HF 1244

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 02/25/2015 01:01pm

A bill for an act
relating to elections; requiring the terms of school board members to run
concurrently; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.09, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 123B.09, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

School board membership.

The care, management, and control of
independent districts is vested in a board of directors, to be known as the school board.
The term of office of a member shall be four years commencing on the first Monday in
January and until a successor qualifies new text begin , and run concurrently with the term of office of
all other members of the board new text end . The membership of the board shall consist of six elected
directors together with such ex officio member as may be provided by law. The board may
submit to the electors at any school election the question whether the board shall consist
of seven members. If a majority of those voting on the proposition favor a seven-member
board, a seventh member shall be elected at the next election of directors for a four-year
term and thereafter the board shall consist of seven members.

Those districts with a seven-member board may submit to the electors at any school
election at least 150 days before the next election of deleted text begin three members of the board deleted text end new text begin directors new text end
the question whether the board shall consist of six members. If a majority of those voting
on the proposition favor a six-member board instead of a seven-member board, deleted text begin two
members instead of three members shall be elected deleted text end at the next election of the board of
directors and thereafter the board shall consist of six members.

Sec. 2. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; TRANSITION TO CONCURRENT TERMS.
new text end

new text begin (a) This act is effective the day following final enactment, and applies to terms of
office commencing on or after January 4, 2016.
new text end

new text begin (b) No later than four weeks prior to the first day to file affidavits of candidacy
for a school district's next regularly scheduled election, a school district in which board
members serve staggered terms must adopt, by resolution, a plan for the orderly transition
to concurrent terms. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.09, subdivision
1, the current term of an incumbent school board member, or the term of a member to
be elected, may be lengthened or shortened by no more than two years to facilitate the
transition process.
new text end