House Bill 4607

Committee: Education

Complete to 4-30-99

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4607 AS INTRODUCED 4-29-99

House Bill 4607 would amend the Revised School Code to require parents to request release of pupils to another school district before requesting a property transfer to a school district. The bill also would set new criteria for approval of property transfers when they are made by intermediate school boards.

Specifically, the bill would prohibit an intermediate school board (or intermediate school boards acting jointly), from considering a request for the transfer of territory, unless the parent or legal guardian of the school-aged child had requested the board of the child's school district of residence to give its approval for the child to be counted in membership in another school district, and that request had been denied.

In addition, House Bill 4607 would require the intermediate school board (or the intermediate school boards meeting jointly), to consider the following factors that are applicable to the proposed transfer of territory, and the effect of each of them on the educational welfare of all of the pupils residing in the affected school districts:

--the educational needs of all pupils residing in the affected school districts, the educational programs currently offered by each district, the impact the proposed transfer would have on each of the district's school improvement plan, and the ability of each district to meet current educational needs;

--the impact the proposed transfer would have on the affected school districts' capacity to operate a quality educational program, including both the curricular and extracurricular aspects of that program;

--the geographical and topographical characteristics of the affected school districts, including the estimated travel time to and from school for pupils in the districts and the relationship between school district and municipal boundaries;

--the impact the proposed transfer would have on the affected school districts' fiscal resources, including each district's tax base, bonded indebtedness, and state school aid;

--the impact the proposed transfer would have on the districts' physical facilities; and,

--the impact the proposed transfer would have on the districts' human resources and collective bargaining agreements.

MCL 380.951 and 380.953a

Analyst: J. Hunault

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.