House Bill 349

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT MEETINGS IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR TO PROVIDE THE LOCAL PUBLIC WITH UPDATE OF NEW LAWS, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES IMPACTING THE FIELD OF EDUCATION; TO REQUIRE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE OF DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING WELL INFORMED OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND BOARD POLICY THAT WILL FACILITATE THESE PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT SUCH MEETINGS FROM THE DATE OF SINE DIE OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE THROUGH DECEMBER 31 OF EACH YEAR, WITH THE FIRST OF SUCH MEETINGS TO BE HELD NOT LATER THAN JULY 1; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO COORDINATE ITS MEETING SCHEDULE WITH EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 37-3-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. In addition to the general duties prescribed to the department under Section 37-3-5, the State Department of Education, in order to promote an informed public, shall conduct a meeting in each school district at least once a year to provide the district school boards, superintendents, administrative and instructional personnel, parents and students with an update of any new laws enacted by the Legislature, both state and federal, and any new regulations promulgated or policies adopted by the State Board of Education impacting the field of education. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall appoint a committee of individuals employed by the department to represent each bureau within its organizational structure, which committee shall then organize itself into subcommittees that will each be responsible for being well informed of legislative changes and board policy. Each subcommittee will be responsible for a proportionate share of the state's one hundred fifty-two (152) school districts, by region and level of accreditation. The department shall conduct its legislative and board updates meeting from the date of sine die of the Mississippi Legislature through December 31 of each year, but in no instance shall the department begin facilitating district-wide meetings later than July 1. The department shall coordinate its meeting schedule with each school district's board and superintendent.

SECTION 2. Section 37-3-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

37-3-5. The State Department of Education is hereby charged with the execution of all laws relating to the administrative, supervisory and consultative services to the public schools and agricultural high schools of the State of Mississippi. The State Department of Education is also authorized to grant property to public schools and agricultural high schools of the State of Mississippi.

Subject to the direction of the State Board of Education as provided by law, the administration, management and control of the department is hereby vested in the State Superintendent of Public Education, who shall be directly responsible for the rightful functioning thereof.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.