HB183

READ FULL BILL HERE

Bill Name:	HB183
Bill Description:	Suspends the test to stay requirement but leaves open the possibility of its use in the future if, in consultation with the Utah Department of Health, top state leaders jointly determine “that a variant of COVID-19 currently affecting the public education system is of a type that testing and isolation under a test to stay program would be effective in mitigating the harmful public health effects of the variant.”
Bill Code/Status:	https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/HB0183.html
Bill Sponsor(s):	Jordan Teuscher Todd Weiler

What changed in the New Test To Stay Bill?
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HB183, sponsored by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, suspends the test to stay requirement but leaves open the possibility of its use in the future if, in consultation with the Utah Department of Health, top state leaders jointly determine “that a variant of COVID-19 currently affecting the public education system is of a type that testing and isolation under a test to stay program would be effective in mitigating the harmful public health effects of the variant.”

The legislation also creates another process for schools that want to pivot to online learning because they believe the risks related to in-person instruction temporarily outweigh the value of in-person instruction. In that case, a local school boards or charter school board would submit a request to the governor, Senate president, House speaker and the state superintendent of public instruction.

The application must include a specific time frame and the district’s or charter school’s plan to return to in-person learning. The four state leaders will confer and approve, or approve with modifications, the request, according to the bill.
It changed the 14 day case count to incubation period of the virus wich is currently 5 days.
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We see this as a positive step. Our State Legislators have made in-person learning a huge priority. They made unmasking kids for better learning their priority and just overturned county mask mandates. This bill is another step to ensure children have their constitutional right to a quality education. School districts (like SLC) who have historically chosen not to prioritize in person learning can’t just shut down their schools. They have to prove the need. Remote learning is not equal to in-person learning. The legislature knows this and wants to keep schools open.