MN HF3836

School boards must hold a public hearing with two weeks' published notice before closing any schoolhouse, with notice specifying the time, place, building location, and reasons for closure.

When a board proposes to close three or more schoolhouses, a valid petition signed by at least three percent of district voters can prevent the closings from becoming final.

A petition opposing multiple schoolhouse closings must be filed within 60 days of the board's preliminary resolution adoption or by July 1, 2016, whichever is later, to trigger a referendum requirement.

If a valid petition is filed, the board must conduct a referendum on a date it sets, with voters deciding whether to approve the proposed closings before any final decision is made.

The effective date is the day following enactment and applies to all schoolhouse closings not yet completed at the time of enactment.