SESSION OF 2019
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 7
As Amended by Senate Committee on Ethics,
Elections and Local Government

Brief*
SB 7, as amended, would amend law regarding the
timing of appointing a replacement school board member,
timing of elections of officers of a local board of education,
the date local school district board officials take office, and
the timing of an election to change the method of election or
voting plan of school board members.
The bill would remove language requiring local school
board officials who are replacing members of the board to be
appointed by November 15.
The bill would require the first meeting of the Board of
Education (Board) be on or after the second Monday in
January or at a later meeting during the calendar year if so
determined by the Board at the first meeting, rather than in
July.
Under the bill, the Board would adopt a resolution
specifying the regular meeting time, the regular hour for the
meeting to begin, the day of the week, and the week of the
month on or after the second Monday in January and before
February 1, or at a later date during the calendar year if so
determined by the Board, instead of during the month of July.
The bill would remove the requirement that school
districts make changes in the method of elections or voting
plans, or both, during the period beginning on the first
Wednesday in November of each even-numbered year and
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
ending on the first Tuesday in June of each odd-numbered
year and would require a change in the method of elections
or voting plan, or both, to be submitted to voters at any
primary or general election, or at a special election called for
that purpose.
The bill would also make technical changes.

Background
The bill was introduced in the Senate Committee on
Ethics, Elections and Local Government at the request of
Senator Hawk.
In the Senate Committee hearing, Senator Hawk, a
member of the Board of Education of Manhattan-Ogden USD
383, a representative of the Shawnee Mission School District
School Board, and a representative of the Wichita USD 259
provided proponent testimony. Proponents stated the bill
would correct unintended consequences of legislation that
moved city commission and school board elections from April
of odd-numbered years to November of even-numbered
years. Proponents also stated the bill would provide flexibility
to school boards to decide when to hold internal leadership
elections and meetings.
The representative of the Wichita USD 259 proposed an
amendment removing the requirement that school districts
must make changes in the method of elections or voting
plans, or both, during the period beginning on the first
Wednesday in November of each even-numbered year and
ending on the first Tuesday in June of each odd-numbered
year and inserting language requiring a change in the method
of elections or voting plan, or both, be submitted to voters at
any primary or general election or at a special election called
for that purpose.


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 The President of the Kansas Association of School
Boards presented neutral testimony due to varying responses
from local boards.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to remove the
requirement that school districts must make changes in the
method of elections or voting plans, or both, during the period
beginning on the first Wednesday in November of even-
numbered years and ending on the first Tuesday in June of
each odd-numbered year and to insert language requiring a
change in the method of elections or voting plan, or both, be
submitted to voters at any primary or general election or at a
special election called for that purpose.
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget, the Department of Education indicates enactment
of the bill would have no fiscal effect.


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Statutes affected:
As introduced: 72-1073, 72-1133, 72-1138
As Amended by Senate Committee: 72-1073, 72-1088, 72-1133, 72-1138