A measure to allow public schools to permanently display foreign flags is on its way to the governor despite a flap between Senate Democrats.

Sen. Lois Tochtrop, D-Thornton, lost a fight to amend the bill to make it a petty offense to display a foreign flag in manner that would disturb the peace.

"We need to make sure that we are protecting our American flag," said Tochtrop. "We don't want to be allowing the display of any flag in a manner that it incites a riot."

But fellow Democrats called the proposed penalty redundant, saying state law already makes it a petty offense to display the flag in a manner that would "breach the peace."

"There are a number of reasons why a person can be arrested, from inciting a riot to disorderly conduct," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora. "The purpose of this bill is so that you don't have to move around flags of another country."

House Bill 1050, also by Rep. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, is meant to clear up confusion about state law banning the permanent display of foreign flags in public buildings.

In August, Jefferson County school officials briefly suspended a Carmody Middle School geography teacher for displaying the flags of China, Mexico and the United Nations in class.

Soon after, officials determined the flags were exempt under a state law that allows "temporary display" of foreign flags for educational reasons.

The measure had sailed through the House and won Senate approval Monday after sponsors stripped a provision to allow school districts to set policies regarding the display of flags.

Republicans and Democrats expressed concerns about allowing school districts to set policies, picking and choosing what foreign flags to display.

The measure was among a number of bills that drew heated debate Monday on the Senate floor.

A low-profile landscaping bill blew up when a Republican lawmaker tried to amend it so landscape architects could lose their licenses if they hire illegal immigrants.

Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, characterized landscape architects as little more than "professional lawn mowers."

"You should be able to lose your lawn mower license for employing or subcontracting with a person who is not legally here in the United States," he said.

Senate Bill 107, by Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, seeks to regulate landscape architects. He dismissed Brophy's comments as insulting and accused Republicans of trying to turn his measure into a debate on illegal immigration.

In other action, a bill to let RTD charge a parking fee to drivers who live outside the transit district won the Senate's final approval Monday in a 21-12 vote.

Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, was the lone Democrat to vote against Senate Bill 88, arguing the measure paves the way for the Regional Transportation District to eventually charge drivers who live in the district to park at park-n-Ride lots that taxpayers have spent millions to build.

washingtonam@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5086