SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah is inviting residents to weigh in on whether they want their state to become the third nationwide to opt out of daylight saving time.

The debate starts at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City. Separate pushes to abandon the spring and fall time changes have surfaced and died in the state Legislature since 1997. Those in favor of the change say it boosts tourism and gives farmers and ranchers longer days.

But parents and educators say it has a negative effect on student learning. Public safety officials contend it leads to a slight uptick in accidents. The meeting will explore three options: keeping the current system; aligning with Arizona to stay on Mountain Standard Time year round; or keeping daylight saving time all year.

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