Section 803 – Uniforms in schools — Policy approval.

• (1) The school uniform policy authorized in Section 53G-7-802 may be adopted:
  • (a) for a charter school:
    • (i) by the charter school governing board or administrator of the charter school in accordance with Subsection (2); or
    • (ii) by including the school uniform policy in the school’s charter agreement approved in accordance with Chapter 5, Charter Schools;
  • (b) for more than one school at the district level by a local school board in accordance with Subsection (2); or
  • (c) for a single school at the school level by the principal of the school in accordance with Subsection (2).

• (2) A school uniform policy adopted by an election is subject to the following requirements:
  • (a) the adopting authority shall hold a public hearing on the matter prior to formal adoption of the school uniform policy;
  • (b)
    • (i) the adopting authority shall hold an election for approval of a school uniform policy prior to its adoption and shall receive an affirmative vote from a majority of those voting at the election; and
    • (ii) only parents of students subject to the proposed school uniform policy may vote at the election, limited to one vote per family.

• (3)
  • (a) A local school board or principal is required to hold an election to consider adoption of a school uniform policy for an entire school district or an individual school if initiative petitions are presented as follows:
    • (i) for a school district, a petition signed by a parent of 20% of the district’s students presented to the local school board; and
    • (ii) for an individual school, a petition signed by a parent of 20% of the school’s students presented to the principal.
  • (b) The public hearing and election procedures required in Subsection (2) apply to this Subsection (3).

• (4)
  • (a) The procedures set forth in Subsections (3) and (4) shall apply to the discontinuance or modification of a school uniform policy adopted under this section.
  • (b) A vote to discontinue an adopted school uniform policy may not take place during the first year of its operation.

• (5) The adopting authority shall establish the manner and time of an election required under this section.

Amended by Chapter 293, 2019 General Session