Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 1007 (2021S1)

Sponsor

Rep. Peterson, V.

Final action

Governor Signed 5/28/2021

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• prohibits an institution of higher education from requiring a face covering to participate in or attend instruction, activities, or in any other place on the campus of the institution after the end of the spring semester in 2021;
• prohibits the Utah Board of Higher Education from requiring a face covering to participate in or attend instruction, activities, or in any other place on the campus of the institution after the end of the spring semester in 2021; and
• prohibits a face covering requirement to participate in or attend instruction, activities, or in any other place on the school campus or facilities in the system of public education after the end of the 2020-2021 school year.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

FACE COVERING REQUIREMENTS
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Val L. Peterson
Senate Sponsor: 
Evan J. Vickers
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill prohibits a face covering requirement in the system of higher education and in
the public education system.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ prohibits an institution of higher education from requiring a face covering to
participate in or attend instruction, activities, or in any other place on the campus of
the institution after the end of the spring semester in 2021;
▸ prohibits the Utah Board of Higher Education from requiring a face covering to
participate in or attend instruction, activities, or in any other place on the campus of
the institution after the end of the spring semester in 2021; and
▸ prohibits a face covering requirement to participate in or attend instruction,
activities, or in any other place on the school campus or facilities in the system of
public education after the end of the 2020-2021 school year.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53B-2-113
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 258
53B-3-103
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 258
53G-9-210
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 435
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53B-2-113
 is amended to read:
53B-2-113.
Vaccination requirements -- Exemptions -- Face covering
requirements.
(1) An institution of higher education described in Section 
53B-2-101
 may not require
proof of vaccination as a condition for enrollment or attendance unless the institution allows
for the following exemptions:
(a) a medical exemption if the student provides to the institution a statement that the
claimed exemption is for a medical reason; and
(b) a personal exemption if the student provides to the institution a statement that the
claimed exemption is for a personal or religious belief.
(2) An institution that offers both remote and in-person learning options may not deny
a student who is exempt from a requirement to receive a vaccine under Subsection (1) to
participate in an in-person learning option based upon the student's vaccination status.
(3) (a) For purposes of this Subsection (3), "face covering" means the same as that term
is defined in Section 
53G-9-210
.
(b) An institution of higher education described in Section 
53B-2-101
 may not require
an individual to wear a face covering to attend or participate in in-person instruction,
institution-sponsored athletics, institution-sponsored extracurricular activities, in dormitories,
or in any other place on a campus of an institution within the system of higher education at any
time after the end of the spring semester in 2021.
[
(3)
] 
(4)
 Subsections (1) [
and
]
,
 (2)
, and (3)
 do not apply to a student studying in a
medical setting at an institution of higher education.
[
(4)
] 
(5)
 Nothing in this section restricts a state or local health department from acting
under applicable law to contain the spread of an infectious disease.
Section 2. Section 
53B-3-103
 is amended to read:
53B-3-103.
Power of board to adopt rules and enact regulations.
(1) The board may enact regulations governing the conduct of university and college
students, faculty, and employees.
(2) (a) The board may:
(i) enact and authorize higher education institutions to enact traffic, parking, and
related regulations governing all individuals on campuses and other facilities owned or
controlled by the institutions or the board; and
(ii) acknowledging that the Legislature has the authority to regulate, by law, firearms at
higher education institutions:
(A) authorize higher education institutions to establish no more than one secure area at
each institution as a hearing room as prescribed in Section 
76-8-311.1
, but not otherwise
restrict the lawful possession or carrying of firearms; and
(B) authorize a higher education institution to make a rule that allows a resident of a
dormitory located at the institution to request only roommates who are not licensed to carry a
concealed firearm under Section 
53-5-704
 or 
53-5-705
.
(b) In addition to the requirements and penalty prescribed in Subsections
76-8-311.1
(3), (4), (5), and (6), the board shall make rules to ensure that:
(i) reasonable means such as mechanical, electronic, x-ray, or similar devices are used
to detect firearms, ammunition, or dangerous weapons contained in the personal property of or
on the person of any individual attempting to enter a secure area hearing room;
(ii) an individual required or requested to attend a hearing in a secure area hearing
room is notified in writing of the requirements related to entering a secured area hearing room
under this Subsection (2)(b) and Section 
76-8-311.1
;
(iii) the restriction of firearms, ammunition, or dangerous weapons in the secure area
hearing room is in effect only during the time the secure area hearing room is in use for
hearings and for a reasonable time before and after its use; and
(iv) reasonable space limitations are applied to the secure area hearing room as
warranted by the number of individuals involved in a typical hearing.
(c) (i) The board may not require proof of vaccination as a condition for enrollment or
attendance within the system of higher education unless the board allows for the following
exemptions:
(A) a medical exemption if the student provides to the institution a statement that the
claimed exemption is for a medical reason; and
(B) a personal exemption if the student provides to the institution a statement that the
claimed exemption is for a personal or religious belief.
(ii) An institution that offers both remote and in-person learning options may not deny
a student who is exempt from a requirement to receive a vaccine under Subsection (2)(c)(i) to
participate in an in-person learning option based upon the student's vaccination status.
(iii) Subsections (2)(c)(i) and (ii) do not apply to a student studying in a medical setting
at an institution of higher education.
(iv) Nothing in this section restricts a state or local health department from acting
under applicable law to contain the spread of an infectious disease.
(d) (i) For purposes of this Subsection (2)(d), "face covering" means the same as that
term is defined in Section 
53G-9-210
.
(ii) The board may not require an individual to wear a face covering as a condition of
attendance for in-person instruction, institution-sponsored athletics, institution-sponsored
extracurricular activities, in dormitories, or in any other place on a campus of an institution
within the system of higher education at any time after the end of the spring semester in 2021.
(iii) Subsection (2)(d)(ii) does not apply to an individual in a medical setting at an
institution of higher education.
(3) The board shall enact regulations that require all testimony be given under oath
during an employee grievance hearing for a non-faculty employee of an institution of higher
education if the grievance hearing relates to the non-faculty employee's:
(a) demotion; or
(b) termination.
(4) The board and institutions may enforce these rules and regulations in any
reasonable manner, including the assessment of fees, fines, and forfeitures, the collection of
which may be by withholding from money owed the violator, the imposition of probation,
suspension, or expulsion from the institution, the revocation of privileges, the refusal to issue
certificates, degrees, and diplomas, through judicial process or any reasonable combination of
these alternatives.
Section 3. Section 
53G-9-210
 is amended to read:
53G-9-210.
Requirement for in-person instruction -- Test to stay programs --
Face coverings.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Case threshold" means as applicable, the number of students in a school, or
percentage of students in a school who meet the conditions described in Subsection (3).
(b) "COVID-19" means:
(i) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; or
(ii) the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
(c) "Extracurricular activity" means the same as that term is defined in Section
53G-7-501
.
(d) "Face covering" means a mask, shield, or other device that is intended to be worn in
a manner to cover the mouth, nose, or face to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
[
(c)
] 
(e)
 "In-person instruction" means instruction offered by a school that allows a
student to choose to attend school in-person at least four days per week if the student:
(i) is enrolled in a school that is not implementing a test to stay program; or
(ii) (A) is enrolled in a school that is implementing a test to stay program; and
(B) meets the test to stay program's criteria for attending school in person.
[
(d)
] 
(f)
 "Local Education Agency" or LEA means:
(i) a school district;
(ii) a charter school, other than an online-only charter school; or
(iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
[
(e)
] 
(g)
 "School" means a school other than an online-only charter school or an
online-only public school.
[
(f)
] 
(h)
 "Test to stay program" means a program through which an LEA provides
testing for COVID-19 for students during an outbreak of COVID-19 at a school in order to:
(i) identify cases of COVID-19; and
(ii) allow individuals who test negative for COVID-19 to attend school in person.
(2) (a) An LEA shall:
(i) except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), beginning on March 22, 2021, ensure that a
school offers in-person instruction; and
(ii) require a school that reaches the case threshold to:
(A) fulfill the requirement described in Subsection (2)(a)(i) by initiating a test to stay
program for the school; and
(B) provide a remote learning option for students who do not wish to attend in person.
(b) The requirement to provide in-person instruction described in Subsection (2)(a)
does not apply for a temporary period if the governor, the president of the Senate, the speaker
of the House of Representatives, and the state superintendent of public instruction jointly
concur with an LEA's assessment that due to public health emergency circumstances, the risks
related to in-person instruction temporarily outweigh the value of in-person instruction.
(3) (a) For purposes of determining whether a school has reached the school's case
threshold, a student is included in positive cases for the school if the student:
(i) within the preceding 14 days:
(A) attended at least some in-person instruction at the school; and
(B) tested positive for COVID-19; and
(ii) did not receive the student's positive COVID-19 test results through regular
periodic testing required to participate in LEA-sponsored athletics or another LEA-sponsored
extracurricular activity.
(b) (i) A school with 1,500 or more students meets the case threshold if at least 2% of
the school's students meet the conditions described in Subsection (3)(a).
(ii) A school with fewer than 1,500 students meets the case threshold if 30 or more of
the school's students meet the conditions described in Subsection (3)(a).
(4) (a) An LEA may not test a student for COVID-19 who is younger than 18 years old
without the consent of the student's parent.
(b) An LEA may seek advance consent from a student's parent for future testing for
COVID-19.
(5) An LEA, an LEA governing board, the state board, the state superintendent, or a
school may not require an individual to wear a face covering to attend or participate in
in-person instruction, LEA-sponsored athletics, or another LEA-sponsored extracurricular
activity, or in any other place on the campus of a school or school facility after the end of the
2020-2021 school year.
Section 4. 
Effective date.
If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, this bill takes effect
upon approval by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah
Constitution, Article VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto,
the date of veto override.