This bill amends Section 33-507 of the Idaho Code, which outlines the limitations on the authority of school district trustees regarding conflicts of interest and employment of relatives. Key changes include the insertion of provisions that allow trustees' spouses to be employed in non-administrative positions in school districts with a fall student enrollment of 1,200 or less, provided specific conditions are met, such as public job listings and the trustee abstaining from voting on the employment. Additionally, for school districts with a fall enrollment of 400 or less, spouses may be employed through an approved hiring process, with the trustee remaining uninvolved in the hiring and compensation processes until June 30, 2030.

The bill also clarifies that any spouse of a trustee employed as a certificated employee must be under a category 1 contract, while those in non-certificated positions will be at-will employees without contract status. Furthermore, it emphasizes that trustees must abstain from voting on matters affecting their spouse's employment, including compensation and disciplinary actions, while still allowing participation in broader budget discussions. The bill declares an emergency, making it effective from July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 33-507