum School Program funds.
(3) Except as provided in Subsection (5) and subject to the requirements of Subsection
(7), an LEA governing board shall determine which programs are affected by a reduction
pursuant to Subsection (2) and the amount each program is reduced.
(4) Except as provided in Subsections (5) and (6), the requirement to spend a specified
amount in any particular program is waived if reductions are made pursuant to Subsection (2).
(5) An LEA governing board may not reduce or reallocate spending of funds
distributed to the school district or charter school for the following programs:
(a) educator salary adjustments provided in Section 
53F-2-405
;
(b) the Teacher Salary Supplement Program provided in Section 
53F-2-504
;
(c) the extended year for special educators provided in Section 
53F-2-310
;
(d) the School LAND Trust Program described in Sections 
53F-2-404
 and
53G-7-1206
; [
or
]
(e) the Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers Program provided in
Section 
53F-2-505.1
; or
[
(e)
] 
(f)
 a special education program within the basic school program.
(6) An LEA governing board may not reallocate spending of funds distributed to the
school district or charter school to a reserve account.
(7) An LEA governing board that reduces or reallocates funds in accordance with this
section shall report all transfers into, or out of, Minimum School Program programs to the state
board as part of the school district or charter school's Annual Financial and Program report.
Section 2. Section 
53F-2-505.1
 is enacted to read:
 53F-2-505.1.
Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers
Program.
(1) As used in this section, "MOST Program" means the Math and Science
Opportunities for Students and Teachers Program created in this section.
(2) (a) The Math and Science Opportunities for Students and Teachers Program is
created to provide a financial incentive for LEA governing boards to adopt programs in
respective LEAs that result in a more efficient use of human resources and capital facilities.
(b) The intended benefits of the program include:
(i) increased opportunities for supporting math and science teachers in their
instructional delivery as it pertains to student learning outcomes;
(ii) increased compensation for math and science teachers by providing opportunities
for an expanded contract year which will enhance LEAs' ability to attract and retain talented
and highly qualified math and science teachers;
(iii) increased capacity of school buildings by using buildings more hours of the day or
more days of the year, resulting in reduced capital facilities costs;
(iv) decreased class sizes created by expanding the number of instructional
opportunities in a year;
(v) opportunities for earlier high school graduation;
(vi) improved student college preparation;
(vii) increased opportunities to offer additional remedial and advanced courses in math
and science; and
(viii) opportunities to coordinate high school and post-secondary math and science
education.
(3) From money appropriated for the MOST Program, the state board shall award
grants to LEAs to pay for costs related to the adoption and implementation of the program.
(4) The state board shall:
(a) solicit proposals from an LEA or a regional education service agency on behalf of
an LEA for the use of grant money to facilitate the adoption and implementation of the
program; and
(b) award grants on a competitive basis.
(5) In selecting a grant recipient, the state board shall consider:
(a) the degree to which an LEA's proposed adoption and implementation of an
extended year for math and science teachers achieves the benefits described in Subsection (2);
(b) the unique circumstances of different urban, rural, large, small, growing, and
declining LEAs; and
(c) providing programs in as many different LEAs as possible.
(6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), an LEA may only use grant money to
provide educator contracts, educator contract extensions, educator stipends, or combinations of
both, for participating MOST Program math and science teachers.
(b) Up to 5% of the grant money may be used to fund math and science field trips,
textbooks, and supplies.
(7) Participation in the MOST Program is:
(a) voluntary for an individual teacher; and
(b) voluntary for a charter school or school district.
Section 3. 
Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2021, and ending June 30, 2022. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2022. 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 State Board of Education - Minimum School Program - Related to Basic School
Programs
From Education Fund
$3,900,000
Schedule of Programs:
Math and Science Opportunities for Students
 and Teachers Program
$3,900,000
ITEM 2
To State Board of Education - MSP Categorical Program Administration
From Education Fund
$100,000
Schedule of Programs:
Math and Science Opportunities for Students
 and Teachers Program
$100,000