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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lawmakers passed a bill adding $168 million to the state's public education fund and a bill excluding home-school kids from completing the state's education requirements.
Gov. Herbert also spoke to lawmakers about his version of the Medicaid expansion plan and said he's not going to wait for approval to use the federal money set aside for Utah. Utah's House also passed a measure detailing the Stericycle "buffer zone."
Senate passes bill to help victims of sexual assault keep informed of case status
Victims of sexual assault will receive improved communication from law enforcement about their cases under a bill passed by the Utah Legislature.
The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed HB157, which now goes to the governor for his signature. The bill received unanimous endorsement from the House last week.
The bill, sponsored by House Minority Leader Jen Seelig, D-Salt Lake City, provides guidance to law enforcement agencies on communication with sexual assault victims concerning forensic exams, including rape kits.
Senate kills bill requiring revenue equity in school district split
A bill that would make it harder for city officials to initiate a school district split failed Tuesday in a 11-18 vote of the Utah Senate.
HB84, sponsored by Rep. Craig Hall, R-West Valley City, would have blocked a city-led school district split if the resulting difference in tax revenues and costs between the two districts is greater than 5 percent.
Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, the bill's Senate sponsor, said HB84 would stop a city from "cherry-picking" affluent areas and creating a school district with high revenues and a low number of students.
Bill passes excluding home-school kids from state education requirements
Both chambers of the Utah Legislature have passed versions of a bill freeing home-school families from statewide education requirements and making it easier for children to transfer in and out of the public education system.
The House voted 52-17 Tuesday in favor of SB39, which removes the requirement for parents to file home-schooling affidavits every year and frees children schooled at home from state education requirements.
The House amended the bill to require the input of a local school administrator when selecting the grade level of a home-schooled child re-entering the public education system. That amendment requires the bill to be heard again in the Senate, which last week approved the original version of the bill in a 22-5 vote.
Herbert 'not going to wait' for legislative approval on Medicaid expansion plan
Gov. Gary Herbert made it clear Tuesday he's not waiting around for lawmakers to make a decision about Medicaid expansion, announcing he's sending staff to Washington, D.C., next week to start selling his plan.
"Being the action figure that I am, we're going to make sure that this starts immediately," the governor told reporters, referring to criticism from House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, that he was an "inaction figure."
Lockhart, seen as a possible challenger to Herbert in 2016, slammed the governor in her opening day address for his willingness to accept the money available to the state under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
But the speaker's plan to instead use $35 million in state tax dollars, along with federal matching funds, to provide limited coverage to only the neediest Utahns failed to win even the support of the House GOP caucus.
House passes Stericycle 'buffer zone' measure
Persistent neighborhood concerns over the location of Stericycle's medical waste incineration plant in North Salt Lake drove passage of a measure Tuesday that would require a buffer zone should it — or another company — ever move.
SB196, sponsored by Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, requires that a 2-mile buffer zone be part of any site plans for a new medical waste incineration plant in the state.
Despite concerns by some GOP House members, the bill passed 44-28. It previously cleared the Senate, 26-1.
Senate passes bill allowing hemp oil for medical use
Utahns with epilepsy are on the home stretch for being allowed to use non-intoxicating hemp oil extract from marijuana plants to treat seizures.
After a unanimous vote Tuesday in the Senate, HB105 now goes back to the House for consideration. The bill has been revised since passing the House by a 62-11 vote last week. If the House concurs with the changes, the bill will be sent to the governor for his signature.
Six-year-old Charlee Nelson, who has Batten disease, lay in a stroller on the Senate floor with her parents, Catrina and Jeff Nelson, of West Jordan, as the senators cast their votes.
House gives final approval to add $168M to public school funds
Lawmakers gave final approval on Wednesday to budget amendments that increase funding of public education by $168 million.
In a unanimous 70-0 vote, members of the Utah House approved SB2, which includes $62 million for enrollment growth and another $62 million to raise per-pupil spending by 2.5 percent.
The budget also includes $3 million ongoing for a public-private preschool initiative sponsored by Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper; $1 million ongoing for after-school programing for children in poverty; $159,000 ongoing for suicide prevention efforts; and more than $34 million in one-time funding for various programs.
Bill passes tightening USTAR requirements after revealing audit
In response to a revealing audit last year, the House and Senate have passed a bill that would set certain requirements for the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative governing authority.
The House passed SB62 with a 72-2 vote and will now be sent to the governor's office.
The legislative audit of USTAR, released in October 2013, revealed lapses in oversight at USTAR and said officials failed to accurately report jobs, revenue and return on investment.
USTAR was created eight years ago to bolster the state's economic development though university research and commercialization of technologies.
SB62 would require USTAR to lease buildings to state universities and to have written standards and expectations for technology outreach programs and research teams. The bill would also require USTAR to provide a detailed report and audit annually.
Contributing: Madeleine Brown, Amy Joi O'Donoghue, Lisa Riley Roche, Benjamin Wood
