Bill > SB0240

This bill, titled "Higher Education Institutional Governance," aims to clarify and redefine the roles and responsibilities of higher education institutions' boards of trustees and presidents in Utah. It establishes the Utah Board of Higher Education as the successor to previous governing bodies, consolidating their rights and duties. The bill outlines specific powers and duties for institutional boards of trustees, including acting in a fiduciary capacity, facilitating communication, developing strategic plans aligned with state goals and workforce needs, and overseeing presidential performance evaluations in consultation with the Utah Board of Higher Education. It also details the president's authority in areas such as hiring administrative staff, managing budgets, and establishing institutional structure, while emphasizing the need for consultation with the board of trustees. Furthermore, the bill addresses the appointment and duties of attorneys for degree-granting institutions, clarifying their scope of work and the coordination role of the Utah Board of Higher Education, and also revises membership and appointment procedures for technical college boards of trustees, including a new rotation schedule for local school board representation. Finally, it mandates that institutional boards of trustees serve as or establish audit committees for their respective institutions and clarifies the hiring of legal counsel for state agencies, reinforcing the Attorney General's role while allowing for agency-specific counsel under certain conditions.

Education

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0240.html