Bill Text: GA SB129 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed

---

Bill Title: Savannah, City of; remove certain qualifications for local board of education members

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-07-01 - Effective Date [SB129 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SB129-Engrossed.html

---

11 LC 28 5494

Senate Bill 129

By: Senator Carter of the 1st

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend an Act relating to the school system of the City of Savannah and Chatham County, approved March 21, 1968 (Ga. L. 1968, p. 2636), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 28, 2010 (Ga. L. 2010, p. 3637), so as to remove certain qualifications for local board of education members; to restore terms of office for board members to four-year staggered terms; to provide for submission of this Act for approval under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

An Act relating to the school system of the City of Savannah and Chatham County, approved March 21, 1968 (Ga. L. 1968, p. 2636), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 28, 2010 (Ga. L. 2010, p. 3637), is amended by striking subsection (c) at the end of Section 2 which reads as follows:

"(c)(1) No person shall be eligible for election as a member of the board who has not been a resident of the election district which such person seeks to represent for at least 12 months.

(2) No person who does not possess a high school diploma or a general educational development (GED) diploma shall be eligible for election to the board.

(3) This subsection shall be applicable to persons elected or reelected in elections held after July 1, 2010."

SECTION 2.

Said Act is further amended by revising Section 3 to read as follows:

"SECTION 3.

(a) The president of the board of education in office on January 1, 2010, shall serve out the remainder of the term to which he or she was elected, such term expiring on December 31, 2010. At the general election in 2010, the president shall be elected pursuant to this Act and shall serve for a term of two years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified and shall take office on January 1, 2011. At the general election in 2012, the president shall be elected pursuant to this Act and shall serve for a term of two years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified and shall take office on January 1, 2013. At the general election in 2014 and every four years thereafter, the president shall be elected pursuant to this Act and shall serve for a term of four years and until his or her successor is elected and qualified and shall take office on January 1 immediately following his or her election. No president shall serve for more than eight consecutive years.

(b) The members of the board of education in office on January 1, 2010, representing Education Districts 1, 2, 3, and 7 shall serve out the remainder of the terms to which they were elected, such terms expiring on December 31, 2010. At the general election in 2010, members of the board shall be elected from Education Districts 1, 2, 3, and 7 pursuant to this Act and shall serve for a term of two years and until their successors are elected and qualified and shall take office on January 1, 2011. At the general election in 2012 and every four years thereafter, members of the board shall be elected from Education Districts 1, 2, 3, and 7 pursuant to this Act and shall serve for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified and shall take office on January 1 immediately following their election.

(c) The members of the board of education in office on January 1, 2010, representing Education Districts 4, 5, 6, and 8 shall serve out the remainder of the terms to which they were elected, such terms expiring on December 31, 2012. At the general election in 2012, members of the board shall be elected from Education Districts 4, 5, 6, and 8 pursuant to this Act and shall serve for a term of two years and until their successors are elected and qualified and shall take office on January 1, 2013. At the general election in 2014 and every four years thereafter, members of the board shall be elected from Education Districts 4, 5, 6, and 8 pursuant to this Act and shall serve for terms of four years and until their successors are elected and qualified and shall take office on January 1 immediately following their election.

(d) All primaries and elections under this Act shall be held in accordance with Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., the 'Georgia Election Code.'"

SECTION 3.

It shall be the duty of the attorney of the Board of Public Education for the City of Savannah and the County of Chatham to submit this Act for approval pursuant to Section 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.