Gov. OKs education funding, criminal justice reform

Gov. OKs education funding, criminal justice reform

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SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert has given final approval to grant Utah schools the largest funding increase in 25 years and to also revamp the state’s criminal justice system.

Among the 82 bills Herbert signed Tuesday were a several education-related bills, including HB2, with puts $515 million in new money toward public and higher education. The governor also signed HB348, a bill that seeks to reduce recidivism and improve treatment for nonviolent offenders.

Education

HB2’s new money includes a 4 percent increase to the weighted pupil unit, or WPU, Utah’s formula for funding public education, as well as $63 million to account for an expected growth in enrollment of 8,000 new students this year.

The increase is partly thanks to a $75 million tax hike lawmakers approved for education equalization. SB97, which Herbert signed Friday, is expected to raise property taxes by roughly $50 a year for most families, starting in November.

Herbert originally proposed a WPU increase of 6.25 percent, which would have brought per-pupil funding up to pre-recession levels. His proposal of $503 million in total new money was met, but his WPU request was not.

“Education has always been and will continue to be my top budget priority,” Herbert said in a prepared statement. “Our young population is one of our biggest competitive advantages, but we need an educated workforce to remain among the top performing economies in the nation. As our economy grows, I will continue to push for greater funding for education and for greater local control.”

The governor signed several other key education bills Tuesday, including SB196, which will require high school students to demonstrate the level of math competency required to enter college without having to take remedial courses. Students who do not plan on attending college will be required to have the math skills necessary to earn a technical certificate.

Herbert also signed SB204, which clarifies parents' rights to opt their children out of standardized tests. The bill also allows parents to excuse their students from school for medical or family reasons as long as they notify the school one day in advance and the student agrees to make up the missed work.

Criminal justice reform

Hebert’s approval of HB348 means some of Utah’s drug offense penalties will drop from felonies to misdemeanors. The bill also includes measures to enhance treatment for offenders suffering from mental illness or substance abuse problems.

Last year, the governor called for a comprehensive review of the state’s justice system, and HB348 is the result. It was designed to decrease recidivism and the state’s overall prison population, as well as lower the cost of the Legislature’s plans to rebuild and perhaps relocate the Utah State Prison.


We have taken significant steps to rebuild lives with a smarter, more efficient criminal justice system while enhancing public safety.

–Gov. Gary Herbert


“We called on the foremost experts on public safety to create a new roadmap for our criminal justice system,” Herbert said in a prepared statement. “Utahns understand our prison gates must be a permanent exit from the system, not just a revolving door.

“Just like every other area of government, we need to ensure we are getting the best possible results for each taxpayer dollar. We have taken significant steps to rebuild lives with a smarter, more efficient criminal justice system while enhancing public safety,” Herbert said.

Renovations to the state’s criminal justice system will begin this year.

Other bills

Herbert has so far signed 479 of the 495 bills he is required to take action on. The governor’s time period to sign or veto bills officially closes Wednesday night.

The following bills were among those Herbert signed earlier this week:

SB134 makes cockfighting a felony in Utah upon third offense. Before, Utah was the only Western state where cockfighting was a class B misdemeanor. The bill passed the House and Senate after two years of failed attempts.

HB110 gives the Division of Motor Vehicles the authority to suspend a vehicle’s registration if it does not meet air emissions standards.

SB82 tightens law enforcement rules by prohibiting no-knock forced entries in drug possession raids. The bill also requires officers to wear clothing that clearly identifies them as law enforcement during forcible entries, and it also requires officers to wear body cameras if their deploying agency has the equipment.

SB226 requires law enforcement officers to obtain a warrant before using powerful, potentially invasive surveillance technology.

Contributing: Morgan Jacobsen

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