LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL H.C.R. 18
6 Approved for Filing: V. Ashby 6 1st Sub. (Buff)
6 02-15-24 2:09 PM 6
Representative Angela Romero proposes the following substitute bill:
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION TO IMPEACH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
2 MEMBER NATALIE CLINE
3 2024 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Robert M. Spendlove
6 Senate Sponsor: Ann Millner
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This House resolution initiates proceedings for the impeachment of State Board of
11 Education member Natalie Cline.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 < initiates proceedings for the impeachment of State Board of Education member
15 Natalie Cline;
16 < creates a Special Investigative Committee (committee) to investigate board member
17 Cline's actions on February 6, 2024;
18 < establishes the committee's membership and duties;
1st Sub. H.C.R. 18
19 < if the committee recommends impeachment, directs the committee to present
20 articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives for consideration and
21 action; and
22 < provides for the committee's termination.
23 Special Clauses:
24 None
25
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26 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
27 WHEREAS, Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 17, vests in the House of
28 Representatives the sole power of impeachment;
29 WHEREAS, Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 3, establishes the State Board of
30 Education (USBE) and its members as elected state officers;
31 WHEREAS, Utah Constitution, Article VI, Section 19, provides that state officers are
32 liable to impeachment for high crimes, misdemeanors, or malfeasance in office;
33 WHEREAS, USBE member Natalie Cline, elected in 2020, represents State School
34 Board District 9;
35 WHEREAS, on January 6, 2021, board member Cline took an oath of office under Utah
36 Constitution, Article IV, Section 10, to discharge the duties of [her] office with fidelity;
37 WHEREAS, on February 6, 2024, board member Cline shared photos of a high school
38 girls basketball team in Granite School District on her social media platform and publicly
39 questioned the gender of one of the student athletes;
40 WHEREAS, the accusation in board member Cline's social media post was made
41 without evidence and revealed a student's identity;
42 WHEREAS, board member Cline's social media post provoked vulgar and hateful
43 responses toward the student and threatened the student's safety;
44 WHEREAS, on February 7, 2024, Governor Cox and Lieutenant Governor Henderson
45 issued a statement denouncing board member Cline's post;
46 WHEREAS, on February 8, 2024, the Utah House Democrats issued a statement
47 reproaching board member Cline's "unconscionable online accusations" and called for her
48 immediate resignation; and
49 WHEREAS, on February 8, 2024, the House of Representatives Majority Caucus
50 issued a statement that condemned board member Cline's post and asserted consideration of
51 further actions:
52 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives initiates
53 proceedings for the impeachment of USBE member Natalie Cline and establishes impeachment
54 procedures.
55 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives creates a Special
56 Investigative Committee (committee) to investigate board member Cline's actions on February
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57 6, 2024.
58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee consists of 10 members of the
59 House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, with no more than five members from the
60 same political party.
61 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Speaker designates two members to serve as
62 cochairs, one from each political party in the House of Representatives.
63 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in the event of a tie vote, the cochairs cast an
64 additional joint vote to break the tie.
65 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the committee members constitutes a
66 quorum, and action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the committee.
67 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee holds its first meeting before the
68 2024 annual general session adjourns sine die and meets as necessary thereafter to conduct its
69 business.
70 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Legislative Research and General
71 Counsel provides staff to the committee.
72 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the salaries and expenses of the members of the
73 committee are paid in accordance with Utah Code Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules,
74 Title 5, Chapter 3, Legislator Compensation.
75 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee adopts at its first meeting policies
76 and procedures.
77 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee's duties are to investigate board
78 member Cline's actions on February 6, 2024, and evaluate whether those actions constitute an
79 impeachable offense.
80 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, upon the conclusion of the investigation, the
81 committee, by majority vote:
82 C determines whether board member Cline's conduct constitutes an
83 impeachable offense; and
84 C makes a recommendation as to whether the House of Representatives
85 proceeds with impeachment.
86 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, if the committee recommends impeachment, the
87 committee presents articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives for consideration
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88 and action.
89 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the committee who do not vote in
90 favor of the recommendation may present a minority recommendation to the House of
91 Representatives.
92 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee terminates after issuing its
93 recommendation to the House of Representatives.
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