Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 537 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Pierucci, Candice B.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/27/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• converts the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind from a public corporation to a subdivision of the State Board of Education (state board);
• requires the state board to:
• ensure functional operation and oversight; and
• administer financial operations; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

10
53E-8-101
53E-8-201
53E-8-202
53E-8-204
0
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci
Senate Sponsor: Ann Millner
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions related to the governance of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and 
the Blind.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
converts the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind from a public corporation to a 
subdivision of the State Board of Education (state board);
requires the state board to:
ensure functional operation and oversight; and
administer financial operations; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-8-201
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 186, 314
53E-8-202
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 1
53E-8-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 408
REPEALS:
53E-8-101
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 1
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
53E-8-201
 is amended to read:
53E-8-201
. Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind created -- Designated LEA -- 
Services statewide.
(1)
The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind is created as a 
subdivision of the state 
board and a 
single public school agency that includes:
(a)
the Utah School for the Deaf;
(b)
the Utah School for the Blind;
(c)
programs for students who are deafblind; and
(d)
the Parent Infant Program.
(2)
Under the general control and supervision of the state board, consistent with the state 
board's constitutional authority, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind:
(a)
may provide services to students statewide:
(i)
who are deaf, blind, or deafblind; or
(ii)
who are neither deaf, blind, nor deafblind, if allowed under rules of the state 
board established pursuant to Section 
53E-8-401
; and
(b)
shall serve as the designated LEA for a student and assume the responsibilities of 
providing services as prescribed through the student's IEP or Section 504 
accommodation plan when the team that develops the student's IEP or Section 504 
accommodation plan determines that the student be placed at the Utah Schools for the 
Deaf and the Blind.
(3)
When the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind becomes a student's designated LEA, 
the LEA of record and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind shall ensure that all 
rights and requirements regarding individual student assessment, eligibility, services, 
placement, and procedural safeguards provided through the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq. and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, as amended, remain in force.
(4)
Nothing in this section diminishes the responsibility of a student's LEA of record for the 
education of the student as provided in 
Chapter 7, Part 2, Special Education Program
.
Section 2, Section 
53E-8-202
 is amended to read:
53E-8-202
. Corporate powers -- Property -- Establishment of a foundation.
(1)
The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind is a 
public corporation with perpetual 
succession and a corporate seal
subdivision of the state board
.
(2)
The 
state board, on behalf of the 
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
,
 may:
(a)
sue and be sued;
(b)
contract and be contracted with;
(c)
take and hold by purchase, gift, devise, or bequest real and personal property 
required for its uses; and
(d)
convert property, if not suitable for its use, into other property or money.
(3)
The property of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind is exempt from taxes and 
assessments.
(4)
The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind may establish a foundation as described in 
Section 
53E-3-403
.
Section 3, Section 
53E-8-204
 is amended to read:
53E-8-204
. Authority of the state board -- Rulemaking -- Superintendent -- 
Advisory council.
(1)
(a)
The state board is the governing board of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the 
Blind.
(b)
The state board shall, as the state board determines necessary, establish committees, 
policies, or processes necessary to the function and oversight of the Utah Schools for 
the Deaf and the Blind.
(2)
(a)
The state board shall appoint a superintendent for the Utah Schools for the Deaf 
and the Blind.
(b)
The state board shall make rules in accordance with 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah 
Administrative Rulemaking Act
, regarding the qualifications, terms of employment, 
and duties of the superintendent for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
(3)
The superintendent shall:
(a)
subject to the approval of the state board, appoint an associate superintendent to 
administer the Utah School for the Deaf based on:
(i)
demonstrated competency as an expert educator of deaf persons; and
(ii)
knowledge of school management and the instruction of deaf persons;
 and
(b)
subject to the approval of the state board, appoint an associate superintendent to 
administer the Utah School for the Blind based on:
(i)
demonstrated competency as an expert educator of blind persons; and
(ii)
knowledge of school management and the instruction of blind persons, including 
an understanding of the unique needs and education of deafblind persons.
(4)
The state board shall
:
(a)
approve the annual budget and expenditures of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the 
Blind
.
; and
(b)
administer the financial operations of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
(5)
(a)
The state board shall submit a report in accordance with Section 
53E-1-201
 on the 
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.
(b)
The state board shall ensure that the report described in Subsection 
(5)(a)
 includes:
(i)
a financial report;
(ii)
a report on Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind programs and activities; and
(iii)
a report of student academic performance.
Section 4, 
Repealer.
Title.
Section 5. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
July 1, 2025
.
3-14-25 2:35 PM