LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Educators throughout California can breathe a little easier on Friday after an effort to make it easier for school districts to fire teachers stalled in the state legislature.

KNX 1070′s Bob Brill reports getting rid of longtime teachers is not easy for districts to do — and the teachers’ unions have fought to keep it that way.

State Senator Bob Huff of Diamond Bar sponsored the bill, which failed to make it out of committee after California Teachers Association members spoke at a hearing against SB 355.

The measure would have eased rules for firing teachers based on performance-based evaluation system, rather than rewarding teachers for their loyalty.

Huff said he was disappointed in the bill’s defeat, which he argues will result in incompetent teachers being given preference over better teachers.