2023 Utah Code › Title 53B - State System of Higher Education › Chapter 35 - Higher Education and Corrections Council › Part 2 - Council Duties › Section 201 - Higher Education and Corrections Council.

Effective 7/1/2023
53B-35-201.
Higher Education and Corrections Council.
(1) There is created the Higher Education and Corrections Council to advise the board, the Education Interim Committee, and the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee regarding the development and delivery of accredited higher education curriculum to incarcerated individuals in the state correctional system.
(2) The council consists of the following 11 members:
(a) a member of the House of Representatives whom the speaker of the House of Representatives appoints;
(b) a member of the Senate whom the president of the Senate appoints;
(c) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee;
(d) the following two members whom the commissioner appoints and who are engaged in prison education and have expertise in transfer articulation:
(i) one employee of a technical college; and
(ii) one employee of a degree-granting institution;
(e) the following two members whom the governor appoints:
(i) an individual who actively researches higher education delivered in a corrections setting using evidence-based practices; and
(ii) a formerly incarcerated individual who participated in postsecondary educational programs while incarcerated;
(f) one member of the Board of Pardons and Parole whom the chair of the Board of Pardons and Parole appoints;
(g) the executive director of the Department of Corrections or the executive director's designee;
(h) one employee of the Department of Corrections with expertise in education whom the executive director of the Department of Corrections appoints; and
(i) the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services or the executive director's designee.
(3)
(a) The members described in Subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b) shall serve as co-chairs of the council.
(b)
(i) Except as provided under Subsection (3)(b)(ii), an appointed member of the council shall serve a term of two years.
(ii) A council member's term ends on the day on which the member's status that allows the member to serve on the council under Subsection (2) ends.
(c) The individuals authorized to make appointments under Subsection (2) shall make the respective appointments:
(i) for the initial appointments, before July 1, 2022;
(ii) for subsequent terms, before July 1 of each odd-numbered year, by:
(A) reappointing the council member whose term expires under Subsection (3)(b)(i); or
(B) appointing a new council member; and
(iii) in the case of a vacancy created under Subsection (3)(b)(ii), for the remainder of the vacated term.
(d) The individual authorized to make appointments under Subsection (2) may change the relevant appointment described in Subsection (2) at any time for the remainder of the existing term.
(4)
(a) The salary and expenses of a council member who is a legislator shall be paid in accordance with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Chapter 3, Legislator Compensation.
(b) A council member who is not a legislator:
(i) may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service on the council; and
(ii) may receive per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses that the council member incurs as a council member at the rates that the Division of Finance establishes under:
(A) Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107; and
(B) rules that the Division of Finance makes under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
(5)
(a) A majority of the council members constitutes a quorum.
(b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes an action of the council.
(6) The commissioner shall provide staff support to the council.
Amended by Chapter 254, 2023 General Session