Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Workplace Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate approves bill letting employees take hours off for parent–teacher conferences
Summary
Senate Bill 156 passed after an amendment allowing employees to take up to four hours per year (with three days’ notice) to attend parent-teacher conferences; sponsors said the change helps low-wage and shift workers who otherwise must take full days off.
The Utah Senate approved Senate Bill 156, an employer-support measure intended to make it easier for employees to attend parent–teacher conferences. On the floor the sponsor described the bill as targeted toward employees with limited leave options—often minimum-wage workers and parents who cannot attend evening conferences.
The adopted amendment changes the bill's text to refer to "parent-educator conferences" instead of "parent-teacher conferences" to reflect modern terminology, and clarifies that an eligible employee may take up to four hours a year (which can be combined with a lunch hour) to attend scheduled school meetings, with a three-day notice requirement and the option the employer may require documentation of attendance.
Senator Sterling and others asked whether the leave is paid; the sponsor explained employees would generally use accrued vacation/leave time and the bill does not create a new paid leave entitlement for employees without leave. Supporters argued the change costs little to employers but could improve parental engagement and student outcomes; opponents questioned whether the bill addresses employer constraints and whether insurers or other benefits would be affected.
Final roll-call produced 17 ayes, 8 nays, and 4 absent; the bill passed and will be sent to the House for further action.
