HB 6515 Summary

• Requires school boards filling vacant member positions to first offer the office to unsuccessful candidates from the preceding election, starting with the first runner-up, before making other appointments.

• Applies this runner-up preference requirement whether the vacancy is filled by remaining school board members (if fewer than a majority of seats are vacant) or by the intermediate school board (if a majority become vacant).

• Maintains existing rules that appointed members serve until a successor is elected and qualified, with elections held at the next general November election if the vacancy occurs more than 7 days before the nominating petition filing deadline.

• Updates terminology throughout the statute from "person" to "individual" for consistency.

• Preserves the requirement that school board secretaries notify the school district election coordinator within 3 days of any appointment to a vacant board member office.