SALT LAKE CITY—The legislative session is over and Rep. Melissa Garff Ballard, R-North Salt Lake is proud of the work that was done. 

“Friday was a more relaxing day than two weeks ago,” said Ballard. “We haven’t done as many bills this year. There were about 500 total bills. The process was a lot slower because we were talking to experts across the state to get the best policy – not just policy. Input and collaboration makes a difference.”

Ballard was especially happy to see some of her bills push through. “One of my bills, HB194, dealt with education in corrections,” she said. “We see a lot of homelessness and recidivism. It’s important to give inmates the opportunity for education as soon as possible before they’re released.”

There’s a disparity between men and women, said Ballard. “Women should have the same opportunity for education as men. Men are taught things like welding, etc. that lead them to higher paying jobs but women are only trained in culinary arts and secretarial skills.”

Inmates need career readiness before they are transferred, she said. “Then they should be allowed to continue that education by providing an iPad even if they’re in lockdown. I have a lot of experience knowing about the challenges of recidivism and its effect in the community.”

This is a group of people who need help when they get out of prison, Ballard said. “We want to provide resources for jobs and connect them with family members and give them support rather than release them with no money and no resources. That has an impact on helping to change things for generations.”

One man who spoke before the committee said he’d been in and out of jail and on drugs for 20 years, she said. “He learned welding in prison and when he got out he got a job with Kennecott and has been clean for four years. He said his whole life changed because he never knew he could do anything else.”

Ballard said she’s also proud of HB193, an option for full-day kindergarten. “Statistics from schools in southern Utah showed kids’ scores were at only 40 percent by the end of the year but after going to all day scores were up at 90 percent by the end of the year.”

Saving the Great Salt Lake was a big issue during the session, she said. “We passed three bills. I was a co sponsor on HB429 (Great Salt Lake Amendments) and HB410 (Great Salt Lake Watershed.)” The legislature also passed HB157 Sovereign Lands Revenue to help the lake.

Tax credits and changes is a huge one, said Ballard. “Ten years ago the budget was $10 billion now it’s $25 billion. We have a lot more people in the state and we have to pay for infrastructure, water, etc. We’ll continue to work on funding structure through the interim.”

Lawmakers also funded education by $383 million a 6 percent raise to the WPU (Weighted Pupil Unit) and 9 percent overall. “That’s a lot,” she said. “If teachers are wondering if they’ll see an increase in their paycheck they should go to their local school board. They’re the ones who decide how to spend the money.”λ