A bill that would have required teachers to include information about contraceptives in health instruction appears to be dead on arrival this session.

After more than an hour of debate Wednesday, a House committee essentially voted not to vote on HB189. Instead, the bill will likely be studied for a year.

"To impose this on families that don't want it and don't feel it's important to them I think is wrong," said Rep. Bradley Daw, R-Orem.

Utah law prohibits teachers from advocating or encouraging the use of contraceptive methods or devices. Bill sponsor Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Holladay, argued that current law is confusing for teachers, who aren't sure if they can even talk about contraceptives. Proponents argued such instruction could help prevent teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

-- Lisa Schencker