PTA members from across the state gathered Friday to watch the Senate pass a bill requiring schools to give all parent groups equal access.

SB199, which passed 21-7, would prohibit schools from favoring one parent group over another when it comes to access and decision making. Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo, sponsored the bill after parents and member of Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs) said they weren't being allowed to participate in schools in the same ways PTA members were. PTOs, unlike PTAs, are independent school parent groups with no national affiliation.

The bill originally would have prohibited schools from working with groups that wouldn't waive dues upon request, such as the PTA. Bramble, however, took out that part out of the bill Thursday as a compromise. "This bill is not against the PTA," Bramble said. "All we're saying here is there needs to be equal access."

PTA president Marilyn Simister said the PTA now supports the bill because of its emphasis on parent involvement, although the organization is still concerned the bill might take away principals' and superintendents' ability to decide with which groups they'll work.

-- Lisa Schencker