Signed by Governor Spencer Cox

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that amends in-person learning requirements.

Highlights:

• Specifies that beginning January 31, 2022 the requirement to provide in-person instruction does not apply for a temporary period of remote learning within an local education agency (LEA) or given school within the LEA (Sec. 2):

• The COVID-19 case rates within one or more of the schools have surpassed the case threshold; or

• The local governing board requests application of the exception via letter.

• Establishes that the aforementioned local governing board’s letter shall have the following information, including, but not limited to (Sec. 2):

• Information regarding the case threshold;

• The board’s assessment that due to the public health emergency circumstances within the LEA or school, the risks related to in-person instruction temporarily outweigh the value of in-person instruction;

• A specific and temporary period of time for which the board seeks to pivot to remote learning; and

• Measures the board will implement for the LEA or school to return to in-person learning following the identified temporary remote learning period.

• Requires the local governing board hold a public hearing via school board meeting before making the remote learning request to an LEA (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this act will take effect if approved by two-thirds members of each house and upon approval by the governor, or after the constitutional time limit of Utah’s Constitution for becoming law without the governor’s signature, or in the case of a veto, the date of the veto override (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends in-person learning requirements.

Highlights:

• Specifies that beginning January 31, 2022 the requirement to provide in-person instruction does not apply for a temporary period of remote learning within an local education agency (LEA) or given school within the LEA (Sec. 2):

• The COVID-19 case rates within one or more of the schools have surpassed the case threshold; or

• The local governing board requests application of the exception via letter.

• Establishes that the aforementioned local governing board’s letter shall have the following information, including, but not limited to (Sec. 2):

• Information regarding the case threshold;

• The board’s assessment that due to the public health emergency circumstances within the LEA or school, the risks related to in-person instruction temporarily outweigh the value of in-person instruction;

• A specific and temporary period of time for which the board seeks to pivot to remote learning; and

• Measures the board will implement for the LEA or school to return to in-person learning following the identified temporary remote learning period.

• Requires the local governing board hold a public hearing via school board meeting before making the remote learning request to an LEA (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this act will take effect if approved by two-thirds members of each house and upon approval by the governor, or after the constitutional time limit of Utah’s Constitution for becoming law without the governor’s signature, or in the case of a veto, the date of the veto override (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text