This bill amends the current law regarding the composition and election of cooperative school boards. It mandates that members of cooperative school boards must be elected from pre-existing districts, ensuring that each district has at least one representative who is both domiciled in and elected by voters from that district. The previous requirement for all members to be elected at large has been deleted, and new language has been inserted to specify that members must be elected within their own district. Additionally, the bill introduces a provision that when a vacancy occurs in a cooperative school board seat elected at large, the successor must be domiciled in the same municipality as the outgoing member.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the process for filling vacancies on cooperative school boards. It stipulates that if a vacancy arises, the remaining members representing the same town or towns as the departed member will fill the vacancy, with at least one member-at-large included in the process. If there are insufficient members to fill the vacancy, the selectmen of the involved towns will take over the appointment. The new language requires that any appointed member must satisfy the requirements outlined in the amended RSA 195:19-a, VIII, and they will serve until the next district election, where voters will elect a replacement for the unexpired term. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 195:19-a, 671:33