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House amends and passes charter school accountability bill after floor debate
Summary
House Bill 160, amending charter school governance and accountability following a performance audit, was amended to require firing of the charter staff director only "with the consent of the superintendent of public instruction" and passed the House 61–10.
The Utah House passed an amended version of House Bill 160, a package of charter school law revisions prompted by a performance audit. Representative Rebecca Lockhart, the sponsor, said the bill clarifies accountability, sets purposes for the statewide charter system and strengthens contractual accountability and authorizer oversight.
On the floor, Representative Lockhart offered an amendment to change language on removal authority: the bill will now read that the charter school board "shall have authority to remove the staff director with the consent of the superintendent of public instruction." She said the change addresses concerns raised by an audit and clarifies reporting lines while preserving the superintendent's constitutional role.
Opponents, including Representative Holdaway, expressed discomfort that the person with direct supervisory responsibility (the superintendent) would not have unilateral authority to hire or fire, arguing it could hamper direct supervision. Representative Vazquez warned the amendment changes the appointment-consent dynamic and could invert the accountability structure. Supporters including Representative Anderson and Representative Newbold argued the bill clarifies the chain of command, establishes measurable accountability plans, and remedies problems identified by auditors.
After debate the House adopted the amendment and passed the bill by a vote of 61 yes and 10 no; the bill will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
