For those interested, the House Education Committee meets today at 2pm to consider and vote on bills. HB455 is seventh on the agenda. Your thousands of emails sent to committee members in our Call to Action last week have already made a big difference! You can still send emails to committee members by visiting our Legislative Outreach Center.
➡️ You can watch the committee hearing live from the committee page here.
In preparation for today’s committee hearing, Representative Pierucci has released a substitute version of Utah Fits All Scholarship Program Amendments. HB455 S1 contains additional clarifying language after being circulated amongst colleagues and stakeholders for feedback, including UEFA. Some technical and application date changes have been made. Specifically, language was added to bring clarity around the actual intent of the bill regarding the management of the program. Roles and responsibilities of USBE and contracted entities have been further defined.
Representative Pierucci has worked hard to ensure that program management is structured in a manner that will better serve and address the needs of scholarship families and students. As the advocate for families and for the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program, UEFA appreciates her collaborative efforts.
The initial RFA (Request for Appropriations) has moved through the next phase of the legislative appropriations process. The Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee has published their recommendations. The RFA presented to the committee by Senator Kirk Cullimore received a recommendation in the amount of $40 million under the category, Ongoing Priorities Requiring Further Legislative Action. These recommendations now move on for consideration and negotiation by the Executive Appropriations Committee.