Utah House Bill HB0170

Utah 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/18/22
• Refer: 1/25/22
• Refer: 2/1/22
• Report Pass: 3/2/22
• Failed: 3/4/22

Caption

Student Resource Officer Funding

Impact

The enactment of this bill will have implications for state law by formally embedding the provision for school resource officers in the financing framework of local school districts. By giving school boards the power to levy taxes for this purpose, it shifts some of the financial responsibility from state funding mechanisms to local sources. This could lead to disparities in the quality and quantity of school resource officers based on varying local tax revenues, potentially raising concerns regarding equity in school safety across different districts.

Summary

House Bill 0170, titled the 'Student Resource Officer Funding' bill, aims to provide local school boards with the authority to levy a specific tax to fund their respective school resource officers (SROs). According to the bill, a school resource officer is defined as a law enforcement officer employed or contracted by local education agencies to provide law enforcement services in schools. The tax that can be levied under this bill cannot exceed $0.00015 per dollar of taxable property value within the school district, allowing local boards some flexibility in managing their funding for SROs.

Contention

There may be notable points of contention surrounding HB0170, especially regarding the use of local tax revenues to fund law enforcement within educational spaces. Critics might argue that relying on local taxation could lead to unequal access to security resources, particularly affecting lower-income areas. Conversely, proponents may advocate that having dedicated SROs can enhance school safety and provide students with positive interactions with law enforcement, emphasizing the role of police in fostering a secure learning environment.