2004 House Bill 5921 / Public Act 419

Prohibit corrupt ISD practices

Introduced in the House

May 18, 2004

Introduced by Rep. Ruth Johnson (R-46)

To require Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) to adopt a policy designed to avoid conflicts of interest by officials and employees; prohibit ISD contracts with entities in which a board member, administrator or employee has a financial interest; ban gifts worth more than $44 in a given month to ISD board members and administrators; require that ISDs have a policy against using public money to buy alcoholic beverages, jewelry, gifts, entertainment tickets, sporting event tickets, golf fees, other recreational activity fees, or illegal items; require ISD contracts with administrators to have a “moral turpitude” clause; and prohibit members of constituent school district boards from also serving on an ISD board. This is one of a number of bills that have been introduced to reform ISDs after a recent scandal at the Oakland ISD revealed improper activities in most of the these categories.

Referred to the Committee on Education

Sept. 8, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-4) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises many details, but does not greatly change the substance of the bill as previously described. See House-passed bill for details.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 91 to 16 (details)

To require Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) to adopt a policy designed to avoid conflicts of interest by officials and employees; prohibit ISD contracts with entities in which a board member, administrator or employee has a financial interest, with some exceptions; ban gifts worth more than $44 in a given month to ISD board members and administrators; require that ISDs have a policy against using public money to buy alcoholic beverages, jewelry, gifts, entertainment tickets, sporting event tickets, golf fees, other recreational activity fees, or illegal items; require ISD contracts with administrators to have a “moral turpitude” clause; prohibit more than three members of constituent school district boards from also serving on an ISD board; reduce the terms of ISD board members from six years to four years (but not impose any limit on the number of terms); and allow ISD boards to stagger the terms, and increase the size of the board from five to seven members.

Received in the Senate

Sept. 9, 2004

Referred to the Committee on Education

Nov. 3, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Nov. 9, 2004

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not reduce ISD board member terms from six years to four years.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Nov. 10, 2004

Substitute offered by Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-30)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one containing technical changes that do not affect its substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

To require Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) to adopt a policy designed to avoid conflicts of interest by officials and employees; prohibit ISD contracts with entities in which a board member, administrator or employee has a financial interest, with some exceptions; ban gifts worth more than $44 in a given month to ISD board members and administrators; require that ISDs have a policy against using public money to buy alcoholic beverages, jewelry, gifts, entertainment tickets, sporting event tickets, golf fees, other recreational activity fees, or illegal items; require ISD contracts with administrators to have a “moral turpitude” clause; require board approval of all paid overnight travel by personnel; and allow ISDs to increase the size of the board from five to seven members.

Received in the House

Nov. 10, 2004

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, which eliminates the ISD term length provisions.

Passed in the House 103 to 0 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Nov. 29, 2004