Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Prevention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate backs DARE expansion and Officer Friendly materials funding, places bills for third reading or transmittal
Summary
Senators heard presentations on Officer Friendly and DARE curriculum, moved SB 15, SB 14 and SB 16 forward after testimony from program leaders and law-enforcement officers; funding questions remained and bills were advanced for further action.
The Utah Senate on Jan. 21 heard extended testimony about juvenile prevention programs and advanced several bills to support curriculum materials and training.
Senator Barrett (sponsor of SB 15) and program representatives described the Officer Friendly program’s history and purpose. Program staff said Officer Friendly delivers three classroom visits focusing on respect for law enforcement, personal safety and crime prevention; the presenter said the program “serves a 56,000 children kindergarten through third grade” and asked the Senate to consider funding curriculum for about 31,000 additional children, with private partnerships to cover the remainder. “The officer friendly program is geared to teach respect for law enforcement, personal safety, and crime prevention issues to little children,” the presenter said.
Senator Baird introduced Senate Bill 14, which would provide materials for an expanded DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and gang-violence prevention curriculum for junior high and high schools. Tibby (program representative) and local educators described DARE’s elementary success and the need to adapt curriculum for older students; presenters asked the Senate to approve materials and training funding to pilot DARE in 15 high schools and 35 junior highs.
Lawmakers questioned funding sources, noting existing administrative funds and private fundraising. Senator Beatty asked pointedly how the proposals would be administered and how much would be required; staff said the bills would require roughly $18,500–$19,500 in the measures under consideration to cover officer training and student workbooks. Senators noted a federal grant through 1994 provided elementary support but is not set up for junior-high/high-school modules.
Senate action: SB 15 (Officer Friendly materials) passed on the floor (27 ayes, 2 absent) and was sent to the House for further action. SB 14 and SB 16 (DARE materials and associated training) were advanced to the third-reading calendar after committee-of-the-whole discussion and committee reports.
Senators who spoke in favor framed the bills as prevention aimed at reducing incarceration and building respect for law and community; others warned the proposals must compete with other budget priorities during final appropriations.
