Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 217 Third Substitute (2023GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Bennion, G.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/14/2023

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• authorizes the state board to issue grants related to energy and water reductions;
• provides for prioritizing certain projects;
• requires rulemaking;
• requires use of an evaluation panel;
• requires reporting; and
• provides a repeal date.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

SCHOOL ENERGY AND WATER REDUCTIONS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Gay Lynn Bennion
Senate Sponsor: 
Kirk A. Cullimore
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses grant money for energy and water reductions.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ authorizes the state board to issue grants related to energy and water reductions;
▸ provides for prioritizing certain projects;
▸ requires rulemaking;
▸ requires use of an evaluation panel;
▸ requires reporting; and
▸ provides a repeal date.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-2-253
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 208, 229, 274, 354, 370,
and 409
ENACTS:
53F-5-220
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
53F-5-220
 is enacted to read:
 53F-5-220.
Management of energy and water use pilot program.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Energy" means natural gas or electricity.
(b) "Great Salt Lake watershed" means the drainage area for the Great Salt Lake, the
Bear River watershed, the Jordan River watershed, the Utah Lake watershed, the Weber River
watershed, and the West Desert watershed.
(c) "Rural school district or charter school" means a school district or charter school
that is located within a county of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class.
(2) (a) On or after May 3, 2023, but before July 1, 2028, the state board may award a
grant to a school district or charter school upon recommendation by the review panel created in
Subsection (5) to implement a program to reduce the use of energy or water by a school district
or charter school.
(b) When issuing a grant under this section, the state board shall prioritize outdoor
water conservation projects.
(c) When issuing a grant under this section during the period beginning on May 3,
2023, and ending October 31, 2023, the state board shall prioritize, in the order the state board
considers appropriate, a grant:
(i) to a rural school district or charter school;
(ii) to a school district or charter school that is located within the Great Salt Lake
watershed; and
(iii) for an outdoor water conservation project.
(3) (a) Grant money may be used to pay for any of the following, provided the use is
directly related to reducing the use of energy or water by the school district or charter school:
(i) computer equipment and peripherals;
(ii) software;
(iii) upgrades of existing computer equipment or software;
(iv) physical equipment used to deliver energy or water;
(v) upgrades of existing physical equipment used to deliver energy or water;
(vi) personnel to provide technical support or coordination and management;
(vii) staff or student management training;
(viii) recalibration of equipment for increased efficiency; or
(ix) another means of optimizing and measuring energy or water efficiency.
(b) Equipment or software purchased in compliance with Subsection (3)(a), when not
in use to reduce energy or water, may be used for other purposes.
(4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
state board shall make rules:
(a) establishing procedures for applying for and awarding a grant;
(b) establishing eligibility criteria;
(c) creating grant distribution thresholds;
(d) specifying how grant money is allocated among school districts and charter schools;
(e) requiring reporting of grant money expenditures and evidence showing that the
grant money has been used to implement reduced use of energy or water; and
(f) establishing technology standards.
(5) The state board shall establish a review panel to consider grant applications under
this section, which shall include in addition to a representative for the state board,
representation from the Office of Energy Development, the Department of Environmental
Quality, the Division of Water Resources, and private energy providers.
(6) By no later than the 2027 November interim meeting of the following, the state
board shall report on the effectiveness of grants issued under this section to the following:
(a) Education Interim Committee; and
(b) Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee.
Section 2. Section 
63I-2-253
 is amended to read:
63I-2-253.
Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
(1) (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.
(2) Section 
53B-6-105.7
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(3) Section 
53B-7-707
 regarding performance metrics for technical colleges is repealed
July 1, 2023.
(4) Section 
53B-8-114
 is repealed July 1, 2024.
(5) The following provisions, regarding the Regents' scholarship program, are repealed
on July 1, 2023:
(a) in Subsection 
53B-8-105
(12), the language that states, "or any scholarship
established under Sections 
53B-8-202
 through 
53B-8-205
";
(b) Section 
53B-8-202
;
(c) Section 
53B-8-203
;
(d) Section 
53B-8-204
; and
(e) Section 
53B-8-205
.
(6) Section 
53B-10-101
 is repealed on July 1, 2027.
(7) Title 53B, Chapter 18, Part 14, Uintah Basin Air Quality Research Project, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(8) Subsection 
53E-1-201
(1)(s) regarding the report by the Educational Interpretation
and Translation Services Procurement Advisory Council is repealed July 1, 2024.
(9) Section 
53E-1-202.2
, regarding a Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee
evaluation and recommendations, is repealed January 1, 2024.
(10) Subsection 
53E-10-309
(7), related to the PRIME pilot program, is repealed July 1,
2024.
(11) 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.
(12) Section 
53F-2-209
, regarding local education agency budgetary flexibility, is
repealed July 1, 2024.
(13) Subsection 
53F-2-301
(1), relating to the years the section is not in effect, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(14) Section 
53F-2-302.1
, regarding the Enrollment Growth Contingency Program, is
repealed July 1, 2023.
(15) 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.
(16) Section 
53F-2-524
, regarding teacher bonuses for extra work assignments, is
repealed July 1, 2024.
(17) In Subsection 
53F-2-515
(1), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
(18) Subsection 
53F-4-401
(3)(b), regarding a child enrolled or eligible for enrollment
in kindergarten, is repealed July 1, 2022.
(19) In Subsection 
53F-4-404
(4)(c), the language that states "Except as provided in
Subsection (4)(d)" is repealed July 1, 2022.
(20) Subsection 
53F-4-404
(4)(d) is repealed July 1, 2022.
(21) Section 
53F-5-220
, regarding a management of energy and water pilot program, is
repealed July 1, 2028.
[
(21)
] 
(22)
 In Subsection 
53F-9-302
(3), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(22)
] 
(23)
 In Subsection 
53F-9-305
(3)(a), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(23)
] 
(24)
 In Subsection 
53F-9-306
(3)(a), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
, as
applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(24)
] 
(25)
 In Subsection 
53G-3-304
(1)(c)(i), the language that states "or 
53F-2-301.5
,
as applicable" is repealed July 1, 2023.
[
(25)
] 
(26)
 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.