House Bill 281

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-13-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD'S EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY TO FIX THE OPENING AND CLOSING DATES OF THE SCHOOL TERM, THE BOARD SHALL NOT SET THE OPENING DATE BEFORE LABOR DAY; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD IN ESTABLISHING THE OPENING AND CLOSING DATES TO SATISFY THE REQUIRED MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS FOR A SCHOLASTIC YEAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-13-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-13-61. The local school board shall have the power and authority to fix the date for the opening of the school term, which shall not be before the first Monday of September (Labor Day), and the date for the closing of the school term. In establishing the opening and closing dates of the school term, the school board must satisfy the required minimum number of days which schools must be in session during a scholastic year, as prescribed under Section 37-13-63. However, local school boards are authorized to keep school in session in excess of the minimum number of days prescribed in Section 37-13-63.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.