Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 204 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Peterson, Karen M.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/26/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• provides that a student teacher is eligible for the program regardless of the institution at which the student teacher is enrolled;
• limits the availability of program funds if the student teacher receives funding from another state program;
• provides for one-time funding from a certain account in certain circumstances;
• requires the State Board of Education to annually report the anticipated cost of certain one-time appropriations to the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

11
53F-5-223
53F-9-204
53F-5-223
53F-9-204
2
Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Karen M. Peterson
Senate Sponsor: Chris H. Wilson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions regarding the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program 
(program). 
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
provides that a student teacher is eligible for the program regardless of the institution at 
which the student teacher is enrolled;
limits the availability of program funds if the student teacher receives funding from 
another state program;
provides for one-time funding from a certain account in certain circumstances;
requires the State Board of Education to annually report the anticipated cost of certain 
one-time appropriations to the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst; and
makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53F-5-223
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 449
53F-9-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 322
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53F-5-223
 is amended to read:
53F-5-223
. Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Eligible student teacher" means a student teacher who:
(i)
is enrolled in an educator preparation program that leads to a 
Utah 
professional 
level educator license
; and
, regardless of whether the student teacher is enrolled 
at a state institution described in Section 
53B-1-102
, or another public or private 
institution within the state or another state;
(ii)
works at an LEA 
within the state 
as a full-time student teacher to meet the 
educator preparation program requirements
.
; and
(iii)
signs an affidavit demonstrating the student teacher's intent to work in Utah and 
pursue a Utah professional level educator license.
(b)
"License" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
53E-6-102
.
(c)
"Program" means the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program described in 
Subsection (2).
(2)
This section creates the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program.
(3)
Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall award a grant to an eligible 
student teacher who:
(a)
submits an application to the state board;
(b)
is enrolled and in good standing in an educator preparation program leading to a 
Utah professional level educator license;
(c)
seeks to obtain the student teacher's first Utah professional level educator license;
(d)
has not received a grant award under the program
 or funding from another state 
program regarding the student teaching
; and
(e)
does not receive compensation 
during the student teaching experience 
from:
(i)
an LEA, unless the eligible student teacher works as a substitute teacher
 or in an 
extracurricular activity
;
(ii)
a work service program offered through the Department of Workforce Services; or
(iii)
the Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program as described in Section 
53F-5-218
.
(4)
The state board shall determine the amount of the grant award.
(5)
The state board may, subject to legislative appropriations and the number of applicants:
(a)
reduce the amount of the grant award; and
(b)
distribute grant awards on a pro rata basis.
Section 2, Section 
53F-9-204
 is amended to read:
53F-9-204
. Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account.
(1)
There is created within the Uniform School Fund a restricted account known as the 
"Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account."
(2)
(a)
Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the account shall be funded from the 
following revenue sources:
(i)
15% of the difference between, as determined by the Office of the Legislative 
Fiscal Analyst:
(A)
the estimated amount of ongoing Income Tax Fund and Uniform School Fund 
revenue available for the Legislature to appropriate for the next fiscal year; and
(B)
the amount of ongoing appropriations from the Income Tax Fund and Uniform 
School Fund in the current fiscal year; and
(ii)
other appropriations as the Legislature may designate.
(b)
If the appropriation described in Subsection (2)(a) would cause the ongoing 
appropriations to the account to exceed 11% of Uniform School Fund appropriations 
described in Section 
53F-9-201.1
 for the same fiscal year, the Legislature shall 
appropriate only those funds necessary to ensure that the ongoing appropriations to 
the account equal 11% of Uniform School Fund appropriations for that fiscal year.
(3)
Subject to the availability of ongoing appropriations to the account, in accordance with 
Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 5, Subsection (4), the ongoing appropriation to the 
account shall be used to fund:
(a)
except for a year described in Subsection (3)(b), one-time appropriations to the 
public education system; and
(b)
the Minimum School Program for a year in which Income Tax Fund revenue and 
Uniform School Fund revenue are insufficient to fund:
(i)
ongoing appropriations to the public education system; and
(ii)
enrollment growth and inflation estimates, as defined in Section 
53F-9-201.1
.
(4)
(a)
The account shall earn interest.
(b)
All interest earned on account money shall be deposited in the account.
(5)
On or before December 31, 2023, and every three years thereafter, the Office of the 
Legislative Fiscal Analyst shall:
(a)
review the percentages described in Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (2)(b); and
(b)
recommend to the Executive Appropriations Subcommittee any changes based on 
the review described in Subsection (5)(a).
(6)
In preparing budget bills for a given fiscal year, the Executive Appropriations 
Committee shall make the one-time appropriations described in Subsection (3)(a) by 
appropriating at least the lesser of 10% of the total amount of the one-time appropriations
;
or
:
(a)
the cost of providing 32 paid professional hours for teachers in accordance with 
Section 
53F-7-203
;
 and
(b)
the amount to make the distribution required under Section 
53F-2-527
.
; and
(c)
the cost of the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program described in Section 
53F-5-223
.
(7)
No later than October 15 of each year, the state board shall report to the Office of the 
Legislative Fiscal Analyst an estimated cost for each of the one-time appropriations 
described in Subsection 
(6)
.
Section 3. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
July 1, 2025
.
3-6-25 2:09 PM