PETITION OF:

Patricia A. Haddad

Robert A. Antonioni

Geraldine Creedon

Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

Paul J. Donato

John W. Scibak

Robert L. Rice, Jr.

John P. Fresolo

Stephen R. Canessa

Anthony J. Verga

Peter V. Kocot

Stephen J. Buoniconti

Richard T. Moore

Gale D. Candaras

Christine E. Canavan

Douglas W. Petersen

John V. Fernandes

David Paul Linsky

Denise Provost

Louis L. Kafka

John D. Keenan

Thomas J. Calter

James B. Eldridge

Alice Hanlon Peisch

Susan C. Fargo

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act expanding the membership of the board of education.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 15, Section 1E is hereby amended by striking the first paragraph thereof and inserting the following:

There shall be in the department a board of education, in this section and in sections 1F and 1G called the board, which shall consist of the chairman of the student advisory council established under this section; the chancellor of higher education; the commissioner of early education and care; 1 representative of a labor organization selected by the governor from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; 1 representative of business or industry selected by the governor with a demonstrated commitment to education; 1 representative of parents of school children selected by the governor from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts Parent Teachers Association; and 7 members selected by the governor. In making such additional selections, the governor shall seek to appoint persons who are from geographically diverse regions of the commonwealth and who are familiar with the differing interests, perspectives and needs of urban, rural and suburban school districts. No appointive member of said board shall be employed by or receive regular compensation from the department of education, or from any school system, public or independent, in the commonwealth, or serve as a member of any school committee. Not more than two appointive members of said board shall be employed on a full-time basis by any agency of the commonwealth. Upon the expiration of the term of office of an appointive member of said board, his successor shall be appointed for a term of five years. No person shall be appointed to serve more than two full terms, provided, however, that only service on or after July 1, 1996 shall be counted for this purpose. Prior service on said board for a term of less than three years, resulting from an initial appointment or an appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term, shall not be counted as a full term. If a member is absent from any four regularly scheduled monthly meetings, exclusive of July and August, in any calendar year, his office as a member of said board shall be deemed vacant. The chairman of the board shall forthwith notify the governor that such vacancy exists. A person affiliated with an independent institution of higher education shall be eligible for membership on said board. No member of said board shall be found to be in violation of section six of chapter two hundred and sixty-eight A for conduct which involves his participation, as a member of said board, in a particular matter before said board which may affect the financial interest of an independent institution of higher education with which he is affiliated; provided, however, that said member, his immediate family or partner has no personal and direct financial interest in said particular matter; and provided, further, that such affiliation is disclosed to said board and recorded in the minutes of the board.