HCS HB 499 -- SUBDISTRICTS IN CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS

SPONSOR:  Bland (Walton)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Urban Issues by a vote of 9 to 2.

This substitute requires the St. Louis County Board of Election
Commissioners to divide the Riverview, Ferguson-Florissant,
Hazelwood, and University City school districts into seven
subdistricts.  The subdistrict boundaries must be drawn up by
October 27, 2003.

The substitute requires that school board members elected or
appointed in the school district must represent one of the
subdistricts, beginning with the first municipal election held
after August 28, 2003.  Board members must be residents of their
subdistrict for at least one year prior to election or
appointment.

The substitute explains procedures for drawing subdistrict
boundaries, how to apportion the subdistricts, transition
provisions, and provisions for filling vacancies.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not available at time of printing.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill allows several school
districts in St. Louis County to be divided into seven
subdistricts so that residents from those areas can be elected to
the school board.  Currently, individuals from these areas must
run as at-large members of the school board, but proponents of
the bill say that it is very difficult to be elected to the
school board in that capacity.  Creating subdistricts will allow
better representation of the residents of the Riverview,
Ferguson-Florissant, and Hazelwood communities because
individuals will be able to run as candidates representing the
area where they live.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Walton.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Alice Hurley, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:12 am