SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that would require parents to watch a video every year to renew their child's vaccination exemption was held in a committee and the House narrowly passed a bill that advocates say would reduce access to critical psychiatric medications. Here's a roundup of what's happening in the legislature.

Legislature honors fallen officer Barney, injured officer Richey

Fallen Unified police officer Doug Barney and injured officer Jon Richey were honored by the Utah Legislature on Tuesday.

Richey stood with Barney's widow and three children as legislators commemorated Richey's sacrifice and the ultimate sacrifice of officer Barney by reading a citation for each of them.

"In recognition of the exemplary life of a hero, the Utah House of Representatives and Senate pay tribute to Douglas R. Barney II," the first citation read.

"Our state lost one of its finest citizens. We mourn his loss and extend our profound condolences to his immediate and extended family," it continued.

More time, funding for teacher training gets early Senate approval

An effort to give educators more time out of class to improve teaching practices is getting closer to gaining approval from the Utah Legislature.

Lawmakers hope that the added focus on teacher professional learning will give educators more chances to learn from each other and find ways to better help students struggling in specific subjects.

"I do realize that while we hate to take time away from students, sometimes it's probably more effectively used in professional development if it really helps the teacher become more effective in the classroom," said bill sponsor Rep. Brad Last, R-Hurricane.

HB28 asks the state to provide $30 million, which would be awarded as grants to schools that present a qualifying plan for professional development.

The bill unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, having passed the House in a 61-12 vote early this month. Last acknowledged that it's unlikely the bill will be fully funded, but the concept of letting teachers direct their own professional learning is still widely supported.

Student immunizations bill held in committee

A bill that would require parents to watch an educational video to renew their children's vaccination exemption every year was held in committee.

The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to hold the bill Tuesday to work on amendments.

Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, said she wanted to amend the bill so that parents have to renew the exemption every time their child starts a new school, instead of every year.

"It is not intended by me or anyone to be pro-vaccine," Moss said. "It is pro-prevention."

Psychiatric medications bill narrowly advances to House floor

A bill that mental health advocates say would reduce access to critical psychiatric medications advanced to the House floor Tuesday after a narrow vote.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Raymond Ward, R-Bountiful, said the bill has several exemptions that would prevent people with mental illnesses from being kicked off their medication.

"This is not the same bill that has been brought before this committee previously," Ward said.

HB18 would add psychiatric medications to the state Medicaid program's "preferred drug list."

Preferred drug lists theoretically save money by covering certain medications — chosen by a committee of physicians — that are equally effective but less pricy.

Last week's Legislative roundup:

Group urges ban on animal gas chambers; House rejects UTA tax bill

A group of citizens asked lawmakers to prohibit animal gas chambers in Utah, a controversial Rocky Mountain Power bill gets early approval and the House rejected a bill that would exclude UTA from receiving revenue from future tax hikes.

Committee OKs needle exchange bill

A bill that would authorize needle exchange programs in Utah found strong support in a House Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday.

HB308 authorizes the operation of needle exchange programs and would require that the results be reported every two years.

Rep. Edward Redd, R-Logan, a physician himself, said he is "wholeheartedly" in favor of the bill.

"To me, this is a very straightforward concept that we need to promote amongst our community members who are struggling with addiction," Redd said.

Student effort on SAGE an ongoing concern for lawmakers, educators

Some high school juniors may not have to take Utah's year-end assessment, known as SAGE, starting next year.

That would be the result of a bill that gained early House approval Tuesday.

Late last year, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act as a replacement for No Child Left Behind. Similar to its predecessor, the new law requires states to administer standardized assessments at the end of every school year. But schools are now only required to administer end-of-level tests once during grades nine through 12.

SAGE is given to Utah students in grades three through 11. But instead of SAGE, HB200 allows schools to use the ACT as a year-end test for 11th-graders, to whom the ACT is already administered statewide in preparation for college.

Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Cottonwood Heights, said her bill is intended to offer additional flexibility to Utah's high schools.

Energy efficiency or home construction costs?

Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, didn't think it possible that his building code revisions bill could be more controversial than the one he ran three years ago, but he said he was wrong.

Wilson's HB316 has both opponents and supporters from wide-ranging interests that include homebuilders, architects, clean air advocates and affordable housing groups.

On Tuesday, hours after a rally held in protest of the bill, the House Business and Labor Committee advanced a fourth variation for further discussion before the full House on a 11-2 vote — even though there are continuing questions and concerns.

Wilson urged his colleagues to endorse the bill.

"We have to keep this bill moving or we won't have a building code at all," he said.

Contributing: Emily Larson, Morgan Jacobsen, Daphne Chen, Amy Joi O'Donoghue

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