Page 7 - FY 20 Annual Report: Land Trusts Protection & Advocacy Office

Utah Land Trusts Protection

& Advocacy Office Those who act

675 E 500 S SUITE 340 “ on behalf of the
TRUST PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84102 state as trustees

duty to administer
Trust Protection & Advocacy Protection & Advocacy Committee and hold a fiduciary
PROTECTION & ADVOCACY OFFICE the lands and
RESPONSIBILITIES: In 2018, the Utah Legislature created the Land Trusts Protection & Agency Management
Advocacy Office to represent and protect the beneficiaries’ interests, investments in the
• Represent beneficiary interests through provide independent trust system oversight, and help the public A five-member committee, with the support of the Utah state treasurer, provides
advocacy for optimal and productive trust oversight and direction for the Protection & Advocacy Office. Committee members are most prudent and
revenue generation and effective trust understand and support these important endowments. selected and appointed by the SITLA Board of Trustees, the SITFO Board of Trustees, profitable manner
distributions The office works closely with the other three institutions that make the Utah state treasurer, and the Utah State Board of Education. Individuals who serve
• Conduct independent oversight of land and up the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands System: the School on the Protection & Advocacy Committee are required to have significant qualifications possible, acting
investment management decisions to ensure and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), the School and related to the purposes and activities of the school and institutional trust, such as with undivided
fiduciary duties are always followed Institutional Trust Funds Office (SITFO), and the School Children’s nonrenewable resource development, renewable resource management, real estate
• Review trust activity, stay informed, account, Trust Section at the Utah State Board of Education. development, and investment management. Additionally, committee members must loyalty to the
and report In accordance with the Utah Enabling Act, the Utah Constitution, have demonstrated a commitment of time and loyalty to the purposes of trust. beneficiaries and
• Promote accurate public understanding of the and state law, the Protection & Advocacy Office provides active due The agency director is appointed by the Utah state treasurer from a list of qualified
School and Institutional Trust Lands System diligence and risk assessment monitoring for productive and optimal candidates recommended by the committee and acts in fiduciary capacity to balancing the
• Facilitate open and clear communication with revenue from trust land management, prudent and profitable trust represent all trust beneficiaries. interests of today’s
key individuals and organizations of the trust fund investment, and effective distributions to the trust beneficiaries.
• Ensure trust goals and purposes are FY 2021 COMMITTEE AND OFFICE UPDATES beneficiaries
maintained against those of all
Advocate. Protect. Represent.
FY20 PROTECTION & ADVOCACY COMMITTEE future beneficiaries
& AGENCY DIRECTOR The duty of the office to protect and advocate for the trusts’ beneficiaries, to maintain
roots the School and Institutional Trust System on firm principles with the
proper checks and balances to maximize trust contributions for current intergenerational
and future beneficiaries and maintain the inherent purposes and goals equity."
of the trust. Richard Ellis Louie Cononelos Tim Donaldson
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBER DIRECTOR
Public Schools Trust — DAVID DAMSCHEN, UTAH STATE
Richard Ellis and Louie Cononelos were appointed members of the Protection & TREASURER
Miners Hospital Trust
Advocacy Committee in September 2020 concluding the terms of Mel Brown and
School for the Blind Trust Thomas Bachtell. Steve Ostler was elected Chairman and Paula Plant Vice Chair. Tim
Melvin R. Brown Thomas Bachtell Donaldson, was appointed by Utah State Treasurer Damschen in December 2020 to
CHAIR VICE CHAIR School for the Deaf Trust serve as the Advocacy Office Director.
Reservoirs Trust
University of Utah Trust
Colleges of Education (Normal Schools) Trust Increasing Community Knowledge and
• University of Utah Awareness about Trust Lands
• Dixie State University
• Southern Utah University Often, little is known about the school and institutional trust lands, or they are
misunderstood. Yet, the lands and revenues have a significant impact on education in Utah.
Paula Plant Steven Ostler • Utah State University
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBER • Utah Valley University Utah public schools receive approximately 95% of the total trusts distributions to
• Weber State University provide important funding for the instruction of K-12 students in areas of greatest
academic need. $88.8 million was distributed to public schools in FY 2020-2021 at
School of Mines Trust no cost to taxpayers. The funds play an import role in purchasing instructional items
Utah State Hospital Trust or hiring personnel needed to help children be successful.
Utah State University (Agricultural College) Trust Increasing community knowledge and awareness about trust lands, as well as building
an understanding of the trusts’ importance and its role in education funding is a
Juvenile Justice Services (Reform School) Trust
powerful step in advocating for the schoolchildren of Utah — the trust beneficiaries.
Public Buildings Trust The Protection & Advocacy Office works closely with various education groups
Brigham Tomco Justin Atwater and key entities and individuals within the trust system to raise awareness and
COMMITTEE MEMBER FORMER DIRECTOR, FY 2020
understanding of the importance of protecting and advocating to enhance and
preserve this perpetual source of funding.

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