Bill Text: GA SB457 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Education; provide local board of education may act on petition for a conversion charter school for a high school cluster; referendum

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-07-01 - Effective Date [SB457 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SB457-Engrossed.html

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10 LC 33 3623

Senate Bill 457

By: Senators Weber of the 40th and Moody of the 56th

AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Code Section 20-2-2064 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to approval or denial of charter petitions, so as to provide that a local board of education may act on a petition for a conversion charter school for a high school cluster if approved by a majority of the qualified voters in a referendum; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Code Section 20-2-2064 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to approval or denial of charter petitions, is amended by revising subsection (a) as follows:

"(a) A charter petitioner seeking to create a conversion charter school must submit a petition to the local board of the local school system in which the proposed charter school will be located. The local board must by a majority vote approve or deny a petition no later than 60 days after its submission unless the petitioner requests an extension; provided, however, that a denial of a petition by a local board shall not preclude the submission to the local board of a revised petition that addresses deficiencies cited in the denial; and provided, further, that the local board shall not act upon a petition for a conversion charter school, including, but not limited to, a conversion charter for a high school cluster, until such petition:

(1)(A) Has been freely agreed to, by secret ballot, by a majority of the faculty and instructional staff members of the petitioning local school at a public meeting called with two weeks' advance notice for the purpose of deciding whether to submit the petition to the local board for its approval; and

(2)(B) Has been freely agreed to, by secret ballot, by a majority of the parents or guardians of students enrolled in the petitioning local school present at a public meeting called with two weeks' advance notice for the purpose of deciding whether to submit the petition to the local board for its approval; or

(2) If for a high school cluster, has been approved by a majority of the qualified voters in the local school system in the attendance zone of such high school cluster. Such referendum shall be held at the next regularly scheduled general election or as may otherwise be authorized at an earlier date by the local board of education.

This subsection shall not apply to a system charter school petitioning to be a conversion charter school."

SECTION 2.

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