GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 701
Senate Education Committee Substitute Adopted 7/3/91

Short Title:  Robeson School Board.	(Local)
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Sponsors:
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Referred to:  
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April 11, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ELIMINATE LEGISLATIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ROBESON COUNTY, TO PROVIDE FOR EIGHT SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS, AND FOR THREE MEMBERS TO BE ELECTED AT LARGE WITH LIMITED VOTING.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Section 4 of Chapter 605, Session Laws of 1987, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 4.  Upon merger, the existing Robeson County and Fairmont, Lumberton, Red Springs, and St. Pauls City Boards of Education and the Interim Board are abolished and replaced by the Board of Education for the Public Schools of Robeson County.  The Board of Education for the Public Schools of Robeson County shall consist of the 15 members of the Interim Board as of the effective date of the merger, and shall have all the powers and responsibilities previously provided for the Robeson County, Fairmont City, Lumberton City, Red Springs City, St. Pauls City, and Interim Boards and provided by State law generally for county boards of education.  From July 1, 1989, through June 30, 1992, the Board shall have 15 members.  From and after July 1, 1992, the Board shall have 11 members."
Sec. 2.  Section 7.1 of Chapter 605, Session Laws of 1987, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 7.1.  In 1990, the General Assembly shall appoint four members of the Board of Education for the Public Schools of Robeson County, two for four-year terms beginning July 1, 1990, and two for two-year terms beginning July 1, 1990.  Effective July 1, 1992, those seats are abolished and the terms expire."
Sec. 3.  Effective July 1, 1992, Section 9 of Chapter 605, Session Laws of 1987, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 9.  Vacancies on the Board of Education for the Public Schools of Robeson County shall be filled by the remaining members of the Board.  In the case of a district seat, the Board must appoint a resident of that district."
Sec. 4.  Section 5.1 of Chapter 605, Session Laws of 1987 reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 5.1. (a)	Elections for the Board of Education for the Public Schools of Robeson County shall be held at the same time as the primary election for county officers as established by G.S. 163-1.
(a1)	The elections for the eight district seats shall be conducted on a non-partisan basis, with the results determined by plurality in accordance with G.S. 163-292.
(a2)	Three members of the Board of Education for the Public Schools shall be elected at large on a non-partisan basis by all the qualified voters of Robeson County in 1992 and quadrennially thereafter for four-year terms.  The election for those at-large seats shall be with limited voting, whereby each voter will be entitled to vote for one candidate, and the top three vote getters will be elected by a plurality of votes.
(a3)	Except as otherwise provided by this act, elections shall be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 115C and Chapter 163 of the General Statutes.
(b)	Not later than October 1, 1991, the Board of Education for the Public Schools of Robeson County shall divide Robeson County into eight electoral districts; provided that the districts may be adjusted thereafter if the plan is not approved under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Each district shall consist of contiguous territory, and the 1990 Federal Census shall be used. Each candidate for an electoral district seat must reside in the district for which he is to be elected, and only the qualified voters of the district may vote for the election of that district seat.
											(e)	In the districting plan it adopts, the Board of Education shall provide for members to be elected from four of the districts in 1992 and quadrennially thereafter for four-year terms, and shall provide for members to be elected from the other four of the districts in 1994 and quadrennially thereafter for four-year terms. If the district plan so established provides that the domicile of a person elected in 1990 for a four-year term is in a district that is subject to election in 1992, then that person may run for that district seat in 1992 or may run for an at-large seat in 1992, without being subject to G.S. 163-125."
Sec. 5.  This act does not affect the terms of office of members elected in 1990.
Sec. 6.  This act is effective upon ratification.