SF 2183 (LSB 5816SS (2) 84)

SENATE FILE 2183

BY  DANIELSON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to nomination papers filing deadlines for school district and merged area elections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 260C.15, subsection 3, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Nomination papers on behalf of candidates for member of the board of directors of a merged area shall be filed with the secretary of the board not earlier than sixty-four
 
one hundred twenty days nor later than 5:00 p.m. on the fortieth
 
ninetieth day prior to the election at which members of the board are to be elected. On the day following the last day on which nomination petitions can be filed, and no later than 5:00 p.m. on that day, the secretary shall deliver all nomination petitions so filed, together with the text of any public measure being submitted by the board of directors to the electorate, to the county commissioner of elections who is responsible under section 47.2 for conducting elections held for the merged area. That commissioner shall certify the names of candidates, and the text and summary of any public measure being submitted to the electorate, to all county commissioners of elections in the merged area by the thirty-fifth day prior to the election.
    Sec. 2.  Section 277.4, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Nomination papers for all candidates for election to office in each school district shall be filed with the secretary of the school board not more than sixty-four
 
one hundred twenty days, nor less than forty
 
ninety days before the election. Nomination petitions shall be filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on the last day for filing. If the school board secretary is not readily available during normal office hours, the secretary may designate a full-time employee of the school district who is ordinarily available to accept nomination papers under this section. On the final date for filing nomination papers the office of the school secretary shall remain open until 5:00 p.m.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to filing deadlines for nomination papers for school district and merged area elections. 
   The bill requires that nomination papers for the election of members of the board of directors of a merged area be filed with the secretary of the merged area board not more than 120 days and not less than 90 days before an election for the merged area. Current law requires that nomination papers be filed not more than 64 days and not less than 40 days before such elections.
   The bill requires that nomination papers for all candidates for election for a school district be filed with the secretary of the school board not more than 120 days and not less than 90 days before an election for the school district. Current law requires that nomination papers be filed not more than 64 days and not less than 40 days before such elections.