The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
White (SB 672)
Present law provides for an earlier redistricting of the East Baton Parish School Board. (Note: the
East Baton Rouge Parish School Board currently has 11 members elected from single-member
districts).
Proposed law provides that, excluding the Baker municipal school system, the Zachary
Community School Board, and the Central Community School Board, the East Baton Rouge
Parish School Board shall be comprised of seven members. Provides that, of the seven members,
one member shall be elected at large by the qualified electors of the entire East Baton Rouge
Parish School Board district. Provides that these provisions shall be effective for the limited
purpose of qualification and election of school board members in 2014, and shall become
effective for all purposes on January 1, 2015. Further provides that until a single-member district
plan is developed and approved in accordance with proposed law below, the members of the
board shall continue to be comprised of eleven members elected from single-member districts.
Present law provides that the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be
elected from single-member districts. Provides for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board to
develop an earlier plan for single-member school board districts. Requires that such districts be
drawn with as equal population as possible using population figures from the U.S. census.
Proposed law provides instead that one member of the board shall be elected at large by the
qualified electors of the entire East Baton Rouge Parish School Board district and that the
remaining members shall be elected by the qualified electors of six single-member districts.
Requires the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, before Aug. 1, 2014, to develop a plan to
divide the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board district into six single-member districts from
each of which one member of the board shall be elected. Provides that districts be drawn with as
equal population as possible, utilizing population figures from the 2010 U.S. census.
Present law, relative to the prior apportionment plan or any future alteration, change or
rearrangement of school board election districts, requires the East Baton Rouge Parish School
Board to order a public hearing on the proposed plan, alteration, change, or rearrangement and
publish a notice of the hearing at least 20 days prior to the hearing, giving
the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan, and the times and
places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.
Proposed law retains present law making it applicable to the plan required by proposed law.
Changes the time for publication of notice to at least 10 rather than at least 20 days before the
hearing. Present law provided procedures for approval of an earlier school board redistricting plan by the
members of the East Baton Rouge Parish legislative delegation. Provided that, if the delegation
did not approve the plan, the legislature would develop and enact a plan.
Proposed law removes these provisions.
Present law requires, when a parish contains a municipality, the population of which is more than
one-half that of the entire parish, that the municipality have representation on the parish school
board proportionate to its population.
Proposed law excepts the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board from this requirement.
Proposed law retains present law that provides that East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
members shall continue in office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until their
successors are qualified and take office and that board members serve four-year terms.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:57, 58, and 58.2(A), (B), and (C))