Utah Legislature: Gang prevention bill gains committee approval

SALT LAKE CITY — Small towns in rural Utah aren't immune to gang activity, lawmakers and education officials agree.

The Senate Education Committee Monday unanimously approved a bill that would require all school districts statewide to implement gang prevention and intervention policies. SB59 now goes to the Senate for debate.

"We understand every school district is different … but the goal is to have more of a statewide process," said bill sponsor Sen. Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake.

State school Superintendent Larry Shumway said he served as a principal years ago in Sevier School District in central Utah and was surprised when gang issues arose in Salina. "I think having something in place would be helpful," he said.

Activist Ronald Mortensen, who grew up in Delta, said, "Gangs can pop up everywhere. It's good to have a policy in place and be aware it can happen."

The State Board of Education could offer example policies for the districts, ranging from minimal to in-depth, Shumway said.

Robles is also proposing SJR2, a resolution that urges state and local governments to work together to combat and reduce gang activity. This resolution was the Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Interim Committee gave it a favorable recommendation.

Verne Larsen, safe district and school coordinator for the State Office of Education, said he supports the resolution but feels the bill may be redundant. "The majority of our districts have this type of a policy in place," he said.

Larsen added, "In regards to the training that the bill requires, we are already doing prevention trainings around the state."

See the bill at le.utah.gov/~2010/bills/sbillint/sb0059.htm.

See the resolution at le.utah.gov/~2010/htmdoc/sbillhtm/sjr002.htm.

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