Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 273 First Substitute (2022GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Johnson, D.N.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/23/2022

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• creates a pilot grant program to support local education agencies in implementing innovative approaches to civics education;
• repeals the civics engagement pilot program;
• defines terms; and
• makes technical changes.

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
Cosponsors:
Cheryl K. Acton
Gay Lynn Bennion
Joel K. Briscoe
Travis M. Seegmiller
V. Lowry Snow
Steve Waldrip
Elizabeth Weight
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates the Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program to support
innovative approaches to civics education.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ creates a pilot grant program to support local education agencies in implementing
innovative approaches to civics education;
▸ repeals the civics engagement pilot program;
▸ defines terms; and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates:
▸ to the State Board of Education -- Contracted Initiatives and Grants, as a one-time
appropriation:
• from the Education Fund, One-time, $1,500,000.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-1-201
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapters 64, 251, and 351
53G-10-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 251
63I-1-253
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapters 14, 64, 106, 233, and 307
63I-2-253
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, First Special Session, Chapter 14
ENACTS:
53F-5-219
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53E-1-201
 is amended to read:
53E-1-201.
Reports to and action required of the Education Interim Committee.
(1) In accordance with applicable provisions and Section 
68-3-14
, the following
recurring reports are due to the Education Interim Committee:
(a) the report described in Section 
9-22-109
 by the STEM Action Center Board,
including the information described in Section 
9-22-113
 on the status of the computer science
initiative and Section 
9-22-114
 on the Computing Partnerships Grants Program;
(b) the prioritized list of data research described in Section 
35A-14-302
 and the report
on research described in Section 
35A-14-304
 by the Utah Data Research Center;
(c) the report described in Section 
35A-15-303
 by the State Board of Education on
preschool programs;
(d) the report described in Section 
53B-1-402
 by the Utah Board of Higher Education
on career and technical education issues and addressing workforce needs;
(e) the annual report of the Utah Board of Higher Education described in Section
53B-1-402
;
(f) the reports described in Section 
53B-28-401
 by the Utah Board of Higher Education
regarding activities related to campus safety;
(g) the State Superintendent's Annual Report by the state board described in Section
53E-1-203
;
(h) the annual report described in Section 
53E-2-202
 by the state board on the strategic
plan to improve student outcomes;
(i) the report described in Section 
53E-8-204
 by the state board on the Utah Schools for
the Deaf and the Blind;
(j) the report described in Section 
53E-10-703
 by the Utah Leading through Effective,
Actionable, and Dynamic Education director on research and other activities;
(k) the report described in Section 
53F-4-203
 by the state board and the independent
evaluator on an evaluation of early interactive reading software;
(l) the report described in Section 
53F-4-407
 by the state board on UPSTART;
(m) the reports described in Sections 
53F-5-214
 and 
53F-5-215
 by the state board
related to grants for professional learning and grants for an elementary teacher preparation
assessment; and
(n) the report described in Section 
53F-5-405
 by the State Board of Education
regarding an evaluation of a partnership that receives a grant to improve educational outcomes
for students who are low income.
(2) In accordance with applicable provisions and Section 
68-3-14
, the following
occasional reports are due to the Education Interim Committee:
(a) the report described in Section 
35A-15-303
 by the School Readiness Board by
November 30, 2020, on benchmarks for certain preschool programs;
(b) the report described in Section 
53B-28-402
 by the Utah Board of Higher Education
on or before the Education Interim Committee's November 2021 meeting;
(c) the reports described in Section 
53E-3-520
 by the state board regarding cost centers
and implementing activity based costing;
(d) if required, the report described in Section 
53E-4-309
 by the state board explaining
the reasons for changing the grade level specification for the administration of specific
assessments;
(e) if required, the report described in Section 
53E-5-210
 by the state board of an
adjustment to the minimum level that demonstrates proficiency for each statewide assessment;
(f) in 2022 and in 2023, on or before November 30, the report described in Subsection
53E-10-309
(7) related to the PRIME pilot program;
(g) the report described in Section 
53E-10-702
 by Utah Leading through Effective,
Actionable, and Dynamic Education;
(h) if required, the report described in Section 
53F-2-513
 by the state board evaluating
the effects of salary bonuses on the recruitment and retention of effective teachers in high
poverty schools;
(i) upon request, the report described in Section 
53F-5-207
 by the state board on the
Intergenerational Poverty Intervention Grants Program;
(j) the report described in Section 
53F-5-210
 by the state board on the Educational
Improvement Opportunities Outside of the Regular School Day Grant Program;
(k) upon request, the report described in Section 
53F-5-219
 by the state board on the
Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program;
[
(k)
] 
(l)
 the report described in Section 
53G-7-503
 by the state board regarding fees
that LEAs charge during the 2020-2021 school year;
[
(l)
] 
(m)
 the reports described in Section 
53G-11-304
 by the state board regarding
proposed rules and results related to educator exit surveys;
[
(m)
] 
(n)
 the report described in Section 
62A-15-117
 by the Division of Substance
Abuse and Mental Health, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Health
regarding recommendations related to Medicaid reimbursement for school-based health
services; and
[
(n)
] 
(o)
 the reports described in Section 
63C-19-202
 by the Higher Education Strategic
Planning Commission.
Section 2. Section 
53F-5-219
 is enacted to read:
 53F-5-219.
Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Core standards" means the core standards for Utah public schools adopted by the
state board pursuant to Section 
53E-4-202
.
(b) "Digital citizenship" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
53G-7-1202
.
(c) "Evidence-informed" means that an approach:
(i) is developed using high-quality research outside of a controlled setting in the given
field, as the state board further defines; and
(ii) includes strategies and activities with a strong scientific basis for use, as the state
board further defines.
(d) "Innovative approach" means an evidence-informed approach to civics education.
(e) "Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program" or "pilot program" means the
civics education pilot program created in Subsection (2).
(f) "LEA" means:
(i) a school district;
(ii) a district school; or
(iii) a charter school.
(g) "Participating LEA" means an LEA that the state board selects to receive a grant as
described in this section.
(2) There is created a three-year pilot program known as the Local Innovations Civics
Education Pilot Program to promote developmentally-appropriate innovative approaches that
are:
(a) aligned with core standards; and
(b) based on proven practices, including:
(i) promoting responsibility for preserving and defending the blessings of liberty
secured by the Constitution of the United States;
(ii) building confidence in the foundations of American democracy, including:
(A) American civic and political institutions; and
(B) foundational constitutional concepts;
(iii) developing the skills and character traits essential for informed, productive, and
thoughtful engagement in civic life, consistent with Subsection 
53G-10-204
(3);
(iv) after providing sufficient instruction in American civics and history to instill the
confidence described in Subsection (2)(b)(ii), and after developing the skills described in
Subsection (2)(b)(iii), promoting academic service learning and informed participation in civic
life, including the policymaking process at different levels of government; and
(v) teaching media literacy and digital citizenship.
(3) The state board shall:
(a) in accordance with this section and subject to legislative appropriations, award a
grant to a participating LEA;
(b) in selecting participating LEAs, prioritize LEAs that, in the LEA's proposal
described in Subsection (3)(d)(iii):
(i) emphasize the proven practices described in Subsection (2)(b); and
(ii) demonstrate how the LEA's innovative approach aligns with core standards;
(c) strive to select participating LEAs:
(i) from a variety of geographic areas within the state;
(ii) representing students with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds; and
(iii) with a range of student population sizes; and
(d) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
make rules establishing:
(i) eligibility requirements for a participating LEA;
(ii) criteria for selecting a participating LEA;
(iii) an application process for an LEA to apply to participate in the pilot program,
including:
(A) a requirement that an LEA submit a proposal that describes the LEA's innovative
approach and how the innovative approach aligns with core standards; and
(B) requirements for a participating LEA that includes a proposal to contract with a
third party as described in Subsection (4)(b);
(iv) a process for assessing the outcomes and measuring results of a participating
LEA's innovative approach that includes a requirement that:
(A) feedback is solicited from parents and students in a participating LEA; and
(B) LEAs participate in the process for assessing outcomes and measuring results; and
(v) requirements for a report that a participating LEA is required to submit to the state
board at the end of the pilot program.
(4) A participating LEA:
(a) shall:
(i) use a grant the state board awards to implement a developmentally-appropriate
innovative approach based on at least two proven practices;
(ii) integrate the innovative approach described in Subsection (4)(a), into the school
curriculum; and
(iii) submit a report to the state board in accordance with the rules described in
Subsection (3)(d); and
(b) may use a grant the state board awards to contract with a third party to help the
participating LEA implement the participating LEA's innovative approach if:
(i) the participating LEA includes a proposal to contract with a third party in the LEA's
proposal described in Subsection (3)(d)(iii); and
(ii) the state board approves the third party contract in accordance with rules the state
board makes under Subsection (3).
(5) The state board may contract with a third party provider to:
(a) offer professional learning and mentoring for educators in a participating LEA;
(b) identify institutional barriers to achieving innovation in civic teaching and learning
at the LEA level; or
(c) make recommendations for initiatives, public policy, or legislation to improve
civics education.
(6) Upon request of the Education Interim Committee, the state board shall report to
the Education Interim Committee on the pilot program's progress and outcomes.
Section 3. 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 (6).
]
[
(d) "Civics engagement project" means the civics engagement project described in
Subsection (6), 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.
]
[
(f)
] 
(c)
 "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) (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 (6)(b)(i)(D).
]
Section 4. Section 
63I-1-253
 is amended to read:
63I-1-253.
Repeal dates, Titles 53 through 53G.
(1) Section 
53-2a-105
, which creates the Emergency Management Administration
Council, is repealed July 1, 2022.
(2) Sections 
53-2a-1103
 and 
53-2a-1104
, which create the Search and Rescue Advisory
Board, are repealed July 1, 2022.
(3) Section 
53-5-703
, which creates the Concealed Firearm Review Board, is repealed
July 1, 2023.
(4) Subsection 
53-6-203
(1)(b)(ii), regarding being 19 years old at certification, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(5) Subsection 
53-13-104
(6)(a), regarding being 19 years old at certification, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(6) Section 
53B-6-105.5
, which creates the Technology Initiative Advisory Board, is
repealed July 1, 2024.
(7) Title 53B, Chapter 17, Part 11, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(8) Section 
53B-17-1203
, which creates the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(9) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 16, USTAR Researchers, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(10) Title 53B, Chapter 24, Part 4, Rural Residency Training Program, is repealed July
1, 2025.
(11) Subsection 
53C-3-203
(4)(b)(vii), which provides for the distribution of money
from the Land Exchange Distribution Account to the Geological Survey for test wells and other
hydrologic studies in the West Desert, is repealed July 1, 2030.
(12) Section 
53E-3-515
 is repealed January 1, 2023.
(13) In relation to a standards review committee, on January 1, 2023:
(a) in Subsection 
53E-4-202
(8), the language "by a standards review committee and the
recommendations of a standards review committee established under Section 
53E-4-203
" is
repealed; and
(b) Section 
53E-4-203
 is repealed.
(14) Subsections 
53E-3-503
(5) and (6), which create coordinating councils for youth in
custody, are repealed July 1, 2027.
(15) Section 
53E-4-402
, which creates the State Instructional Materials Commission, is
repealed July 1, 2022.
(16) Title 53E, Chapter 6, Part 5, Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(17) Subsection 
53E-8-204
(4), which creates the advisory council for the Utah Schools
for the Deaf and the Blind, is repealed July 1, 2021.
(18) Section 
53F-2-420
, which creates the Intensive Services Special Education Pilot
Program, is repealed July 1, 2024.
(19) Section 
53F-5-203
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(20) Section 
53F-5-212
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(21) Section 
53F-5-213
 is repealed July 1, 2023.
(22) Section 
53F-5-214
, in relation to a grant for professional learning, is repealed July
1, 2025.
(23) Section 
53F-5-215
, in relation to an elementary teacher preparation grant, is
repealed July 1, 2025.
(24) Section 
53F-5-219
, which creates the Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot
Program, is repealed on July 1, 2025.
[
(24)
] 
(25)
 Subsection 
53F-9-203
(7), which creates the Charter School Revolving
Account Committee, is repealed July 1, 2024.
[
(25)
] 
(26)
 Section 
53F-9-501
 is repealed January 1, 2023.
[
(26)
] 
(27)
 Subsections 
53G-4-608
(2)(b) and (4)(b), related to the Utah Seismic Safety
Commission, are repealed January 1, 2025.
[
(27)
] 
(28)
 Subsection 
53G-8-211
(5), regarding referrals of a minor to court for a class
C misdemeanor, is repealed July 1, 2022.
Section 5. Section 
63I-2-253
 is amended to read:
63I-2-253.
 Repeal dates -- Titles 53 through 53G.
(1) Section 
53-1-106.1
 is repealed January 1, 2022.
(2) (a) Section 
53-2a-217
, regarding procurement during an epidemic or pandemic
emergency, is repealed on December 31, 2021.
(b) When repealing Section 
53-2a-217
, the Office of Legislative Research and General
Counsel shall, in addition to the office's authority under Subsection 
36-12-12
(3), make
necessary changes to subsection numbering and cross references.
(3) Section 
53-2a-219
, in relation to termination of emergency powers pertaining to
COVID-19, is repealed on July 1, 2021.
(4) (a) Subsection 
53B-2a-108
(5), regarding exceptions to the composition of a
technical college board of trustees, 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.
(5) Section 
53B-6-105.7
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(6) (a) Subsection 
53B-7-705
(6)(b)(iii)(A), the language that states "Except as
provided in Subsection (6)(b)(iii)(B)," is repealed July 1, 2021.
(b) Subsection 
53B-7-705
(6)(b)(iii)(B), regarding comparing a technical college's
change in performance with the technical college's average performance, is repealed July 1,
2021.
(7) (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.
(8) Section 
53B-7-707
 regarding performance metrics for technical colleges is repealed
July 1, 2023.
(9) Section 
53B-8-114
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(10) The following sections, regarding the Regents' scholarship program, are repealed
on July 1, 2023:
(a) Section 
53B-8-202
;
(b) Section 
53B-8-203
;
(c) Section 
53B-8-204
; and
(d) Section 
53B-8-205
.
(11) Section 
53B-10-101
 is repealed on July 1, 2027.
(12) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 14, Uintah Basin Air Quality Research Project, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(13) Section 
53E-1-202.2
, regarding a Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee
evaluation and recommendations, is repealed January 1, 2024.
(14) Section 
53E-3-520
 is repealed July 1, 2021.
(15) Subsection 
53E-10-309
(7), related to the PRIME pilot program, is repealed July 1,
2024.
(16) 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.
(17) Section 
53F-2-209
, regarding local education agency budgetary flexibility, is
repealed July 1, 2024.
(18) Subsection 
53F-2-301
(1), relating to the years the section is not in effect, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(19) Section 
53F-2-302.1
, regarding the Enrollment Growth Contingency Program, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(20) Subsection 
53F-2-314
(4), relating to a one-time expenditure between the at-risk
WPU add-on funding and previous at-risk funding, is repealed January 1, 2024.
(21) Section 
53F-2-418
, regarding the Supplemental Educator COVID-19 Stipend, is
repealed January 1, 2022.
(22) In Subsection 
53F-2-515
(1), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
(23) Section 
53F-4-207
 is repealed July 1, 2022.
(24) Subsection 
53F-4-401
(3)(b), regarding a child enrolled or eligible for enrollment
in kindergarten, is repealed July 1, 2022.
(25) In Subsection 
53F-4-404
(4)(c), the language that states "Except as provided in
Subsection (4)(d)" is repealed July 1, 2022.
(26) Subsection 
53F-4-404
(4)(d) is repealed July 1, 2022.
(27) In Subsection 
53F-9-302
(3), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
(28) In Subsection 
53F-9-305
(3)(a), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
(29) In Subsection 
53F-9-306
(3)(a), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
(30) In Subsection 
53G-3-304
(1)(c)(i), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(31) Subsections 
53G-10-204
(1)(c) through (e), and Subsection 
53G-10-204
(6),
related to the civics engagement pilot program, are repealed on July 1, 2023.
]
[
(32)
] 
(31)
 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.
Section 6. 
Appropriation.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
2022, and ending June 30, 2023. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
fiscal year 2023. 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 -- Contracted Initiatives and Grants
From Education Fund, One-time
$1,500,000
Schedule of Programs:
Innovative Civics Education Pilot Program $1,500,000
The Legislature intends that the State Board of Education:
(1) use appropriations under this section to implement the Innovative Civics Education
Pilot Program created in Section 
53F-5-219
, in fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025; and
(2) may use up to 25% of the appropriations under this section to:
(a) contract with a third party provider to offer professional learning and analyze pilot
program outcomes as described in Subsection 
53F-5-219
(5); and
(b) provide stipends and pay for substitute teachers to facilitate educators attending the
professional learning described in Subsection 
53F-5-219
(5).