hb539_HB_539_AP_4.html
07 LC 33 1862/AP
House Bill 539 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Ehrhart of the 36th, Johnson of the 37th, Manning of the 32nd, Cooper of the 41st, Franklin of the 43rd, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT


To amend an Act providing for the election of members of the Board of Education of Cobb County, approved March 28, 1974 (Ga. L. 1974, p. 3516), as amended, so as to revise procedures relating to the establishment or revision of school attendance zones; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
An Act providing for the election of members of the Board of Education of Cobb County, approved March 28, 1974 (Ga. L. 1974, p. 3516), as amended, is amended by revising subsection (f) of Section 2 as follows:
"(f)(1) Prior to establishing or revising school attendance zones, the board shall:
(A) Conduct at least one public hearing to get public input regarding the development of plans for the location of attendance zones;
(B) Develop two or more alternate proposed plans establishing or revising attendance zones. Such alternate plans must be made available to the public at least 24 hours prior to the public hearing at which they will be discussed; and
(C) Conduct at least two public hearings to allow input from the public on the proposed plans establishing or revising attendance zones. Reasonable notice shall be provided prior to each public hearing.
No plan for the establishment or revision of attendance zones shall be adopted by the board unless each board member whose education district is affected by the plan has signed off on such plan.
(2) The board shall take into consideration the following when establishing or revising school attendance zones:
(A) No student shall be assigned or compelled to attend any school on the basis of race, creed, color, or national origin, or for the purpose of achieving equality in attendance or increased or reduced attendance at any school of persons of one or more particular race, creed, color, or national origin; and
(B) Nothing contained in this paragraph shall prevent the assignment of a pupil in the manner requested or authorized by the student´s parent or guardian.
(3) This subsection shall only apply to new schools opened on or after July 1, 2007."

SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2007.

SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.