BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       


                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SB 909
          Author:   Simitian (D)
          Amended:  4/18/07
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE  :  7-0, 4/25/07
          AYES:  Scott, Wyland, Alquist, Maldonado, Padilla,  
            Simitian, Torlakson
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Denham, Romero


           SUBJECT  :    School board member compensation

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill increases the statutory schedule of  
          maximum monthly compensation allowed for local school board  
          members.

           ANALYSIS  :    Current law establishes maximum monthly  
          compensation allowed for school board members who attend  
          all meetings of their board.  The statutory schedule varies  
          amounts based upon the prior year average daily attendance  
          of the school district.  The current schedule is:

                     Prior Year ADA                                 
                Maximum Amount            

                    400,001 +                          $2,000

                    60,001 - 400,000                   $1,500

                    25,001 - 60,000                    $   750

                    10,001 - 25,000                    $   400
                    1,001 - 10,000                     $   240

                    151 - 1,000                        $   120

                    1 - 150                            $     60

                                                           CONTINUED





                                                                SB 909
                                                                Page  
          2

          This bill doubles the allowable maximum monthly  
          compensation of local school board members that attend all  
          meetings of their board.  The new schedule would be:

                     Prior Year ADA                                 
                     Maximum Amount            

                    400,001 +                          $4,000

                    60,001 - 400,000                   $3,000

                    25,001 - 60,000                    $1,500

                    10,001 - 25,000                    $   800
                    1,001 - 10,000                     $   480

                    151 - 1,000                        $   240

                    1 - 150                            $   120

           Comments

          Conditions Apply.   This bill does not revise any of the  
          several conditions that statutorily apply to school board  
          member compensation. Current law provides, for example,  
          that maximum compensation can only be paid to a member who  
          attends all meetings held during the month or compensation  
          is prorated to the percentage of possible meetings  
          attended.

           Not Adjusted for at Least 19 Years.   According to the  
          Senate Education Committee analysis, staff was not able to  
          trace the statutory schedule before 1988, but since that  
          year the current maximum amounts have not been revised so  
          it is possible that the current schedule was established by  
          1984 legislation or even earlier.  According to the  
          American Institute of Economic Research, the buying power  
          of a dollar in 1984 has to be increased by 95.38 percent,  
          or almost doubled, in order to adjust for the cost of  
          living in 2007.  
           
           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  No    
          Local:  No








                                                                SB 909
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          3

          NC:cm  5/3/07   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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