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House approves rule changes giving school community councils more flexibility on membership
Summary
The House passed third-substitute HB 151 to allow school community councils, by vote, to expand candidate eligibility (including local residents and business owners), clarify public-body status under open-meetings law and tie compliance to eligibility for trust-land funds.
The Utah House on Feb. 17 passed third substitute House Bill 151 to revise rules governing school community councils and their use of school trust-land monies.
Representative Dougal, sponsor, said the bill addresses staffing challenges for councils and provides optional flexibility: "If the school community council approves it by a vote, they can expand out the field of eligibility for candidates to include those that live in the community, the boundary of the school, or even possibly a business owner," he said. The substitute also clarifies that school community councils are public bodies subject to the state's open meetings law and defines quorum and public-notice requirements.
Debate ranged from concerns that nonparent business members might unduly influence decisions about trust-land spending to arguments that the councils should be able to draw on community expertise. Representative Holdaway said he was "a little bit concerned" about turning over responsibility to business members, while Representative Urquhart called the bill "exciting" and noted councils could decide what works for their communities.
The House recorded final passage of the third substitute at 57 yes and 8 no; the measure will be sent to the Senate.
