Rep. Dave Cox wanted to tinker with a state law that last year sank his proposal to split Alpine School District into two districts - a law he helped pass two years ago.

After hearing testimony Friday, the House Education Committee opted to move on to the next agenda item without a vote.

That means House Bill 63 is still alive, and Cox intends to offer an amendment that alleviates the committee's qualms about limiting public comment.

Under current law, anyone may petition the relevant county's legislative body to create a new school district. The county must assemble an ad hoc committee to review the feasibility of a new district, hold a public hearing and endorse the new district before asking voters for their approval.

Cox proposed removing the 45-day period for the public to comment on the ad hoc committee's findings.

This is where his attempt to create a Pioneer School District failed. The ad hoc committee voted 5-1 - with Cox as the lone dissenter - to recommend the Utah County Commission reject the petition. It did.

Education committee members did not like the proposal.

"I don't think we should chip away at the model," said Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper. "I think we created a fair and equitable one, and I think it should be left alone."

Cox argued that county commissions don't want to be part of the process to create a new school district. Besides that, he said, there would be plenty of opportunity for new-district supporters and opponents to make their positions known.

"Both sides would need to get their information out," Cox said. "That information would be digested by the media."

After the meeting, he said he would amend the bill to keep the public-comment period intact so that another proposal in the bill has a chance to pass.

HB63 also clarifies that should a district split, the contracts of employees who switch from an existing district to a new one will be honored for at least one year.

Employee groups worried that their salaries and benefits could be jeopardized.

rlynn@sltrib.com