Gov. Cox signs bill ending Test to Stay program, making it law

Gov. Spencer Cox delivers his 2022 State of the State deal with within the Utah Home chamber on the Capitol in Salt Lake Metropolis on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Cox on Wednesday signed his first batch of payments handed by legislators in the course of the first few weeks of the legislative session.

Laura Seitz, Deseret Information

Gov. Spencer Cox on Wednesday signed his first batch of payments handed by legislators in the course of the first few weeks of the legislative session.

The payments included the top to the pandemic-prompted Check to Keep program for colleges, in addition to a number of finances payments. With the governor's signature, they now develop into legislation.

"In-person studying is vital to the event of youngsters and youth," Cox mentioned in a press release. "With this invoice, we've got clarified how colleges transition to distant studying when vital sickness threatens a college's means to soundly proceed in-person studying."

He referred to as the Check to Keep program "one ingredient of a layered strategy" to protected in-person studying. The legislation clarifies how the state might once more implement this system "when it's decided that it will likely be useful in controlling the unfold of COVID-19," Cox mentioned.

"The virus has been evolving and our response must, too," he added.

The payments Cox signed Wednesday:

• HB183, In-Individual Studying Amendments.
• HB1, Public Schooling Base Price range Amendments.
• HB5, Pure Assets, Agriculture, and Environmental High quality Base Price range.
• HB6, Govt Workplaces and Prison Justice Base Price range.
• HB7, Social Companies Base Price range.
• SB1, Greater Schooling Base Price range.
• SB4, Enterprise, Financial Improvement, and Labor Base Price range.
• SB6, Infrastructure and Normal Authorities Base Price range.
• SB7, Nationwide Guard, Veterans Affairs, and Legislature Base Price range.

Cox famous that the state's "wet day" fund stands at greater than $1.15 billion for fiscal yr 2022.

"We're thrilled that the Legislature agrees that planning for future unknowns is important to our financial well being with the allocation of an extra $57 million in wet day fund deposits," the governor mentioned.

He additionally praised the Legislature for addressing bonds within the finances for the jail redevelopment and FrontRunner double-track initiatives "to make sure that our kids don't have to pay for what we wish at present. This glorious use of one-time funds demonstrates the fiscal accountability and foresight that our federal companions lack," Cox mentioned.