Today's Law As Amended


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AB-261 School districts: governing boards: pupil members: preferential voting.(2017-2018)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 35012 of the Education Code is amended to read:

35012.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided, the governing board of a school district shall consist of five regular  members elected at large by the qualified voters of the school district. The terms of the regular  members shall, except as otherwise provided, be for four years and staggered so that as nearly as practicable one-half of the regular  members shall be elected in each odd-numbered year.
(b) A unified school district may have a governing board of seven regular  members if in  the event the  proposal for unification has specified a governing board of seven regular  members. The regular  members of the governing board of a unified school district shall be elected at large or by trustee areas as designated in the proposal for unification and shall serve four-year terms of office.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), and except as provided in this subdivision and Section 5018, the governing board of an elementary school district other than a union or joint union elementary school district shall consist of three regular  members selected at large from the territory comprising the school district. Whenever, in any such elementary school district, district  the average daily attendance during the preceding fiscal year is 300 or more, the procedures prescribed by Section 5018 shall be undertaken.
(d) (1) There may be submitted to the governing board of a school district maintaining one or more high schools a pupil petition requesting the governing board to appoint one or more pupil members to the governing board pursuant to this section.
(2) The petition shall contain the signatures of either (A) not less than 500 pupils regularly enrolled in high schools of the school district, or (B) not less than 10 percent of the number of pupils regularly enrolled in high schools of the school district, whichever is less. Each fiscal year, and within 60 days of receipt of a petition for pupil representation, or at its next regularly scheduled meeting if no meeting is held within those 60 days, the governing board of a school district shall order the inclusion within the membership of the governing board, in addition to the number of regular  members otherwise prescribed, at least one pupil member. The governing board of a school district may order the inclusion of more than one pupil member.
(3) Upon receipt of a petition for pupil representation, the governing board of a school district shall, commencing July 1, 1976, and each year thereafter, order the inclusion within the membership of the governing board, in addition to the number of regular  members otherwise prescribed, at least one pupil member. The governing board of a school district may order the inclusion of more than one pupil member. The governing board of a school district may appoint a pupil to serve as an alternate pupil member who would fulfill all duties and have the same rights as a pupil member if the governing board of a school district determines the pupil member is not fulfilling their duties. If the governing board of a school district appoints an alternate pupil member, the governing board shall suspend the prior pupil member’s rights and privileges related to service on the governing board. 
(4) (A) A pupil member of the governing board of a school district shall have preferential voting rights.
(B) Preferential voting, as used in this section, means a formal expression of opinion that is recorded in the minutes and cast before the official vote of the governing board of the school district. A preferential vote shall not serve in determining the final numerical outcome of a vote. No preferential vote shall be solicited on matters subject to closed session discussion.
(5) The governing board of the school district may adopt a resolution authorizing the pupil member or members to make motions that may be acted upon by the governing board, except on matters dealing with employer-employee relations pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(6) (A)  Each pupil member shall have the right to attend each and all meetings of the governing board of the school district, except closed executive  sessions.
(B) (i) Each pupil member shall be appointed to subcommittees of the governing board in the same manner as regular members.
(ii) Each pupil member shall be made aware of the time commitment required to participate in subcommittee meetings and work, and may decline an appointment to a subcommittee.
(iii) Subcommittee meetings may be scheduled in accordance with the availability of all members, including each pupil member.
(7) Any pupil selected to serve as a pupil  member of the governing board of a school district shall be enrolled in a high school of the school district, may be less than 18 years of age, and shall be chosen by the pupils enrolled in the high school or high schools of the school district in accordance with policies and  procedures prescribed by the governing board. The term of a pupil member shall be one year, year  commencing on July 1 of each year, except that the term of a pupil member may be adjusted only in cases where a vacancy occurs or to provide more pupils with an opportunity to serve on the governing board. year. 
(8) A pupil member shall be entitled to the mileage allowance to the same extent as regular members, and may receive compensation as specified in subdivision (f) of  but is not entitled to the compensation prescribed by  Section 35120.
(9) (A)  A pupil member shall be seated with the regular  members of the governing board of the school district, district  and shall be recognized as a full member of the governing board at the meetings, including receiving all open meeting  materials presented to the regular members at the same time the materials are presented to the regular members, being invited to staff briefings of regular members or being provided a separate staff briefing within the same timeframe as the staff briefing of regular members, being invited to attend other functions of the governing board of the school district, such as forums, meetings with pupils and parents, and other general assemblies, and  board members and  participating in the questioning of witnesses and the discussion of issues.
(B) A pupil member shall also receive all materials received by regular members between open meetings, except for materials that pertain to closed session items.
(10) The pupil member shall not be included in determining the vote required to carry any measure before the governing board of the school district.
(11) The pupil member shall not be liable for any acts of the governing board of the school district.
(12) A majority vote of all voting regular board  members shall be required to approve a motion to eliminate the pupil member position from the governing board of a school district. The motion shall be listed as a public agenda item for a meeting of the governing board before the motion being voted upon.
(e) Pupil members shall not be considered members of a legislative body of a local agency for purposes of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).
(f) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Pupil member” means a pupil board member appointed pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2) “Regular member” means a board member elected or selected pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive.

SEC. 1.5.

 Section 35012 of the Education Code is amended to read:

35012.
 (a) Except as otherwise provided, the governing board of a school district shall consist of five regular  members elected at large by the qualified voters of the school district. The terms of the regular  members shall, except as otherwise provided, be for four years and staggered so that as nearly as practicable one-half of the regular  members shall be elected in each odd-numbered year.
(b) A unified school district may have a governing board of seven regular  members if in  the event the  proposal for unification has specified a governing board of seven regular  members. The regular  members of the governing board of a unified school district shall be elected at large or by trustee areas as designated in the proposal for unification and shall serve four-year terms of office.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), and except as provided in this subdivision and Section 5018, the governing board of an elementary school district other than a union or joint union elementary school district shall consist of three regular  members selected at large from the territory comprising the school district. Whenever, in any such elementary school district, district  the average daily attendance during the preceding fiscal year is 300 or more, the procedures prescribed by Section 5018 shall be undertaken.
(d) (1) There may be submitted to the governing board of a school district maintaining one or more high schools a pupil petition requesting the governing board to appoint one or more pupil members to the governing board pursuant to this section.
(2) The petition shall contain the signatures of either (A) not less than 500 pupils regularly enrolled in high schools of the school district, or (B) not less than 10 percent of the number of pupils regularly enrolled in high schools of the school district, whichever is less. Each fiscal year, and within 60 days of receipt of a petition for pupil representation, or at its next regularly scheduled meeting if no meeting is held within those 60 days, the governing board of a school district shall order the inclusion within the membership of the governing board, in addition to the number of regular  members otherwise prescribed, at least one pupil member. The governing board of a school district may order the inclusion of more than one pupil member.
(3) Upon receipt of a petition for pupil representation, the governing board of a school district shall, commencing July 1, 1976, and each year thereafter, order the inclusion within the membership of the governing board, in addition to the number of regular  members otherwise prescribed, at least one pupil member. The governing board of a school district may order the inclusion of more than one pupil member. The governing board of a school district may appoint a pupil to serve as an alternate pupil member who would fulfill all duties and have the same rights as a pupil member if the governing board of a school district determines the pupil member is not fulfilling their duties. If the governing board of a school district appoints an alternate pupil member, the governing board shall suspend the prior pupil member’s rights and privileges related to service on the governing board. 
(4) (A) A pupil member of the governing board of a school district shall have preferential voting rights.
(B) Preferential voting, as used in this section, means a formal expression of opinion that is recorded in the minutes and cast before the official vote of the governing board of the school district. A preferential vote shall not serve in determining the final numerical outcome of a vote. No preferential vote shall be solicited on matters subject to closed session discussion.
(5) The governing board of the school district may adopt a resolution authorizing the pupil member or members to make motions that may be acted upon by the governing board, except on matters dealing with employer-employee relations pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code.
(6) (A)  Each pupil member shall have the right to attend each and all meetings of the governing board of the school district, except closed executive  sessions.
(B) (i) Each pupil member shall be appointed to subcommittees of the governing board in the same manner as regular members.
(ii) Each pupil member shall be made aware of the time commitment required to participate in subcommittee meetings and work, and may decline an appointment to a subcommittee.
(iii) Subcommittee meetings may be scheduled in accordance with the availability of all members, including each pupil member.
(7) Any pupil selected to serve as a pupil  member of the governing board of a school district shall be enrolled in a high school of the school district, may be less than 18 years of age, and shall be chosen by the pupils enrolled in the high school or high schools of the school district in accordance with policies and  procedures prescribed by the governing board. The term of a pupil member shall be one year, year  commencing on July 1 of each year, except that the term of a pupil member may be adjusted only in cases where a vacancy occurs or to provide more pupils with an opportunity to serve on the governing board. year. 
(8) A pupil member shall be entitled to the mileage allowance to the same extent as regular members, and may receive compensation as specified in subdivision (f) of  but is not entitled to the compensation prescribed by  Section 35120.
(9) (A)  A pupil member shall be seated with the regular  members of the governing board of the school district, district  and shall be recognized as a full member of the governing board at the meetings, including receiving all open meeting materials presented to the regular board  members at the same time the materials are presented to the regular board  members, being invited to staff briefings of regular board  members or being provided a separate staff briefing within the same timeframe as the staff briefing of regular members, being invited to attend other functions of the governing board of the school district, such as forums, meetings with pupils and parents, and other general assemblies, and  board members, and  participating in the questioning of witnesses and the discussion of issues.
(B) A pupil member shall also receive all materials received by regular members between open meetings, except for materials that pertain to closed session items.
(10) The pupil member shall not be included in determining the vote required to carry any measure before the governing board of the school district.
(11) The pupil member shall not be liable for any acts of the governing board of the school district.
(12) A majority vote of all voting regular board  members shall be required to approve a motion to eliminate the pupil member position from the governing board of a school district. The motion shall be listed as a public agenda item for a meeting of the governing board before the motion being voted upon.
(e) Pupil members shall not be considered members of a legislative body of a local agency for purposes of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code).
(f) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Pupil member” means a pupil board member appointed pursuant to subdivision (d).
(2) “Regular member” means a board member elected or selected pursuant to subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive.
SEC. 2.
 Section 1.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 35012 of the Education Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 468. That section shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2018, (2) each bill amends Section 35012 of the Education Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 468, in which case Section 1 of this bill shall not become operative.
SEC. 3.
 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.