HF 3835

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/14/2016 04:53pm

A bill for an act
relating to education finance; requiring Independent School District No. 834,
Stillwater, to proceed with schoolhouse closings only after conducting a
referendum on the closings; conditioning board-approved operating referenda
authority on citizen involvement in schoolhouse closings; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2014, section 126C.17, subdivision 9a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 126C.17, subdivision 9a, is amended to
read:

Subd. 9a.

Board-approved referendum allowance.

Notwithstanding subdivision
9, a school district may convert up to $300 per adjusted pupil unit of referendum authority
from voter approved to board approved by a board vote. A district with less than $300 per
adjusted pupil unit of referendum authority after the local optional revenue subtraction
under subdivision 1 may authorize new referendum authority up to the difference between
$300 per adjusted pupil unit and the district's referendum authority. The board may
authorize this levy for up to five years and may subsequently reauthorize that authority
in increments of up to five years. new text begin Beginning in fiscal year 2018, a board may exercise
authority under this subdivision only if the board has complied with legislative enactments
regarding citizen involvement under section 123B.51, subdivision 5.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin STILLWATER SCHOOL DISTRICT; SCHOOL CLOSINGS.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the board of Independent School
District No. 834, Stillwater, must not proceed with a schoolhouse closing unless the board
complies with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 123B.51, subdivision 5, and
conducts a referendum according to paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin (b) Before closing any schoolhouse, the board must conduct a referendum on a date
set by the board. The ballot must provide a description of the schoolhouses to be closed
and contain a question stating substantially the following:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the board of Stillwater School District No. 834 proceed with closing the
schoolhouses identified as . . . . ?"
new text end

new text begin If approved, the board may make a final decision to close the schoolhouses.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day after the governing body
of Independent School District No. 834, Stillwater, and its chief clerical officer timely
complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3,
and applies to any schoolhouse closings not yet completed on or after the date of enactment.
new text end