“Under 100” joint powers bill approved

 

By a 67-1 vote, the House of Representatives passed an amended version of Senate Bill 96. The bill will return to the Senate for approval.

 

SB 96 allows school districts with enrollments under 100 to remain open if they are exercising joint powers or intergovernmental cooperation in education, which would allow districts to share services and costs. The amendment to the bill requires annual approval of an agreement between districts by the Department of Education.

 

The bill allows districts to share teachers, courses or curriculums among other services while students remain in their home district.

 

“(Districts) can keep their education centers open in their communities,” Rep. Scott Munsterman (7) said.

 

Public meetings posting piece passed

 

Senators unanimously passed House Bill 1158, which requires proposed agendas to include the date, time and location of a meeting.

 

The bill was introduced to correct the oversight of meeting agenda information. HB 1158 now heads to the governor for signature.

 

Open Meetings law amended…again

 

House Bill 1108 was amended for a second time on a 6-0 vote by the Senate State Affairs committee.

 

The freshly amended version now subjects any committee or subcommittee appointed by a political body to open meetings laws, if the group holds decision making ability.

 

HB 1108 came to the committee as a bill excluding advisory bodies from having to provide telephone or Internet access for meetings. The initial version of the bill subjected committees to open meeting laws.

 

Tony Venhuizen, Director of Policy and Communications for the Governor’s office, said the bill would cover committees “where decisions are all but being made.”

 

ASBSD will continue to monitor the bill and updates its progress.

 

For updates, check the ASBSD blog and bill tracker.