SALT LAKE CITY — The harmful effects of pornography would be added to the state's sexual education curriculum under a bill OKed by a Senate committee Monday. And, the Senate approved a resolution seeking an amendment of the Utah Constitution that would eliminate the State School Board.

For these and more stories from Utah's Capitol Hill, click on the headlines below.

Senate committee OKs sex ed bill

The Senate Education Committee gave unanimous approval Monday to the latest version of HB286, which adds the harmful effects of pornography and the teaching of refusal skills to the state's sexual education curriculum.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Justin Fawson, R-North Ogden, said the proposal had been throughly reviewed by a wide array of stakeholders, resulting in an oak tree being "whittled down to a toothpick."

The bill's supporters included Miriam Hall, Miss Springville-Mapleton 2017, whose pageant service platform is “Education on the Harms of Pornography.”

Resolution to eliminate State School Board passes Utah Senate

Voters could decide the future of the Utah State Board of Education as an independent legislative body.

The Utah Senate voted 22-6 on Monday to approve a resolution seeking an amendment of the Utah Constitution that would eliminate the State School Board.

Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote of each legislative house and then must be approved by a majority of voters.

Bill would increase penalties for attacking police, corrections officers

A bill that would increase the penalty for causing "substantial bodily injury" to a police officer or an employee of a correctional facility is headed to the Utah House for consideration.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, presented HB477 Monday to the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee. Causing "substantial bodily injury" to a peace officer or a correctional officer becomes a third-degree felony under the bill.

Throwing anything at an officer is a class A misdemeanor by default, except under certain circumstances when it becomes a third-degree felony and subject to one to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines, according to current state law.

Utah House passes Medicaid expansion bill

The House passed a bill Monday requiring the Utah Department of Health to submit a waiver request to the federal to government to provide Medicaid benefits to thousands of low-income Utahns.

HB472 would expand coverage through a managed health care plan for people making less than the federal poverty line — $12,060 a year for individuals and $24,600 for a family of four. It includes a work requirement and path to self-sufficiency for able-bodied recipients, and a cost cap.

Rep. Robert Spendlove, R-Sandy, said Medicaid expansion plans proposed three year ago went too far and exposed the state to unsustainable financial risks and potential out-of-control cost increases.

Senate advances bill to control inland port in Salt Lake City

The bill that would create a way to control the development of a global trade hub in Salt Lake City's northwest quadrant cleared the Utah Senate on Monday, but without addressing the city's top concern.

SB234, which would create a new governing body called the Utah Inland Port Authority to oversee the development of thousands of acres in Salt Lake City's last developable swath of land, passed on a 24-3 vote Monday night. It now goes to the House.

A few changes were made to the bill, including reducing the amount of tax increment the port authority would be able to take from 5 percent to 2 percent, along with some boundary changes.

Related topics