House Bill 1142

AN ACT ENTITLED THE "CHILDREN FIRST ACT OF 2009"; TO PROHIBIT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12 WHO FAIL TO MAINTAIN A CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 2.0 ON A 4.0 SCALE FROM PARTICIPATING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-17-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DEFINE FAILING SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER CERTAIN STANDARDS; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP AND PUBLISH CERTAIN ANNUAL REPORTS PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO REQUEST THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH MEETS THE DEFINITION OF A FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS; TO ESTABLISH A MISSISSIPPI RECOVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A DEPUTY STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO STATE CONSERVATORSHIP AND TO HEAR CERTAIN APPEALS FROM THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-211, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNUAL AUDIT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE AUDITOR; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PRESCRIBE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS IN FAILING SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-46, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVING ACCREDITATION ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS SPECIFIED BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DIRECT THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE FINANCES OF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT DETERMINED BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO BE IN A SERIOUS FINANCIAL CONDITION AND MAKE AN IMMEDIATE REPORT THEREON; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-9-23 AND 37-9-59, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE THE EMERGENCY TAKEOVER OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT AS GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OF LICENSED SCHOOL EMPLOYEES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT THE EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURES LAW SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY CATEGORY OF EMPLOYEE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT SUBJECT TO A STATE CONSERVATORSHIP; TO AMEND SECTION 37-18-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH SCHOOLS DETERMINED TO BE FAILING TO ESTABLISH COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION COUNCILS THAT ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Cecil Brown

  Sponsor

• Senate committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 5

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 19 – Feb 9

1. Jan 19Referred to the House committee on Education
2. Jan 28Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Feb 9Committee substitute adopted in the House
4. Passed the House

In the Senate Feb 11 – Mar 5

1. Feb 11Sent to the Senate
2. Feb 12Referred to the Senate committees on Education and on Appropriations
3. Feb 26Reported as amended from ED to AP in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
4. Mar 2Reported as amended from AP to ED in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
5. Mar 3Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as amended
6. Mar 5Amended in the Senate
7. Passed the Senate as amended

Back in the House of Representatives Mar 5 – Mar 30

1. Mar 5Motion in the Senate to reconsider entered
2. Mar 6Motion in the Senate to reconsider tabled
3. Returned to the House to concur in the Senate's amendments
4. Mar 11Declined in the House to concur, and invited a conference
5. Mar 25Conferees named in the House: Brown, Dickson and Coleman (29th)
6. Conferees named in the Senate: Carmichael, Nunnelee and Watson
7. Mar 30Died in conference in the House