Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program

17
53E-1-201
53F-5-224
63I-1-253
53E-1-201
53F-5-224
63I-1-253
0
Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Katy Hall
Senate Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

Cosponsor:
Logan J. Monson
Jon Hawkins
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates the Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
creates a five-year pilot program known as the Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program to:
promote physical activity in an eligible school; and
promote healthy eating habits in an eligible school;
requires the State Board of Education to:
administer the program;
select an eligible school for participation in the program; and
award program funds;
creates a reporting requirement;
creates a cap for administrative costs associated with the program;
creates a sunset date for the program; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53E-1-201
Effective
07/01/26
Partially Repealed
07/01/27
, as last amended by Laws
of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9
63I-1-253
Effective
07/01/26
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special
Session, Chapter 9
ENACTS:
53F-5-224
Effective
07/01/26
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
53E-1-201
is amended to read:
53E-1-201
Effective
07/01/26
Partially Repealed
07/01/27
. Reports to and
action required of the Education Interim Committee.
(1)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section
68-3-14
, the following recurring
reports are due to the Education Interim Committee:
(a)
the report described in Section
9-22-109
by the STEM Action Center Board,
including the information described in Section
9-22-113
on the status of the computer
science initiative and Section
9-22-114
on the Computing Partnerships Grants
Program;
(b)
the prioritized list of data research described in Section
53H-15-303
and the report
on research and activities described in Section
53H-15-305
by the Utah Data
Research Center;
(c)
the report described in Section
53H-1-203
by the Utah Board of Higher Education on
career and technical education issues and addressing workforce needs;
(d)
the annual report of the Utah Board of Higher Education described in Section
53H-1-203
;
(e)
the reports described in Section
53H-7-603
by the Utah Board of Higher Education
regarding activities related to campus safety;
(f)
the State Superintendent's Annual Report by the state board described in Section
53E-1-203
;
(g)
the annual report described in Section
53E-2-202
by the state board on the strategic
plan to improve student outcomes;
(h)
the report described in Section
53E-3-501
by the state board on students in an LEA
who receive academic credit through the packet method;
(i)
the report described in Section
53E-8-204
by the state board on the Utah Schools for
the Deaf and the Blind;
(j)
the report described in Section
53E-10-703
by the Utah Leading through Effective,
Actionable, and Dynamic Education director on research and other activities;
(k)
the report described in Section
53F-2-522
regarding mental health screening
programs;
(l)
the report described in Section
53F-4-203
by the state board and the independent
evaluator on an evaluation of early interactive reading software;
(m)
the report described in Section
53F-6-412
by the program manager of the Utah Fits
All Scholarship Program;
(n)
the report described in Section
63N-20-107
by the Governor's Office of Economic
Opportunity on UPSTART;
(o)
the report described in Section
53F-5-215
by the state board related to a grant for an
elementary teacher preparation assessment;
(p)
upon request, the report described in Section
53F-5-219
by the state board on the
Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program;
(q)
the report described in Section
53F-5-405
by the state board regarding an evaluation
of a partnership that receives a grant to improve educational outcomes for students
who are low-income;
(r)
the report described in Section
53H-1-604
regarding the Higher Education and
Corrections Council;
(s)
the report described in Section
53G-7-221
by the state board regarding innovation
plans; and
(t)
the reports described in Section
53F-6-412
regarding the Utah Fits All Scholarship
Program.
(2)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section
68-3-14
, the following occasional
reports are due to the Education Interim Committee:
(a)
in 2027, 2030, 2033, and 2035, the reports described in Sections
53H-1-502
,
53H-1-503
, and
53H-1-504
;
(b)
in 2025, the report described in Section
53H-6-203
by a degree-granting institution
regarding policies on abusive coaching practices;
(c)
if required, the report described in Section
53E-4-309
by the state board explaining
the reasons for changing the grade level specification for the administration of
specific assessments;
(d)
if required, the report described in Section
53E-5-210
by the state board of an
adjustment to the minimum level that demonstrates proficiency for each statewide
assessment;
(e)
the report described in Section
53E-10-702
by Utah Leading through Effective,
Actionable, and Dynamic Education;
(f)
if required, the report described in Section
53F-2-513
by the state board evaluating
the effects of salary bonuses on the recruitment and retention of effective teachers in
high-poverty schools;
(g)
upon request, the report described in Section
53F-5-224
by the state board regarding
implementation, progress, and health outcomes of the Gold Medal Schools Pilot
Program;
(g)
(h)
upon request, the report described in Section
53F-10-303
by the state board
regarding the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program;
(h)
(i)
upon request, a report described in Section
53G-7-222
by an LEA regarding
expenditure of a percentage of state restricted funds to support an innovative
education program;
(i)
(j)
the reports described in Section
53G-11-304
by the state board regarding
proposed rules and results related to educator exit surveys; and
(j)
(k)
the report described in Section
26B-5-113
by the Office of Substance Use and
Mental Health, the state board, and the Department of Health and Human Services
regarding recommendations related to Medicaid reimbursement for school-based
health services.
(3)
In accordance with applicable provisions and Section
68-3-14
, every five years the
Education Interim Committee shall review the programs described in the following
sections of code:
(a)
beginning July 1, 2027, Title
53E, Chapter 10, Part 3
, Concurrent Enrollment;
(b)
beginning July 1, 2027, Section
53F-2-408
, Enhancement for Accelerated Students
Program;
(c)
beginning July 1, 2027, Section
53F-2-409
, Concurrent enrollment funding;
(d)
beginning July 1, 2027, Section
53F-2-415
, Student health and counseling support --
Qualifying personnel -- Distribution formula -- Rulemaking;
(e)
beginning July 1, 2028, Section
53F-2-416
, Appropriation and distribution for the
Teacher and Student Success Program;
(f)
beginning July 1, 2028, Section
53F-2-510
, Digital Teaching and Learning Grant
Program;
(g)
beginning July 1, 2028, Section
53F-9-306
, Teacher and Student Success Account;
(h)
beginning July 1, 2028, Title
53G, Chapter 7, Part 13
, Teacher and Student Success
Program; and
(i)
beginning July 1, 2029, Section
53F-2-502
, Dual language immersion.
Section 2. Section
53F-5-224
is enacted to read:
53F-5-224
Effective
07/01/26
. Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Eligible school" means a district or charter elementary school that:
(i)
provides instruction to students in kindergarten or grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; and
(ii)
is located in a county of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class as described in
Section
17-60-104
.
(b)
"Gold medal recognition award" means recognition through a certificate the state
board awards to an eligible school that meets the physical education criteria the state
board establishes under this section.
(c)
"Program" means the Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program created in Subsection
(2)
.
(2)
There is created a five-year pilot program, known as the Gold Medal Schools Pilot
Program, to provide funding to an eligible school to promote healthy physical lifestyle
choices by a student in an eligible school and improve the physical education, physical
activity, and nutrition of a student by:
(a)
encouraging a student to engage in regular physical activity;
(b)
promoting healthy eating habits and food choices in an eligible school; and
(c)
creating school policies that support lifelong health and wellness for students.
(3)
The state board shall:
(a)
if the Department of Health and Human Services receives federal funding related to
the program in an amount to cover the program, administer and oversee the program;
and
(b)
in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
make rules to:
(i)
establish physical education criteria for a participating, eligible school, including
criteria for earning a gold medal recognition award, that:
(A)
achieve the purpose of the program as described in Subsection
(2)
; and
(B)
apply alternate criteria to a student with a physical limitation;
(ii)
select eligible schools to participate in the program, prioritizing schools that:
(A)
demonstrate the greatest need for health improvement;
(B)
submit an application in accordance with Subsection
(4)
that outlines
measurable health goals and evidence-based strategies; and
(C)
establish partnerships with local entities to support student health and wellness;
(iii)
subject to legislative appropriations, award the program funds equally between
each eligible school the state board selects under Subsection
(3)(b)
:
(A)
that meets the physical education criteria the state board establishes; and
(B)
in accordance with the requirements of this section;
(iv)
create an application process for an eligible school to participate in the program;
(v)
establish limitations on eligible school use of funds an eligible school receives
through the program that emphasize physical activity and healthy eating habits;
(vi)
begin program implementation for the 2027-28 school year;
(vii)
grant a participating eligible school autonomy to implement the program in
accordance with local needs and resources; and
(viii)
establish a system to distribute program funds to the participating eligible
school, including a percentage cap for an eligible school's administration of the
program.
(4)
(a)
An eligible school may submit an application to participate in the program.
(b)
In the eligible school's application, the eligible school shall:
(i)
describe how the eligible school will implement the program's objectives; and
(ii)
outline measurable goals aligned with the program's purpose.
(c)
An eligible school that the state board selects to participate in the program shall, at
the conclusion of each school year, submit a report to the state board demonstrating
whether the school has met the physical education criteria the state board establishes
for the program.
(5)
An eligible school that participates in the program may only use program funds to
achieve the purposes described in Subsection
(2)
.
(6)
The state board may use up to 6.25% of the money appropriated for the purposes
described in this section for administrative costs of the state board.
(7)
Upon request of the Education Interim Committee or the Health and Human Services
Interim Committee, the state board shall report to the Education Interim Committee or
the Health and Human Services Interim Committee on:
(a)
the implementation of the program; and
(b)
the program's progress and health outcomes.
Section 3. Section
63I-1-253
is amended to read:
63I-1-253
Effective
07/01/26
. Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
(1)
Section
53-1-122
, Road Rage Awareness and Prevention Restricted Account, is
repealed July 1, 2028.
(2)
Section
53-2a-105
, Emergency Management Administration Council created --
Function -- Composition -- Expenses, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(3)
Section
53-2a-1103
, Search and Rescue Advisory Board -- Members -- Compensation,
is repealed July 1, 2030.
(4)
Section
53-2a-1104
, General duties of the Search and Rescue Advisory Board, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(5)
Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 15, Grid Resilience Committee
, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(6)
Section
53-2d-104
, State Emergency Medical Services Committee -- Membership --
Expenses, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(7)
Section
53-2d-503
, Establishment of maximum rates, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(8)
Section
53-5a-302
, Concealed Firearm Review Board -- Membership -- Compensation
-- Terms -- Duties, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(9)
Section
53-11-104
, Board, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(10)
Title
53, Chapter 31
, Department Interaction With Local Law Enforcement, is repealed
July 1, 2027.
(11)
Subsection
53C-3-203
(4)(b)(vii)
, regarding the distribution of money from the Land
Exchange Distribution Account to the Geological Survey for test wells and other
hydrologic studies in the West Desert, is repealed July 1, 2030.
(12)
Subsection
53E-1-201
(1)(q)
, regarding the Higher Education and Corrections Council,
is repealed July 1, 2027.
(13)
Subsection
53E-2-304
(6)
, regarding foreclosing a private right of action or waiver of
governmental immunity, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(14)
Subsection
53E-3-503
(5)
, regarding coordinating councils for youth in care, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(15)
Subsection
53E-3-503
(6)
, regarding coordinating councils for youth in care, is
repealed July 1, 2027.
(16)
Subsection
53E-4-202
(8)(b)
, regarding a standards review committee, is repealed
January 1, 2028.
(17)
Section
53E-4-203
, Standards review committee, is repealed January 1, 2028.
(18)
Title 53E, Chapter 6, Part 5, Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission
, is
repealed July 1, 2033.
(19)
Subsection
53E-7-207
(7)
, regarding a private right of action or waiver of governmental
immunity, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(20)
Section
53F-5-215
, Elementary teacher preparation assessment grant, is repealed July
1, 2028.
(21)
Section
53F-5-219
, Local Innovations Civics Education Pilot Program, is repealed July
1, 2026.
(22)
Section
53F-5-224
, Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program, is repealed July 1, 2031.
(22)
(23)
Title 53F, Chapter 10, Part 2, Capital Projects Evaluation Panel
, is repealed July
1, 2027.
(23)
(24)
Subsection
53G-4-608
(2)(b)
, regarding the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(24)
(25)
Subsection
53G-4-608
(4)(b)
, regarding the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, is
repealed January 1, 2025.
(25)
(26)
Section
53G-9-212
, Drinking water quality in schools, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(26)
(27)
Subsection
53G-9-703(4)
, regarding the parental video presentation concerning
student use of technology, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(27)
(28)
Subsection
53H-1-402(1)(j)
, regarding the Higher Education and Corrections
Council, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(28)
(29)
Section
53H-1-604
, Higher Education and Corrections Council, is repealed July
1, 2027.
(29)
(30)
Subsection
53H-4-210(3)
, regarding the creation of the SafeUT and School
Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(30)
(31)
Subsection
53H-4-210(4)
, regarding the appointment of the members of the
SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(31)
(32)
Subsection
53H-4-210(5)
, regarding the attorney general designating the chair of
the SafeUT and School Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(32)
(33)
Subsection
53H-4-210(6)
, regarding the quorum requirements of the SafeUT and
School Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(33)
(34)
Subsection
53H-4-210(7)
, regarding a formal action of the SafeUT and School
Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(34)
(35)
Subsection
53H-4-210(8)
, regarding compensation for members of the SafeUT
and School Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(35)
(36)
Subsection
53H-4-210(9)
, regarding the support staff for the SafeUT and School
Safety Commission, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(36)
(37)
Section
53H-4-306.1
, Definitions -- Electrification of Transportation
Infrastructure Research Center, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(37)
(38)
Section
53H-4-306.2
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Designation -- Duties, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(38)
(39)
Section
53H-4-306.3
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Steering committee, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(39)
(40)
Section
53H-4-306.4
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Industry advisory board, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(40)
(41)
Section
53H-4-306.5
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Duties of the project director, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(41)
(42)
Section
53H-4-306.6
, Electrification of Transportation Infrastructure Research
Center -- Project development and strategic objectives -- Reporting requirements, is
repealed July 1, 2028.
(42)
(43)
Section
53H-4-307.1
, Center for Civic Excellence, is repealed July 1, 2030.
(43)
(44)
Section
53H-4-307.2
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Duties -- Authority, is
repealed July 1, 2030.
(44)
(45)
Section
53H-4-307.3
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Leadership, is repealed July
1, 2030.
(45)
(46)
Section
53H-4-307.4
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Faculty, is repealed July 1,
2030.
(46)
(47)
Section
53H-4-307.5
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Curriculum, is repealed July
1, 2030.
(47)
(48)
Section
53H-4-307.6
, Center for Civic Excellence -- Oversight -- Reporting, is
repealed July 1, 2030.
(48)
(49)
Section
53H-4-313
, Food Security Council, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(49)
(50)
Section
53H-8-305
, Five-year performance goals, is repealed July 1, 2027.
(50)
(51)
Title
53H, Chapter 10, Part 4
, Education Savings Incentive Program, is repealed
July 1, 2028.
Section 4.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
July 1, 2026
.
3-6-26 7:35 PM