Senate Bill 2219 Summary

• When a state of emergency is declared in a school district under Section 37-17-6, the local school board is automatically divested of all authority to manage sixteenth section lands, including timber sales and leasing.

• The Secretary of State becomes trustee and assumes management authority over sixteenth section lands during the state of emergency period.

• All lease payments and revenues continue flowing to the local school district, but the Secretary of State is reimbursed monthly for all direct costs and management costs related to leasing and timber operations.

• Management authority reverts to the local school board no later than 90 days after the state of emergency is declared terminated, or earlier if approved by the State Board of Education.

• School boards may voluntarily divest themselves of sixteenth section land management authority to the Secretary of State by board order, with the divestiture lasting until rescinded but not sooner than 90 days from the divestiture date.