SB1097

THE CONTEXT: Public Schools as Polling Places Public schools are required to serve as polling places when requested to do so by the officer in charge of elections unless the principal provides a written statement indicating a reason the election cannot be held in the school. Specifically, public schools are exempt from serving as polling places if the principal asserts, in a written statement, that sufficient space is not available or if doing so would jeopardize the safety or welfare of the children ( A.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would require a school operated by a school district to close on every regular primary and general election day, establish that teachers and staff must receive or conduct in-service training or development training on the listed election days and receive compensation, and prohibit teachers and staff from using personal, vacation or other leave time during the listed election days.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to turn the Legislature's standard for elections into an enforceable rule. It would require a school operated by a school district to close on every regular primary and general election day, and would also establish that teachers and staff must receive or conduct in-service training or development training on the listed election days and receive compensation, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.