Lawmakers approve bill allowing later start for school year

On Thursday morning, the House quickly passed the compromise that sailed through the Senate Wednesday night.

The legislation’s chief sponsor, Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, said the bill filed in the House on January 23 was the result of failed attempts to expand concealed carry onto college campuses in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

The bill (SB 219) was originally only referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which passed the bill and reported it to the full Senate. “Nothing has changed between yesterday and today”.

The bill was turned into a study of a school choice program.

“It basically suggests the Legislature does not trust the local school districts to follow the law”, Seigel said.

Senate Bill 50, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown) would allow school districts to operate on a “variable student instructional year” that would offer the same 1,062 or more hours of instructional time that’s required for students under current rules.

The bill states that a school district can make a school available for lease or purchase for “no more than fair market value” to any public charter school located within the school district’s geographical boundaries.

If a school district failed to comply, it could be classified as being in academic facilities distress and subject to state takeover. He said he also got help from the state’s lead prosecutor Brant Light on language in the bill.

What I hear from my folks at home is, will you stop doing these temporary fixes?

“We don’t want someone losing their job or being unduly criticized for exercising their right to conscience”, Republican Rep. Brandt Smith told the committee before the vote.

School districts would also have to track that local tax money separately from education dollars that come from the state.

The vote in favor of final passage of the HB1249 was 18-9, with one Democrat joining the Republicans to pass the bill. “I think at the end of the day he felt stronger about passing the legislation then we did about beating the legislation”. And, we all understand what the common goal is.

Currently, individuals eighteen years of age or older are legally allowed to openly carry an unloaded firearm for self-defense in Utah, and House Bill 198 would provide them the ability to hide and carry a loaded firearm without being in jeopardy of breaking the law.