I had the pleasure of serving on the Higher Education Appropriation Committee this year, and in those meetings, I had the opportunity to hear about the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA).  UHEAA  is an agency of the State of Utah which administers Utah’s student financial aid programs.  In 2009, 120,000 students received a total of $496 million in student loans through UHEAA.  Utah borrowers for higher education as reported by UHEAA have the lowest default rate in the nation.  We should all be proud of that.

UHEAA administers the student loan guarantee program and secondary market, state need-based financial aid, the Utah Educational Savings Plan Trust, and the Utah Engineering and Computer Sciences Loan Forgiveness Program.  On the UHEAA website, there is also helpful information on how to prepare and pay for college.  There are also links to other helpful websites.  At http://higheredutah.org/ there is information and news about the latest developments in higher education. At http://utahfutures.org/, you can find more information about planning for college and preparing for a career.  The UHEAA also has information for single moms who want to continue their education http://www.uheaa.org/singlemom/index.html.  I would encourage you to review these websites to help you prepare for your future higher education opportunities.  There is no better investment than an investment in your education.

This legislative session, I sponsored SJR7 “Joint Resolution on the United Nations Children Fund” in response to a request from a group of students from the University of Utah.  Unfortunately due to politics, the resolution was not assigned to a committee and was held in the Rules Committee through the entire session.

Because I felt it was important to bring the message from this group and to recognize the work of this group, I decided to present a Senate Citation recognizing UNICEF Red.  UNICEF Red is a University of Utah official campus student group, which was recognized for its partnership with the United Nations Children Fund in its effort to save and improve the lives of children all over the world.  The two University of Utah students I worked with drafting the resolution and citation and who accepted the citation on the Senate floor today are:  Sayra Moran, Chair of Advocacy, and Matt Beckstead, Communications Officer, of the UNICEF Red student group.

UNICEF Red is a student-led organization on the campus of the University of Utah that partners with the U. S. Fund for UNICEF to educate, advocate, and fundraise for UNICEF’s lifesaving work.  UNICEF works in more than 150 countries to save children’s lives through immunizations, nutrition, heath care, emergency humanitarian assistance, and programs that confront the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The timing is perfect as hundreds and thousands of children are suffering due to the two horrendous earthquakes that we have seen this year in Haiti and Chile.

Sayra Moran and Matt Beckstead of UNICEF Red

The mission of the Utah Nonprofits Association is to strengthen the Utah nonprofit community through its focus on mutual support, management development through training, and sector-wide advocacy.

The Utah Society for Environmental Education’s mission is to provide statewide leadership to expand the quality, scope and effectiveness of environmental education.  To achieve this goal, USEE serves as a resource for environmental educators, K-12 teachers, higher education and the Utah community at large.

The Utah Afterschool Network supports state-wide afterschool partnerships that will impact policy development at all levels.  The organization works to secure resources and funding for high-quality afterschool programs.

The mission of The Utah Cultural Alliance is to provide a dynamic cultural environment to serve and strengthen the cultural community through advocacy, member services, and networking.

Thirty-three member organizations spoke to legislators, including Senator McAdams and Senator Romero, about the numerous benefits provided to our communities through the collaborative efforts of nonprofit organizations.

Senator McAdams

 
Senator Romero

Senator Davis also announced that Senator Pat Jones will be honored by the Girl Scouts next month.  In recognition of Senator Jones’ outstanding service and leadership, she will be honored with the 2010 Girl Scouts of Utah Distinguished Alumnae Award.  The award will be presented to Senator Jones at the Girl Scouts’ International Women’s Day Celebration March 4, 2010, at the Jewish Community Center.

Senator Jones has made incredible contributions to her community through her professional and volunteer endeavors and exhibits the Girl Scout Promise and Law in her daily life.  She is honest and fair, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and makes the world a better place.

Senator Karen Morgan and Senator Karen Mayne are former Girl Scouts, too.  Senator Karen Morgan is a previous recipient of the Girl Scouts of Utah Distinguished Alumnae Award.

Several of our visiting Girl Scouts were from Cottonwood Heights (Senator Morgan’s senate district) and one was from Kearns (Senator Karen Mayne’s senate district).

Congratulations, Senator Jones.

Senators Mayne and Morgan with Girl Scouts

Senator Davis with Girl Scouts

This morning, the Utah State Senate presented Cottonwood Heights City, which is in my Senate District, with a citation recognizing its many #1 achievements.

In August of last year, the Cottonwood Heights City Emergency Preparedness Team was awarded FEMA’s top award for “Collaborative Preparedness Planning” at the 2009 National Conference on Community Preparedness held in Washington, D.C.  It was selected for its exemplary model of developing and implementing a citywide emergency preparedness plan.  When completed, the system will be prepared to communicate with residents of every street and home in the City.

Cottonwood Heights has also received many other awards in just five years of being established as an official city.

They’ve received Best of State Awards by the Best of State Committee in 2006, 2008, and 2009.  In 2006 they received the Best of State in Community Development.  In 2008 they received the Best in State for the best-elected official, Mayor Kelvyn Cullimore Jr. And in 2009 they received Best in State for the best-appointed Official, Treasurer Gary Harmer.

In 2007 Money Magazine rated them in the Top 100 cities of America.

In 2007, 2008, and 2009 Cottonwood Heights received the Distinguished Budget Award by the Government Finance Officers Association.

And the Cottonwood Heights Police Department received special recognition for their exceptional work against drunk driving. Before the Cottonwood Heights Police Department was established, only around 20 DUI arrests were made per year. Last year, the police made 256 DUI arrests.

Senator Karen Morgan awards Senate Citation to
Cottonwood Heights City Officials

 
(left to right)
Robby Russo, Chief of Police
Gordon Thomas, Councilman on Emergency Preparedness
Senator Karen Morgan
Kelvyn Cullimore, Mayor
Lianne Stillman, City Manager

Now the Food and Drug Administration is considering stricter regulations for the use of tanning beds.  The FDA may require more precise warnings about the dangers.  As reported recently by the Deseret News editorial board, “the growing scientific consensus is there’s no such thing as a safe tan.”  The FDA will conduct a public hearing this coming March.

Cognizant of these risks, in 2007, Senator Patricia Jones sponsored and passed SB 52, Health Regulations for Public Indoor Tanning Beds.  Utah law now requires IN PERSON parental consent once a year for minors to use commercial tanning beds.  Parents are required to read warnings about the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays from tanning beds and sign for the number of tanning sessions their children can receive.

The health risks and associated costs down the road are avoidable.  Hopefully, the protection provided by Utah law and the prospective FDA regulations will affect the choices of our youth.  They may wisely opt for shade during the day and a spray-on tan for the prom.

Yesterday on the Senate Floor, Senator Ross Romero recognized members of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah in the gallery.  Senator Romero commended them for their significant contribution to mentoring in our communities.  Senator Romero is an active supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah.  The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is “to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact.”  Big Brothers Big Sisters serves children ages 6-18.

“Bigs” (the adults) and “Littles” (the kids) meet once a week in schools, libraries, and community centers to talk and participate in fun activities.  Research has shown these positive relationships to be helpful in many ways.  Participating “Littles” are more confident in their schoolwork performance and get along better with their families.  They are also less likely to begin using illegal drugs, less likely to begin using alcohol, and less likely to skip school.

Senator Romero answered questions while the group ate lunch in the Multi-purpose Room of the Capitol. One of the “Littles” asked Senator Romero why he decided to become a state senator.  He responded to the question by saying, “Well, I have always been involved in serving my community, so becoming a state senator seemed like a great opportunity to further serve my community.”

Answering Questions

 
Lunch Time

Morgan’s bill requires students in first, second and third grades to read at or above grade level prior to advancing to the next grade, with certain exceptions.  She stated, “Children learn to read in first, second and third grades.  After third grade, they read to learn.  A child must have basic reading skills in order to be successful as they move into the upper grades, and this bill will help to ensure that each child receives the help necessary to develop this vital skill.”

SB 150 requires schools to provide information to parents at the beginning of the school regarding this standard for grade advancement, to notify a student and the student’s parent or guardian before the middle of the school year if there is any possibility the student may not qualify for promotion, and to provide focused remediation to provide the help the student needs to achieve grade level.

SB 150 includes exceptions for students with disabilities and also allows a principal to provide an exemption and advance a student if the principal deems it to be in the best interest of the student.  A child has until August 15th to meet the standard and qualify for advancement to the next grade.

There is an ongoing debate about restricting cell phone use while driving and efforts in the past for a total ban.  This year in the Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee, we have heard testimony from young drivers who support a complete ban because their friends were injured or killed in accidents involving cell phone use.

Based upon this testimony, I decided to sponsor Senate Bill 113, Wireless Telephone Use Restriction for Minors in Vehicles, which restricts cell phone use by persons younger than 18 years of age.  This bill highlights the need for young drivers to acquire experience behind the wheel before introducing distractions to the mix.

The bill provides for an infraction if a person under 18 uses a cell phone while driving.  If a person violates the law and is involved in a motor vehicle accident, the penalty is a class C misdemeanor.  Thirteen states have passed the same provision restricting young drivers.

Below are statistics for Utah Teenage Distracted Driving Crashes for 2006 (new information for 2007 will be available shortly).  Source: University of Utah Applied Cognition Lab

In crashes where cell phone and other electronic devices were the distraction:

1 person was killed
3 people had incapacitating injuries
27 people had non-incapacitating injuries
48 people had possible injuries
42 people had ER visits and 2 people had hospital visits
$240,000 was charged by the ER or hospital

It bothers me when I read the obituaries and see young people dying of suicide, accidents, etc.  I chose age 18 as the cutoff because at that age, most young people have completed high school, are more experienced behind the wheel, and have demonstrated a higher level of maturity.

While I know some are for a complete cell phone ban while driving, this bill is meant to safeguard the younger drivers in our community.

Finally, Representative Phil Riesen is carrying this bill in the Utah House of Representatives.