Signed by Governor Laura Kelly

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that authorizes the state board of education to grant waivers for school districts from the requirements to provide a minimum number of school hours during the school term.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the state board of education to waive the requirements of law relating to the duration of the school term in any school year upon application for such waiver by a school district following (Sec. 1):

• Certification by a board of education that, due to disaster, conditions resulting from widespread or severe property damage caused by the disaster or other conditions restricting the operation of public schools will exist in the school district for an inordinate period of time; and

• A determination by the state board that the school district cannot reasonably adjust its schedule to comply with such requirements of law.

• Defines “disaster” in this act as the declaration of a state of disaster emergency by the governor, closure of schools by order issued by a county or joint board of health, a local health officer, or the secretary of health and environment, or occurrence of widespread or severe damage, injury or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or manmade cause, including, but not limited to, fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, wind, storm, epidemics, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, or explosion (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text