HF 1948

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to education; prohibiting public school
employees from using public funds and resources to
promote or defeat a political candidate or question;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 123B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [123B.022] PROHIBITING SCHOOL EMPLOYEES FROM
USING PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR ADVOCACY; ENDORSING TIMELY AND
CURRENT FACTUAL INFORMATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) A school board must adopt and implement a districtwide
policy that prohibits district employees from using district
funds or other publicly funded district resources, including
time, materials, equipment, facilities, and communication
technologies, among other resources, to promote or defeat a
political candidate or question. The policy must apply when the
employee performs the duties assigned to the employee under the
employee's employment contract with the district, and includes
the periods when the employee represents the district in an
official capacity, among other duties. The policy must not
apply when an employee disseminates factual information about a
political candidate or question or presents alternatives to a
political question, consistent with the employee's contractual
duties, so long as the employee does not promote or oppose the
candidate or question.
new text end

new text begin (b) The school board must provide the district's electorate
with timely factual information about a pending ballot question,
including information about current district revenues,
expenditures, and fund balances when the ballot question
proposes a referendum.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
new text end