This bill allows a single district or town within a cooperative school district to initiate the process for withdrawal from the cooperative school district, thereby streamlining the procedure. It amends the current law by eliminating the requirement for a committee to determine the withdrawal plan, which simplifies the process for member districts. Additionally, the bill removes the provision that allowed a 3/5 supermajority of voters from the entire cooperative school district to block a single district or town's withdrawal, thereby granting more autonomy to individual districts or towns seeking to withdraw.

The bill also introduces new requirements for the review process, including the submission of minority reports that differ from the committee's recommendations regarding withdrawal. It mandates that the committee develop a withdrawal plan in accordance with existing law and submit it to the state board of education by November 1. The effective date of the act is set for 60 days after its passage. Overall, the changes aim to facilitate a more straightforward and independent withdrawal process for member districts or towns within cooperative school districts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 195:25, 195:29
HB1644 text: 195:25, 195:29