This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Legislation aiming to restrict gay support clubs in high schools is back in full force after the Senate lent its initial approval Thursday with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opĀposed.
The bill would govern school clubs, requiring parental- consent forms and listing extensive regulations students must meet before they can gather.
But for Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, the real driving force is a desire to allow school administrators to reject clubs they find morally objectionable without the fear of a lawsuit.
He wants schools, such as Provo High, to have the ability to stamp out gay-straight alliances, which he describes as "a place of indoctrination."
Buttars says the bill provides legal cover for such a decision and would require the attorney general to handle any lawsuits.
Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, the Senate's only openly gay member, led the charge against the bill.
McCoy described the bill as too "onerous" because of the requirements to provide detailed club bylaws and schedules to school administrators.
McCoy had no problem with the section that required parental-consent forms, but he tried to remove almost everything else. The House passed a similar version to McCoy's proposal.
Representatives removed the legal cover for administrators hoping to block gay-straight alliances, but kept three provisions: Students would have to get their parents' signatures to participate, while clubs would have to state their purpose and have a name that coincides with that purpose.
Senators rejected McCoy's amendment attempts and passed, 20 to 8, Buttars' restored version of the bill first sponsored by Springville Republican Rep. Aaron Tilton.
The Senate is expected to give its final approval today. Afterward, the House could either concur with the restored version or reject it and assign a conference committee to hammer out a compromise.
Tilton believes the original version of the bill did not pass the House floor because representatives were confused. He now believes he has the votes to approve it.
The bill would allow school administrators to block clubs, such as the gay-straight alliance.
Next step: Faces a final Senate vote, likely today.