I'm Just a Bill On Capital Hill

Our PTA President Adriane Watson, our Legislative VP Whitney McKell and our Midas Creek Vice Principal Dr. Jerri Mausbach attended a meeting at the capital on February 18, 2015 with all of our representatives and the Utah PTA Board.  Here are some main points they came back with.

The following bills will be voted on during this legislative session.  Each Bill has a link where you can find more information. 

Within our district boundaries, there are multiple charter schools and the decision on the proposed bills will have a significant impact on funding for charter and non-charter schools. Please take a minute to look at these bills. 

·      Public BaseBudget Amendment Bill #SB1S1

o   Policy shift where each district would give the charter schools 50% of allocated funds

o   Charter schools currently are receiving 25% of allocated funds

o   9.5% of students in Utah attend charter schools

**The Jordan school district currently budgets over 2 million in funding for charter schools 

·      Proposal to equalizeproperty tax between Jordan schools and Charter schools Bill #SB97

o   This proposal would allow charter schools to find funding through property tax and not from school district funding

o   This proposal would require charter schools to be accountable to the state with respect to the use of funds allocated to the charter schools

Other bills related to the state education system that were discussed include:

·      Trust Lands Bill#HJR22

o   Government wants to trade 80,000 acres of School Trust Lands

o   This bill will ensure that the trade will be equal in value not just acres

·      FederalNutrition Standards Exceptions Bill #SB0084

o   This bill would allow 2 nutrition exceptions to every school

o   The exceptions much be approved by the state board of education

·      Substitute 3Foster Home Amendment Bill #HB139

o   Right now only 3 kids can be in a foster home at once

o   This bill will allow up to 4 and will also allow a group of siblings to stay together

The Utah PTA has also put together a list of all Bills that impact our children.  Below is a link to the list along with information on whether the Utah PTA will oppose, watch, or support the bill.  There are over 30 bills upon which the Utah PTA has provided opinions. 

List of Bills that Impact our Children 

Midas Creek boundaries lie within the following legislative districts.  If you have any questions or comments they would love to hear from you. 

Senate District 10- 

Utah State Senator 

Aaron Osmond

**Both Bill #SB97 and Bill #SB0084 are sponsored by Aaron Osmond and the PTA Support Both. 

Senate District 11- 

Utah State Senator 

Howard Stephenson 

**Bill SB1S1 is sponsored by Howard Stephenson and the PTA is opposed to this bill. 

House District 41 - 

Utah House of Representatives 

Daniel McCay 

House District 52 -

Utah House of Representatives 

John Knotwell III