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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE BILL NO. 969
BY REPRESENTATIVE PEARSON
SCHOOLS/BOARDS: Provides relative to qualifications for election as a member on a
school board
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:52(E)(1), relative to city, parish, and other local public school2
board members; to provide relative to the qualifications for membership on such a3
school board; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 17:52(E)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 6
ยง52. Election and qualification of members; term of office7
* * *8
E.(1) Any person who at the time of qualification as a candidate for the9
school board has attained the age of eighteen,; possesses a high school diploma or10
its equivalent as determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary11
Education; has received a certificate of completion for each hour of training required12
by R.S. 17:53 if such person is a member of a school board; has resided in the state13
parish for the preceding two years, one year; and has been actually domiciled for the14
preceding year in the parish, ward, or district from which he seeks election is eligible15
for membership on the school board. However, at the next regular election for16
members of the school board following a reapportionment, an elector may qualify17
as a candidate from any district created in whole or in part from a district existing18
prior to reapportionment if he was domiciled in the prior district for at least one year19 HLS 10RS-1436 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 969
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immediately preceding his qualification and was a resident of the state for the two1
years preceding his qualification. 2
* * *3
Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2011.4
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Pearson HB No. 969
Abstract: Requires that a person possess a high school diploma or its equivalent and, if the
person is a school board member, that he has received certain mandatory training to
be eligible for membership on a school board. Changes the requirement that the
person has been a resident in the state for two years prior to qualifying as a candidate
for school board to a requirement that the person has been a resident in the parish for
one year prior to qualifying.
Present law (R.S. 17:52) provides that each member of a parish school board shall be able
to read and write. Provides that any person who at the time of qualification as a candidate
for the school board has attained the age of 18, resided in the state for the preceding two
years, and has been actually domiciled for the preceding year in the parish, ward, or district
from which he seeks election is eligible for membership on the school board.
Present law (R.S. 17:53) requires each member of a city, parish, and other local public
school board to receive a minimum of four hours of training and instruction annually.
Provides for the content of such training and instruction. Provides that certain entities may
conduct such training and instruction and provides for the issuance by such an entity of a
certification of completion for each school board member who completes the required
instruction.
Proposed law provides that a person must also possesses a high school diploma or its
equivalent as determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and
has received a certificate of completion for each hour of training required by present law
(R.S. 17:53) to be eligible for membership on the school board. Changes the requirement
that the person has been a resident in the state for two years prior to qualifying to a
requirement that the person has been a resident in the parish for one year prior to qualifying.
Otherwise retains present law.
Effective Jan. 1, 2011.
(Amends R.S. 17:52(E)(1))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental
Affairs to the original bill.
1. Changed proposed requirement on residency in the parish from two years prior
to qualifying to one year prior to qualifying.
2. Changed the effective date from upon signature of the governor to Jan. 1, 2011.