The Parents for Choice in Education Political Action Committee accuses the Utah Education Association of illegally diverting members' dues to its own political action committee, known as UPAC.

Parents for Choice also alleges that UPAC misrepresented its Sept. 15 campaign-disclosure report.

The group says UPAC's report does not resemble those of years past because it lists no donations of less than $50.

"It's very suspicious," said Elisa Clements Peterson, the Parents for Choice PAC's executive director. "Our allegation is that the union is violating campaign finance laws and, in doing so, their motive is either to deceive, or it's simple carelessness."

UEA President Pat Rusk said the allegations have no merit.

"We have always had full disclosure on all of our reports, and we continue to do so," she said. "If they would like to investigate, they can feel free."

Officials from both the state Elections Office and Attorney General's Office likely will review the complaint.

"We read them, we review them and figure out if there's something to them," said Amy Naccarato, director of the Elections Office.

Thursday's was the second complaint Parents for Choice lodged against UEA in two weeks. The group accused UEA and a Utah County teacher of violating campaign laws by using school district e-mail to send information about volunteering in Democratic gubernatorial candidate Scott Matheson's campaign.

Naccarato determined Alpine School District's acceptable-use policy governs the e-mail incident, not state law.

"We've done further research and did not see there was a violation of Utah code," she said.

rlynn@sltrib.com