Enrolled Copy H.B. 204
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Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Karen M. Peterson
Senate Sponsor: Chris H. Wilson
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill amends provisions regarding the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program
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(program).
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ provides that a student teacher is eligible for the program regardless of the institution at
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which the student teacher is enrolled;
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▸ limits the availability of program funds if the student teacher receives funding from
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another state program;
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▸ provides for one-time funding from a certain account in certain circumstances;
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▸ requires the State Board of Education to annually report the anticipated cost of certain
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one-time appropriations to the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst; and
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▸ makes technical changes.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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This bill provides a special effective date.
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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53F-5-223, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 449
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53F-9-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 322
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 53F-5-223 is amended to read: H.B. 204 Enrolled Copy
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53F-5-223 . Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program.
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(1) As used in this section:
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(a) "Eligible student teacher" means a student teacher who:
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(i) is enrolled in an educator preparation program that leads to a [Utah ]professional
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level educator license[; and] , regardless of whether the student teacher is enrolled
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at a state institution described in Section 53B-1-102, or another public or private
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institution within the state or another state;
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(ii) works at an LEA within the state as a full-time student teacher to meet the
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educator preparation program requirements[.] ; and
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(iii) signs an affidavit demonstrating the student teacher's intent to work in Utah and
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pursue a Utah professional level educator license.
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(b) "License" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-6-102.
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(c) "Program" means the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program described in
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Subsection (2).
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(2) This section creates the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program.
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(3) Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall award a grant to an eligible
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student teacher who:
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(a) submits an application to the state board;
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(b) is enrolled and in good standing in an educator preparation program leading to a
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Utah professional level educator license;
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(c) seeks to obtain the student teacher's first Utah professional level educator license;
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(d) has not received a grant award under the program or funding from another state
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program regarding the student teaching; and
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(e) does not receive compensation during the student teaching experience from:
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(i) an LEA, unless the eligible student teacher works as a substitute teacher or in an
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extracurricular activity;
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(ii) a work service program offered through the Department of Workforce Services; or
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(iii) the Grow Your Own Educator Pipeline Program as described in Section
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53F-5-218.
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(4) The state board shall determine the amount of the grant award.
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(5) The state board may, subject to legislative appropriations and the number of applicants:
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(a) reduce the amount of the grant award; and
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(b) distribute grant awards on a pro rata basis.
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Section 2. Section 53F-9-204 is amended to read:
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53F-9-204 . Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account.
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(1) There is created within the Uniform School Fund a restricted account known as the
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"Public Education Economic Stabilization Restricted Account."
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(2)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the account shall be funded from the
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following revenue sources:
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(i) 15% of the difference between, as determined by the Office of the Legislative
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Fiscal Analyst:
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(A) the estimated amount of ongoing Income Tax Fund and Uniform School Fund
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revenue available for the Legislature to appropriate for the next fiscal year; and
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(B) the amount of ongoing appropriations from the Income Tax Fund and Uniform
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School Fund in the current fiscal year; and
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(ii) other appropriations as the Legislature may designate.
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(b) If the appropriation described in Subsection (2)(a) would cause the ongoing
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appropriations to the account to exceed 11% of Uniform School Fund appropriations
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described in Section 53F-9-201.1 for the same fiscal year, the Legislature shall
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appropriate only those funds necessary to ensure that the ongoing appropriations to
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the account equal 11% of Uniform School Fund appropriations for that fiscal year.
79 (3) Subject to the availability of ongoing appropriations to the account, in accordance with
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Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 5, Subsection (4), the ongoing appropriation to the
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account shall be used to fund:
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(a) except for a year described in Subsection (3)(b), one-time appropriations to the
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public education system; and
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(b) the Minimum School Program for a year in which Income Tax Fund revenue and
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Uniform School Fund revenue are insufficient to fund:
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(i) ongoing appropriations to the public education system; and
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(ii) enrollment growth and inflation estimates, as defined in Section 53F-9-201.1.
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(4)(a) The account shall earn interest.
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(b) All interest earned on account money shall be deposited in the account.
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(5) On or before December 31, 2023, and every three years thereafter, the Office of the
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Legislative Fiscal Analyst shall:
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(a) review the percentages described in Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (2)(b); and
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(b) recommend to the Executive Appropriations Subcommittee any changes based on
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the review described in Subsection (5)(a).
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(6) In preparing budget bills for a given fiscal year, the Executive Appropriations
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Committee shall make the one-time appropriations described in Subsection (3)(a) by
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appropriating at least the lesser of 10% of the total amount of the one-time appropriations[;]
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or:
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(a) the cost of providing 32 paid professional hours for teachers in accordance with
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Section 53F-7-203;[ and]
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(b) the amount to make the distribution required under Section 53F-2-527[.] ; and
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(c) the cost of the Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program described in Section
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53F-5-223.
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(7) No later than October 15 of each year, the state board shall report to the Office of the
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Legislative Fiscal Analyst an estimated cost for each of the one-time appropriations
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described in Subsection (6).
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Section 3. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
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