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Senate Advances Officer Friendly Program Funding After Debate Over Fiscal Note
Summary
Senators debated SB 15, a measure proposing state support for the Officer Friendly school‑visitation program; lawmakers discussed whether floor amendments can change fiscal notes and whether the package belongs in subcommittee. An amendment to reduce the fiscal note by one dollar failed; SB 15 advanced to third reading.
The Senate on Jan. 21 took up SB 15, a bill to support the Officer Friendly program — a law‑enforcement outreach program for elementary schools that began as a 1978 pilot in Utah and later became a nationwide model.
Sponsor Sen. Baird described the program’s origins and urged support, saying materials provided by Sears and Roebuck had run out and the program serves hundreds of schools. He told senators the program currently operates in about 338 elementary schools with roughly 118 officers participating.
Floor debate centered on a proposed amendment to reduce the bill’s fiscal note from $10,000 to $9,999. Opponents argued the analyst’s fiscal note cannot be amended on the floor and warned of setting a precedent; supporters argued the bill was worthy and urged a small change to allow the bill to proceed. A roll call on that specific fiscal amendment failed — the clerk reported 11 ayes, 13 noes, 5 absent — and the bill later received a roll call of 26 ayes to be placed on the third‑reading calendar.
Next steps: SB 15 was placed on the third‑reading calendar for a final floor vote at a later time.
