HB 628 -- SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARY CHANGES; CHILDREN OF SCHOOL
DISTRICT EMPLOYEES

This bill changes the election petition process for redrawing
school district boundaries.  Currently, a petition signed by 10%
of the voters in any district affected is required; under this
bill, 10% of the voters voting for school board members in the
last school election in each affected district is required.

The bill also permits children of any regular employee of a
school district who do not live in the district employing their
parent to attend school and be counted as resident pupils in
that district in certain circumstances.  Currently, only the
children of teachers can be counted as resident pupils.  When
their district of residence is not otherwise liable for their
tuition, children attending school in the district which employs
their parent may be counted as pupils in that district.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

HB 628 -- SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARY CHANGE PETITIONS (Froelker)

This bill changes the election petition process for redrawing
school district boundaries.  Currently, a petition signed by 10%
of the voters in any district affected is required; under this
bill, 10% of the voters voting for school board members in the
last school election in each affected district is required, or
100 voters, whichever is higher.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HB 628 -- SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARY CHANGE PETITIONS

SPONSOR:  Froelker

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Education - Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 23 to 0.

This bill changes the election petition process for redrawing
school district boundaries.  Currently, a petition signed by 10%
of the voters in any district affected is required; under this
bill, 10% of the voters voting for school board members in the
last school election in each affected district is required, or
100 voters, whichever is higher.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the school district boundary
change petition process allows voters from just one affected
district to petition for a boundary change, thus creating a
situation in which an unwilling district may be forced to
participate in an election.  This bill changes the petition
requirement for boundary changes to the same one used for
consolidation petitions, requiring signatures from 10% of voters
voting in the last school board election in each affected
district or 100 voters, whichever is greater, so that all
affected districts have a part in the process.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Froelker.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Research Analyst

HB 628 -- School District Elections

Sponsor:  Froelker

This bill changes the election petition process for redrawing
school district boundaries.  Currently, a petition signed by 10%
of the voters in any district affected is required; under this
bill, 10% of the voters voting for school board members in the
last school election in each affected district is required, or
100 voters, whichever is higher.