2003 House Bill 4338 / 2004 Public Act 234

Authorize ISD recalls

Introduced in the House

March 12, 2003

Introduced by Rep. Ruth Johnson (R-46)

To place all intermediate school districts (ISDs) under popularly elected intermediate school boards consisting of seven members, to be elected during regular school elections. An ISD board member could not hold any other elective public office including member of the board of a constituent ISD district. This is one of a number of bills which have been introduced to reform ISDs.

Referred to the Committee on Education

March 16, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-7) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that does not automatically require ISD board members to be elected in popular elections. Instead, if 25 percent of the registered voters in an ISD signed petitions requesting that the board be elected, the measure would be placed on the ballot. The substitute would impose 12 year term limits on ISD board members, authorize citizen-initiated recalls of ISD board members, and authorize the governor to dismiss board members guilty of gross neglect of duty, corruption, or any other misfeasance.

The substitute passed by voice vote

March 17, 2004

Amendment offered

To strip out the popular election provisions of the bill, the term limits on ISD board members provision, and a provision that ISDs which have popular elections be divided in to geographic voting districts that would each select its own board member.

The amendment passed 63 to 44 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Bruce Caswell (R-58)

To strip out the provision imposing 12-year term limits on ISD board members.

The amendment passed 72 to 35 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Sandy Caul (R-99)

To require ISDs to place on the ballot in the next regular school elections a question on whether to impose 12-year term limits on ISD board members.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Ken Daniels (D-2)

Prohibit the Detroit schools chief executive officer from entering into a contract that obligated the district for more than $100,000 unless the school reform board approved the contract.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 102 to 2 (details)

To authorize citizen-initiated recalls of intermediate school district (ISD) board members, and authorize the governor to dismiss board members guilty of gross neglect of duty, corruption, or any other misfeasance. ISDs would be required to place a measure on the next school election ballot giving votes the option to impose 12-year term limits on ISD board members. The bill would also prohibit the Detroit schools chief executive officer from entering into a contract that obligated the district for more than $100,000 unless the school reform board approved the contract.

Received in the Senate

March 18, 2004

Referred to the Committee on Education

June 29, 2004

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

June 30, 2004

Substitute offered

To replace the House-passed version of the bill with one that strips out the ISD board member term limit provision, requires the governor to show some evidence of wrongdoing before removing an ISD board member, eliminates the provision related to Detroit school district contracts, requires constituent districts to review ISD budgets (but gives them no authority over the budgets), and postpones the effective date to July 1, 2005.

The substitute passed by voice vote

July 1, 2004

Amendment offered by Sens. Deborah Cherry (D-26) and Deborah Cherry (D-26)

To require ISD boards to approve any out-of-state travel by ISD board members or employees that is paid for with taxpayer dollars.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 35 to 0 (details)

To authorize citizen-initiated recalls of intermediate school district (ISD) board members; authorize the governor to dismiss board members if there is evidence gross neglect of duty, corruption, or any other misfeasance; require ISD boards to approve any out-of-state travel by ISD board members or employees that is paid for with taxpayer dollars; require constituent school district boards to review annual ISD budgets, and require ISDs to "consider" any of their objections.

Received in the House

July 6, 2004

Passed in the House 101 to 1 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, which strips out the ISD term limits provision; requires constituent districts to review ISD budgets, but gives them no authority over the budgets; requires ISD boards to approve any tax-funded out-of-state travel by ISD board members or employees; and eliminates the provision related to Detroit school district contracts.

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

July 21, 2004