HB1199
To Repeal The Statute Concerning The Prohibition Against A School District Board Of Directors Granting A Legal Transfer Under Certain Conditions.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill proposes to repeal an existing Arkansas statute, specifically Arkansas Code § 6-18-317. This statute currently prohibits school district boards of directors from granting legal student transfers under specific conditions. These conditions include situations where either the resident school district or the receiving school district is subject to a desegregation-related court order, and the proposed transfer would violate that court order. The existing law also requires an affidavit from both school boards confirming compliance with this prohibition for every legal student transfer form filed. Failure to comply with these provisions results in the withholding of state aid. By repealing this section, the bill would remove these existing prohibitions and their associated reporting requirements and penalties. The intent is to eliminate the statute that restricts school districts from granting legal transfers under desegregation-related court orders.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
If this bill becomes law, the primary beneficiaries would be school district boards of directors and potentially students and their families. School boards would gain the discretion to grant legal transfers without the existing statutory restrictions related to desegregation-related court orders. This could allow students to transfer to different districts even if those districts are under such court orders, potentially offering families more educational choices or flexibility in school placement.
Who Might Suffer?
The entities most likely to be negatively impacted by the repeal of this statute are those entities that are protected by or tasked with enforcing desegregation-related court orders within school districts. This includes the courts overseeing desegregation cases, any appointed monitors or special masters, and potentially students who might be negatively affected by disruptions to existing desegregation plans. The repeal could weaken the legal framework designed to ensure equitable student distribution and integration in districts under court supervision, potentially leading to challenges in maintaining or advancing desegregation goals.