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)]
Geymann HB No. 374
Abstract: Changes from appointment by the governor to statewide election how the three at
large members of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) are
selected.
Present constitution creates BESE as an eleven-member body. Eight members are elected from
single-member districts and three are appointed by the governor from the state at large.
Proposed constitutional amendment removes the authority of the governor to appoint three
members to BESE and provides instead for the statewide election of such members.
Present constitution provides for the filling of vacancies of elected members of BESE. If a
member has more than one year left in his term at the time the position becomes vacant, a special
election is required to fill the position. If an elected member has less than one year left in his
term at the time the position becomes vacant, the governor is required to appoint a replacement
for the remainder of the term. Proposed constitutional amendment makes such provisions
applicable to all members of BESE. Otherwise retains present constitution.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be
held November 4, 2014.
Provides that proposed constitutional amendment shall become effective for the limited purposes
of qualifying and electing new members to BESE at the time of ratification of the amendment.
Further provides that proposed constitutional amendment shall become effective for all other
purposes on January 12, 2016.
(Amends Const. Art. VIII, Sec. 3(B) and (C))