Huntsman's delay came after a one-hour meeting with the bill sponsors, Sen. Chris Buttars and Rep. Aaron Tilton, both Republicans.

"We decided it would be worthwhile to have more discussion on it," said Huntsman's spokesman Mike Mower.

Tilton, from Springville, described the meeting with three Huntsman staffers as "interesting."

They indicated that Huntsman doesn't like the bill that sets regulations for all school clubs, but gave few specifics. "We were there to reassure them," he said.

Buttars left much more optimistic. "We answered every question they had," said the West Jordan Republican. "I would be very surprised if he vetoes it."

Mower would not say when the governor would make his decision, though he faces a March 20 deadline.

The bill does not specifically mention gay-straight alliances, or any other club. But it does set up criteria that governs the creation of a club and rules administrators can use to block groups.

Buttars believes the bill would allow administrators to reject applications to create a gay-straight alliance and force the state to cover the legal costs. "The bill is for parents and school administrators to determine what is best for their kids," Buttars said.

Tilton disagrees, saying the bill will not eliminate any clubs, including the alliances.

Rather, he says the bill is all about parental rights. Students would have to get a parent to sign a form before joining any club. Many schools already require parental-consent forms, but this bill would make it mandatory statewide.

Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, did not object to the parental-consent portion of the bill. In fact, the only openly gay member of the Senate says just one sentence concerns him. One of the requirements for a club is that it stays within "the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior."

McCoy, a lawyer, believes the line is vague enough that principals could use it to reject applications to start a gay-straight alliance. Buttars and Tilton refused to remove the provision.

That line also concerned the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, which mentioned it in a letter to Huntsman requesting a veto.

The state Board of Education voted unanimously on Wednesday to request a veto. But some members had second thoughts on Thursday.

At least one member of the board sent Huntsman an e-mail asking him to sign the bill.

mcanham@sltrib.com