S3005 — An Act relative to voting on regional planning board proposed regional agreements

Summary

An Act relative to voting on regional planning board proposed regional agreements

Bill Text

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This bill amends the procedure for towns to accept the establishment of a regional school district by revising section 15 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws.

• Section 15

  Section 15. The select board or council of each of the several towns shall, upon receipt of the recommendation that a regional school district should be formed and the proposed agreement or agreements submitted in accordance with the provisions of sections 14 to 14B of this chapter, inclusive, or otherwise in the form of and with the approval required by said sections, cause to be presented the question of accepting the provisions of sections 16 to 16I of this chapter, inclusive, and the proposed agreement or agreements. Said question shall be determined: (i) in a town having an open town meeting, by vote with printed ballots at an annual or special town meeting to be held in either case within 30 days after receipt of such recommendation by the select board or at an annual or special town election to be held in either case not less than 35 nor more than 50 days after receipt of such recommendation; or (ii) in a town having a representative town meeting or council, at an annual or special town election to be held in either case not less than 35 nor more than 50 days after receipt of such recommendation. The article in the warrant for such annual or special town meeting or election and the question on the printed ballots to be used at such meeting or election shall be in substantially the following form: Shall the town accept the provisions of sections 16 to 16I, inclusive, of chapter 71 of the General Laws providing for the establishment of a regional school district, together with the towns of , and , etc., and for construction, maintenance and operation of a regional school by said district in accordance with the provisions of a proposed agreement filed with the select board? If a majority of the voters present and voting on said question in each of the several towns shall vote in the affirmative, said sections 16 to 16I, inclusive, shall become effective, and the proposed regional school district shall be deemed to be established immediately in accordance with the terms of the agreement so adopted notwithstanding any defect or omission in the creation or organization of any regional school district planning committee or regional school district planning board. → Section 15. The select board or council of each of the several towns shall, upon receipt of the recommendation that a regional school district should be formed and the proposed agreement or agreements submitted in accordance with the provisions of sections 14 to 14B of this chapter, inclusive, or otherwise in the form of and with the approval required by said sections, cause to be presented the question of accepting the provisions of sections 16 to 16I of this chapter, inclusive, and the proposed agreement or agreements. Said question shall be determined: (i) in a town having an open town meeting, by vote with printed ballots at an annual or special town meeting to be held in either case within 30 days after receipt of such recommendation by the select board or at an annual or special town election to be held in either case not less than 35 nor more than 50 days after receipt of such recommendation; or (ii) in a town having a representative town meeting or council, at an annual or special town election to be held in either case not less than 35 nor more than 50 days after receipt of such recommendation. The article in the warrant for such annual or special town meeting or election and the question on the printed ballots to be used at such meeting or election shall be in substantially the following form: Shall the town accept the provisions of sections 16 to 16I, inclusive, of chapter 71 of the General Laws providing for the establishment of a regional school district, together with the towns of , and , etc., and for construction, maintenance and operation of a regional school by said district in accordance with the provisions of a proposed agreement filed with the select board? If a majority of the voters present and voting on said question in each of the several towns shall vote in the affirmative, said sections 16 to 16I, inclusive, shall become effective, and the proposed regional school district shall be deemed to be established immediately in accordance with the terms of the agreement so adopted notwithstanding any defect or omission in the creation or organization of any regional school district planning committee or regional school district planning board.

  This change clarifies and maintains the process for towns to accept the formation of a regional school district and the related voting procedures.

Sponsors

• Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government · Primary

Subjects