House Bill 518

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH ALTERNATIVE QUALIFICATIONS FOR HOLDING THE OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-9-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-13. Each school district shall have a superintendent of schools, selected in the manner provided by law. No person shall be eligible to the office of superintendent of schools unless such person:

(a) Holds a valid administrator's license issued by the State Department of Education and has not less than four (4) years of classroom or administrative experience; or

(b) Holds a valid Certified School Business Administrator's certificate issued by the State Department of Education and has not less than four (4) years of experience as a school business administrator.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002, if it is effectuated on or before that date under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended. If it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, after July 1, 2002, this act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.