House members kill one ed bill, pass one

House members killed one education bill Monday and passed another.

HB62 by Rep. Karen Morgan, D-Cottonwood Heights, was killed by a 40-32 vote. The bill outlined several procedures whereby students K-through-3rd grade would be held back a year if they weren't reading at grade level. The bill was amended to clearly say that a parent could overrule the school in holding a child back if the parent felt strongly that for social reasons the child needed to advance.

But that wasn't good enough for most House members, one after another rising to tell of personal experiences with holding a child back that permanently harmed the children.

"My cousin was held back and it ruined his life," said Rep. Janice Fisher, D-West Valley.

Representatives approved a bill that outlined how a school or school district goes about deciding to have a uniform dress code, and how poorer parents can get help in paying for school uniforms.

HB167 passed 46-25 and now goes to the Senate.

Sponsoring Rep. Craig Frank, R-Pleasant Grove, said in some schools children are finding it tough to concentrate and do good work because so much social pressure is coming in how they dress and look.

Parents will still create a dress code policy by gathering 20 percent of parent signatures on a petition and then the school or district adopts rules for an election on what the dress code should be.