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Senate advances school-survey bill after heated fight over presuming parental consent
Summary
After hours of debate, the Utah Senate approved SB 228 on Feb. 19, 1999, which presumes parental consent for certain school surveys unless a parent signs a denial; an amendment to remove that presumption failed and the bill passed 18–10–1. Lawmakers disputed the surveys’ wording, student voluntariness, and committee screening procedures.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 19 approved Senate Bill 228, a measure changing how public schools handle student surveys on sensitive topics, after a lengthy debate over whether nonresponse by parents should be treated as consent.
Sponsor Sen. Ann Montgomery described the bill’s adopted amendment as allowing a parent to “sign either a written consent or denial for the school year” at any time and to withdraw it, and she argued the measure would increase the ability of schools to collect data needed to address youth problems. Opponents, led by Sen. Nielsen, urged removing a provision that would presume consent if a parent did not return a permission form. “I don’t assume that…
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