Committee Sub. for SB NO. 3111

By Senator(s) Chaney

FURTHER, AMEND lines 220, 243, 337 and 360 by striking "six (6)" and insert in lieu thereof "four (4)".

SECTION *. Section 37-5-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-5-7. (1) On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May, 1954, an election shall be held in each county in this state in the same manner as general state and county elections are held and conducted, which election shall be held for the purpose of electing the county boards of education established under the provisions of this chapter. At such election, the members of the said board from Supervisors Districts One and Two shall be elected for the term expiring on the first Monday of January, 1957; members of the board from Supervisors Districts Three and Four shall be elected for a term expiring on the first Monday of January, 1959; and the member of the board from Supervisors District Five shall be elected for a term expiring on the first Monday of January, 1955. Except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, all subsequent members of the board shall be elected for a term of six (6) years at the regular general election held on the first Monday in November next preceding the expiration of the term of office of the respective member or members of such board. All members of the county board of education as herein constituted, shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election.

(2) On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in any year in which any county shall elect to utilize the authority contained in Section 37-5-1(2), an election shall be held in each such county in this state for the purpose of electing the county boards of education in such counties. At said election the members of the said county board of education from Districts One and Two shall be elected for a term of four (4) years, the members from Districts Three and Four shall be elected for a term of six (6) years, and the member from District Five shall be elected for a term of (2) years. Thereafter, except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, members shall be elected at general elections as vacancies occur for terms of six (6) years each. All members of the county board of education shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election.

(3) (a) On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2001, an election shall be held in every countywide school district, in the same manner and at the same time as the general elections are held, for the purpose of electing the members of the county board of education. At such election the members of the board from Districts One and Two shall be elected for a term of two (2) years and the members from Districts Three, Four and Five shall be elected for a term of three (3) years. All members shall take office on the first Monday of January following the date of their election. Thereafter, members shall be elected at general elections for terms of four (4) years.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in each county school district, the terms of all school board members existing on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2001, shall expire when their duly elected successors take office on the first Monday of January 2002.

TO AMEND SECTION 37-5-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARDS OF EDUCATION SHALL BE ELECTED FOR STAGGERED FOUR-YEAR TERMS;