SB687 SFAT RUCKER #1 3-1

Hager  7871

Senator Rucker moved to amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting therefor a new title, to read as follows:

Eng. Senate Bill 687—A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-5-28, relating to meetings of county boards of education to explore and discuss the feasibility of consolidating school districts or sharing certain services; requiring, when two or more county boards of education elect to explore and discuss with each other the idea of possibly consolidating or sharing certain services and functions, the boards to agree on the call of a joint special public meeting; specifying minimum topics; requiring facilitator for the meeting; requiring facilitator to prepare and deliver to the participating boards a detailed written report of the meeting’s discussions and identifying any areas for further discussion or consideration by the boards; requiring each participating board to determine whether to accept the report and whether the participating boards should meet again; providing that upon vote to accept of the facilitator’s report and hold another meeting, the participating boards shall attend another meeting; specifying minimum topics; requiring the facilitator to prepare and deliver to the participating boards a detailed written report of the meeting’s discussion and identifying any areas for further discussion or consideration; requiring each participating board to determine whether to accept the report and whether the participating boards should meet again; requiring meeting process to be repeated until 120 days have passed since the initial joint meeting or until the participating boards no longer wish to meet; requiring a full report of all meetings identifying the extent to which the participating boards think existing laws may enable or complicate the consolidation of school districts or the sharing of services and functions, together with any suggestions of legislation; requiring report, upon approval by the participating boards, to be forwarded to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates; authorizing Legislature to consolidate participating county boards as a pilot; and authorizing Legislature to incentivize county boards to explore and discuss the feasibility of consolidating school districts or sharing of services.

Adopted

Rejected