But voucher opponents say the program shifts public money to private schools, and last month Utahns for Public Schools filed for a referendum to let voters either repeal or keep the voucher program. The group was required to collect 92,000 signatures for a referendum.

However, an amendment bill, HB174, also passed the last night of the session making tweaks to the law. It also carried much of the language in the original bill since the voucher law was yet to be enacted. The amendment bill passed with more than two-thirds majority, making it referendum proof.

And since much of the language was the same as in the original voucher bill, proponents say that bill could implement a voucher program on its own, thus safeguarding the law despite the referendum on the original bill.

Huntsman said he would have never predicted a referendum on the original bill, nor does he believe the creation of a voucher bill that essentially backs up the original was motivated by anything other than addressing concerns in the original bill.

"For me, it wasn't that big of a deal — you prove over time whether (vouchers are a) good thing or bad thing, and I didn't see it as the magnitude that others did who were pushing a referendum," Huntsman said.

If leaders announce they have sufficient signatures to put the matter on the ballot then HB148 will be stayed. It will then be up to the State Board of Education to decide what to do with HB174.

That remains to be seen, although the board has historically been against vouchers. And Jean Hill, attorney at the State Office of Education, said significant questions remain on how the state would go about implementing HB174 since it is missing a number of sections, including the funding appropriations program.

The state board meets on May 3.

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