DAY; STATE SCHOOL CALENDAR
TASK FORCE
House Bill 4099
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Shackleton
Committee: Education
Complete to 2-1-99
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4099 AS INTRODUCED 1-28-99
House Bill 4099 would amend the Revised School Code to prohibit public schools from holding classes on the Friday before Labor Day during the next three school years (1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002). The bill also would require the appointment, before July 1, 1999, of a seven-member school calendar task force to report the economic and educational impact of the day off to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2000.
The school calendar task force would be required to study and report its findings on two issues: the economic and educational impact of the requirement that public schools shall not be in session on the Friday before Labor Day, and the economic and educational impact of a requirement that all public schools begin the school year after Labor Day.
The seven-member school calendar task force would be created as a temporary commission and would have as members: a person representing school boards (appointed from among nominations submitted by the Michigan Association of School Boards); a person representing school administrators (appointed from among nominations submitted by the Michigan Association of School Administrators); a person representing the Travel Michigan Unit of the Michigan Jobs Commission (appointed from among nominations submitted by the Michigan Jobs Commission); a person representing the Michigan Travel Commission (appointed from among nominations submitted by the Michigan Travel Commission); a person representing the general public; a K-12 teacher; and a person nominated by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Under House Bill 4099, members would serve without compensation, although they could be reimbursed for mileage, and the Michigan Jobs Commission would provide staff. The commissioners would select a chair from among their members at their first meeting, and the group would meet at least monthly. A majority of the task force would constitute a quorum and could transact business, and a majority of those present and serving would be required for official action of the task force. The bill would require that their meetings be conducted in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, and that their written documents be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
[Article V of the Michigan Constitution sets out the powers of the executive branch of government. Section 4 of Article V says: Temporary commissions or agencies for special purposes with a life of no more than two years may be established by law and need not be allocated within a principal department.]
MCL 380.1284b
Analyst: J. Hunault