HF 349 (LSB 2371YH (4) 87)

HOUSE FILE 349

BY  MOMMSEN

A BILL FOR

An Act giving weight to school district reorganization petitions filed with an area education agency and signed by eligible electors.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 275.6, Code 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   275.6  Progressive program.
   1.  It is the intent of this chapter that the area education agency board shall carry on the program of reorganization progressively and shall, insofar as is possible, authorize submission of proposals to the electors as they are developed and approved.
   2.  If a petition signed by eligible electors is filed with an area education agency as authorized under this chapter, in reviewing such a petition, if the petition does not comply with the plans which had been adopted by the area education agency board, or by the board of an affected school district, the area education agency board shall give weight to the petition, but shall not be bound by it.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires an area education agency (AEA) board that is reviewing a petition, signed by eligible electors, for a school district merger, consolidation, or boundary change that does not comply with plans adopted by an AEA board or school board, to give weight to the petition. However, the AEA board is not bound by the petition.