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A bill that would create the nation's most expansive school voucher program easily passed the Utah Senate on Friday and awaits only Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s signature before becoming law.

In a surprise move, senators suspended the rules to speed HB148's passage and budget prioritization, then passed the measure on a 19-10 vote.

"Because it was a major, major policy decision that has a substantial fiscal impact, we felt it was important to get closure on this," said Sen. Curtis Bramble, the Provo majority leader who sponsored HB148 in the Senate.

If Huntsman signs the measure, as he has indicated he will, Utah would become the first state to award public education vouchers to families in all income brackets throughout the state. Voucher programs in a handful of other states are limited to low-income students, city school districts or failing schools.

"No state has considered a bill that broad," said Rob Boston of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, which tracks and opposes voucher programs. "That's astounding to me."

Although voucher bills have been controversial, divisive and ultimately doomed in Utah's Legislature for the past several years, HB148 this year flew through the House and Senate in two weeks. Voucher supporters contributed roughly $750,000 to last year's election campaigns, and the bill had the support of key legislative leaders. It was only in danger during the House floor debate, where it squeaked by on a 38-37 vote.

During Friday's Senate debate, two senators spoke in favor of the bill and six opposed it. The opponents worried that the bill doesn't require criminal background checks for private school teachers, doesn't prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion or disability, and might trigger a costly constitutional challenge.

"This is not about the children," said Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City. "We've got it covered up real nice making it seem like it is. But the reality is, it's about taking tax dollars and giving them to private industry."

Sen. Patricia Jones, D-Salt Lake City, objected because the program could cost more than $40 million a year by the time it is fully implemented, according to an analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's Office. It will cost $9.3 million from general funds this year, and $12.4 million next year.

Supporters of the bill said it is constitutionally sound and will end up saving the state money because the parents of voucher students add money to state education funding when they make up tuition differences. Supporters also cited a "hold-harmless" provision that mitigates damage to public schools, which some considered too generous.

"The bad part of this bill is we're having to literally buy off the public education system," said Sen. Gregory Bell, R-Fruit Heights. "We've had to say no kid, no cost . . . but you get the money anyway."

That aspect, however, likely enabled the bill's passage. HB148 swayed some reluctant lawmakers because it takes money from the general fund, not education coffers, and lets schools keep some state per-student funding for every child who leaves with a voucher. Those provisions were key for Huntsman, who also wanted to see larger vouchers for poor families.

"This [bill] is carefully crafted," Huntsman said. "I think it's hard to argue that it is deleterious to education long-term. I'm inclined to want to support it."

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* GLEN WARCHOL contributed to this story.

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* For breaking legislative news and a full schedule of Monday's committee meetings, visit www.sltrib.

com.

A snapshot of HB148

* ELIGIBLE STUDENTS: All current public school students and students in any type of school who qualify for reduced-price lunch.

* ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS: Must employ college-educated or skilled teachers, operate outside a residence, enroll at least 40 students and not discriminate based on race, color or national origin. They must give parents the results of a standardized test once a year and submit to a financial audit once every four years.

* HOW IT WOULD WORK: Vouchers would range from $3,000 per child for families who qualify for reduced-price lunch ($37,000 annual income for a family of four) to $500 for families earning 150 percent more ($92,500 a year). Money would be transferred directly from the state Office of Education to the private school parents choose.

* LIKELY COST: $9.3 million in the first year; $12.4 million the second.

* WHAT'S NEXT: The bill awaits Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s signature.