HB2370 HED FBM 2-9

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

COUNSEL: DEG

FLOOR BOOK MEMO:Increasing the powers of regional councils for governance of regional education service agencies

SPONSORS:                                    Delegates Pasdon, Duke, Rowan, Wagner, Upson, Ambler and Espinosa

DATE INTRODUCED:                   January 26, 2015

CODE REFERENCE:                   §18-2-26 (amend and reenact)

PURPOSE:                                        The bill changes the selection process for executive directors of regional education service agencies (RESAs), removes outdated and overly prescriptive technology directives and clarifies roles, responsibilities and powers of agencies, executive directors and regional councils. The bill requires the State Board to select agencies’ executive directors from candidates nominated by regional councils; it requires the State Board, in consultation with regional councils, to determine the qualifications of executive directors; it requires executive directors to be evaluated annually; it requires that one-half of an executive director’s annual evaluation rating be determined by the regional council that his or her agency serves; it clarifies executive directors’ duties and their relationship to regional councils; it clarifies agencies’ authority to cooperate with, or share or combine services with, other agencies; it removes outdated and unnecessarily complex commands to agencies regarding reporting and technology services; it removes language regarding professional development services; and it requires the State Board to promulgate new rules.

COMMITTEE ACTION:                The Education Committee adopted an amendment that included only technical changes.

FISCAL NOTE:                             No 

EFFECTIVE DATE:                     Regular (90 days)

ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE REFERENCE: None