House Bill 1251

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-1-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MEET REGULARLY ONCE A MONTH, TO PROVIDE THE BOARD THE DISCRETION TO MEET ONCE A MONTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-1-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-1-1. From and after July 1, 1984, there shall be a state board of education which shall manage and invest school funds according to law, formulate policies according to law for implementation by the State Department of Education and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law. The board shall consist of nine (9) members of whom none shall be an elected official. The Governor shall appoint one (1) member who shall be a resident of the Third Supreme Court District and who shall serve an initial term of one (1) year, one (1) member who shall be a resident of the First Supreme Court District and who shall serve an initial term of five (5) years, one (1) member who shall be a resident of the Second Supreme Court District and who shall serve an initial term of nine (9) years, one (1) member who shall be employed on an active and full-time basis as a school administrator and who shall serve an initial term of three (3) years, and one (1) member who shall be employed on an active and full-time basis as a schoolteacher and who shall serve an initial term of seven (7) years. The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint two (2) members from the state at large, one (1) of whom shall serve an initial term of four (4) years and one (1) of whom shall serve an initial term of eight (8) years. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two (2) members from the state at large, one (1) of whom shall serve an initial term of two (2) years and one (1) of whom shall serve an initial term of six (6) years. The initial terms of appointees shall begin on July 1, 1984, and all subsequent appointments shall begin on the first day of July for a term of nine (9) years and continue until their successors are appointed and qualify; however, to ensure an orderly process of transition, the initial appointments shall be made not later than March 1, 1984. An appointment to fill a vacancy which arises for reasons other than by expiration of a term of office shall be for the unexpired term only. All members shall be appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate, and no member shall be actively engaged in the educational profession except as stated above.

The first official meeting of the original board members shall be called by the Governor as soon after July 1, 1984, as practical. The board shall elect a chairman from its membership at the first meeting of the original board members and every year thereafter. A majority of the membership of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. The board * * *~~shall~~ may meet * * *~~regularly~~ once a month at such time as shall be designated by an order entered upon the minutes thereof. Special meetings of the board shall be held upon call of the chairman or upon the call of a majority of the members thereof. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall be the secretary of the board. The board shall hold its sessions at the seat of government, or at such location in the State of Mississippi as shall be designated by an order entered upon the minutes thereof.

Members of the board shall be reimbursed for expenses in the manner and amount specified in Section 25-3-41 and shall be entitled to receive per diem compensation as authorized in Section 25-3-69.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.