Schools would share $1.5 million to help with fee waivers for disadvantaged students under a bill that passed its first legislative hurdle Tuesday.

HB68, sponsored by Rep. Lou Shurtliff, D-Ogden, would allow $40 per child receiving a fee waiver. Districts would have to account for spending in annual reports.

The money wouldn't cover all the cost — just $324,000 of the $736,600 paid by Granite District, the biggest spender, last fiscal year, according to Utah State Office of Education data. "But those closest to the problem know it would help," Shurtliff said.

"This is a hidden problem in our schools. It is truly a problem of equity."

Federal law requires school fees to be waived for low-income students and those in state custody. Utah secondary schools charge fees for textbooks, athletics and other activities.

Last fiscal year, Utah districts and charter schools waived nearly $3.8 million in fees for 42,476 students, the state data shows. Amounts differ. American Preparatory Academy, Tintic and Daggett school districts don't assess fees. In San Juan District, 30 percent of students receive waivers; Utah County Academy of Sciences charter school had 38.5 percent of students receiving fee waivers last fiscal year.

Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan, suggested looking at boosting the state's per-student funding formula to get rid of fees altogether, if equity is the question. She and two others voted against the bill.

"We pass laws that make it mandatory kids go to school, then you have mandatory fees when you get there," Newbold said. "That's like saying, if you go to a restaurant, you have to pay for a fork."

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