SALT LAKE CITY — Teachers who take time off for union responsibilities won't be able to receive a district pay for that time, if amendments made to a bill in the Senate are accepted by the House.
Rep. Keith Grover, R-Provo, is sponsoring the legislation that would make it illegal for districts to pay teacher salaries when they are on leave for union business, even if their work benefits the district.
Three large districts in the state — Salt Lake, Granite and Davis — pay a portion of the salary for local union leaders who are on leave from the classroom for union business. HB183 would also require unions to reimburse districts for the time teachers take away from classrooms for union responsibilities.
Grover's bill previously allowed for up to 10 days of district-paid leave when the duties benefited a district, but an amendment made on the Senate floor stripped the bill of that provision.
"In a perfect world for me, taxpayers wouldn't pay any of those leave days and the union would have to," said Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, who proposed the amendment.
Grover has shared similar sentiments, but put the 10-day provision in to appease foes.
Opponents of the bill have argued it takes local control away from districts, where such arrangements are beneficial to both districts and unions. Teachers association presidents answer insurance questions, sit in on district curriculum meetings and consult with superintendents, said Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake, in a House debate earlier in the session.
"Things go better in the school district when the association can work together with the school district," Briscoe said. "We can't do all these meetings after 4 p.m."
The House has already passed the bill, but must re-approve it since amendments were made in the Senate.
E-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com