A bill intended to level the playing field for competing teacher unions in Utah was amended to its original form and passed the House Monday.

SB56 would give all groups equal access to teachers and prohibit school districts from endorsing the Utah Education Association or any other group.

They also want to take the term "UEA" out of the term "UEA weekend," the annual four-day weekend in October when the UEA convention is held.

"The fact that the sponsor wanted to keep that in the bill shows how petty legislators can be up here," said Vik Arnold, government relations specialist for the UEA. "Since that's why school is not in session those two days. It makes sense that school districts call it what it is."

But Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan, said it was a gesture of fairness and in the past schools have changed even monikers such as Christmas Vacation to "Winter Break" and Easter Break to "Spring Recess."

"There have been changes when times have changed and this will just reiterate in the process that all organizations will be treated equally," Newbold said.

Earlier this month, after the bill was passed by the Senate in a 26-3 vote, the measure was changed in a House committee with language that would allow school districts to select one organization with which to negotiate.

Supporters said that was the complete opposite of the intent of the bill but House lawmakers accepted a substitute similar to the original bill. The measure passed 39-31 and now goes to the Senate for concurrence — supporters say they have confidence in Senate support.

"This is really a great victory for Utah," David Barrett, Utah Council of Educators president, who worked with Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, on the measure.

"Now teachers will enjoy the free flow of information and any endorsement or preferential treatment by UEA will disappear, or should because of the law — now everybody has to play by the same rules," he said.

Initially, opponents were concerned that the bill would create confusion with how districts could approach contract bargaining, questioning whether or not districts could still select one organization to negotiate, or even negotiate at all.

That issue was cleared up in the bill's intent language that further clarified that districts could continue to negotiate with a dominant organization but must allow all organizations access to teachers' school mailboxes and e-mails.

Both UCE and American Federation of Teachers representatives have said they have been denied access in some districts. But UEA leaders say they have not been able to find any districts that don't already allow equal access and the bill isn't really needed.

And some lawmakers said they were against the bill since not only was the UEA representing more than 18,000 teachers in the state but they also work as advocates for other educators even though they were not members of the group through legal help and other support.

"This is an issue about first amendments rights, free speech and association and who has the rights to go in and contact our teachers — so we should open it up so all organizations have fair access," Rep. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George.

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