SB 188 – School District Modifications

UPDATE: The bill has been signed by the Governor.

The Utah Legislature has passed Sen. Keith Grover’s Senate Bill 188 to make some changes to the school district division process. The bill is currently awaiting the governor’s signature, but with no opposing votes, it appears this bill will pass.

Key changes in this bill:

• Enacts dates regarding the redistricting of local school board districts (for the 3 new districts)
• Assigns the Office of the Legislative Auditor General (OLAG) to receive and provide certain information for the transition process from divided to new school districts
• Extends the rights of transferred employees regarding salary and benefits by an additional year
• Reduces the body of voters whose approval is required to create a new school district to voters within the proposed new school district
• Reduces the threshold for interlocal participants to propose a new school district to a majority of municipalities that are participants in the interlocal agreement
• Adjusts election dates following the creation of a new school district
• Amends certain deadlines for the duties of municipal legislative bodies, county legislative bodies, local school boards, and other entities under certain circumstances after the creation of a new school district
• Enacts provisions regarding district split transition:
  • school district employee and other personnel issues
  • records of the divided school district
  • the actual transfer of funds, property, assets, and liabilities
  • retrospectively voiding certain agreements or policies
  • resolution of disputes between school districts through an agreed upon or appointed arbiter