CCS #4/HCS/SS/SB 687 - There are currently two Special School Districts which have responsibility for special education for all pupils within a county. The districts are in St. Louis County and Pemiscot County. This act revises the governance of the Special School District of St. Louis County. The governance of the Special School District of Pemiscot County is not altered.

The Board of Education of each school district within the county shall select one of its members to serve on the Governing Council, and the first Governing Council shall be formed by May 31, 1996.

The Board of Education of SSD shall have all powers and duties of other school districts, except for those powers and duties reserved to the Governing Council. The new Board of Education shall approve the annual budget for submission and final approval of the Governing Council, shall approve tax levy proposals with a required two-thirds majority and shall develop the five year plan for submission to the Governing Council. The new Board of Education shall continue to provide vocational education for the district until such time set by federal court action but no later than June 30, 1997.

Each member of the Board of Education of SSD shall be a voter of the district, a resident of the state for at least one year, at least twenty-four years of age and shall satisfy the conflict of interest requirements established in the act. Each member of the Board shall file a financial interest statement pursuant to section 105.483, RSMo.

The Governing Council of SSD shall: (1) annually review and approve a five year plan for the operation and management of the district; (2) consult with the Parental Advisory Committee established in the act; (3) give final approval of the budget developed by the Board of Education (4) hold at least four meetings per school year; (5) compel attendance of SSD Board members and staff and the production of documents relating to SSD; and (6) conduct a study to determine whether a plan should be developed for local school districts to assume greater responsibility for the education of children with disabilities. Any action of the Governing Council must be approved by members representing at least fifty percent of the population of the district.

For the 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 school years, the Board of Education of SSD shall submit its proposed budget to the Governing Council by April first prior to the beginning of the school year, except that, for the 1996-97 school year only, the Board of Education shall submit its proposed budget to the governing council no later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. The Governing Council shall then either accept this budget proposal or make any amendments it deems appropriate and adopt the annual budget as amended no later than sixty days after receipt of the proposed budget.

On or before July 1, 1997, and every four years thereafter, a Public Review Committee shall be appointed to conduct a thorough review of SSD. The committee shall consist of three members appointed by the Commissioner of Education, three members appointed by the Governing Council of the district and three members appointed by the Parental Advisory Committee established in this act. By July first of the year after the committee is appointed, the Public Review Committee shall complete its review and submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the Board of Education of SSD, the Governing Council and the General Assembly. The public review committee may propose a revised governance structure for SSD and may cause the county election authority to place such proposal before the voters of SSD for approval and adoption on the next November general election ballot.

The act contains an emergency clause.
OTTO FAJEN