HF 3545 Summary

• Modifies school board vacancy filling procedures by requiring special elections only when a vacancy occurs 21+ days before the filing deadline for the next general election AND more than two years remain in the unexpired term; otherwise the appointed person serves the remainder of the term.

• Establishes recall election procedures for school board members, allowing registered voters to petition for removal elections upon showing malfeasance, nonfeasance, or failure to uphold school board adopted policy, with petition signatures totaling at least 25 percent of votes cast in the preceding election.

• Defines "filing official" as the school board election clerk for school board members (paralleling the county auditor role for county offices) and applies removal procedures under sections 351.14-351.23 to school board members.

• Requires a special master (active or retired judge) to hold a public hearing and determine by clear and convincing evidence whether grounds for removal exist; allows the official to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court within ten days, which stays the removal election pending decision.

• Specifies that removal elections for school board members are conducted under chapter 205A and that a removed board member cannot hold the same office for the remainder of the term to which they were elected.