After two hours of debate Friday evening, a legislative committee narrowly voted down a bill that would have prohibited school districts from paying local teacher union leaders' salaries.

Emotions ran high as more than a dozen educators, union leaders and parents spoke for and against HB381. Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, said he sponsored the bill to keep taxpayer dollars from going toward the salaries of local union association presidents who are on leave from teaching.

Salt Lake, Davis and Granite school districts all pay part of their local association presidents' salaries as part of contract agreements.

Several parents and others spoke in favor of the bill, saying they didn't want their tax dollars paying for union business, especially in this tight budget year.

Union leaders and some educators, however, said districts help pay those association presidents' salaries because much of the work they do benefits their districts.

Davis Education Association President Susan Firmage said 95 percent of what she does is for the Davis district, including sitting on committees and the district's education foundation board.

Opponents also said the decision should be up to local school districts -- not the Legislature.

Ultimately, the committee voted 7-6 against the bill.