Legislative Committee

The Legislative Committee will dedicate its efforts to the review of existing and future legislative and policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels of government, and to the development of legislative recommendations to the school board (“Board”) for its consideration and action.

To coordinate the legislative advocacy program for the Board, including the development of a legislative agenda proposal for presentation to the Board.

1. Annually develop the legislative advocacy program based upon input from the full Board.
2. Initiate, monitor, and lobby for the Board’s legislative priorities.
3. Facilitate regular communications between the Board, local board of supervisors, and state and federal elected officials.
4. Coordinate lobbying efforts with the local board of supervisors and lobbyist and general counsel to the extent feasible.
5. Review, present, and recommend to the full Board and the Virginia School Board Association legislative priorities of interest to the division.           
6. Develop recommendations to the full Board for its consideration relating to all local, federal and state code, legislation, and ordinances.

1. The Legislative Committee will be composed of three Board members selected by majority vote of the Board.
2. The Legislative Committee shall have one chair and one vice-chair.
3. The Board chair may not serve simultaneously as chair of the Legislative Committee.

1. Committee members will serve a term of 12 months (July 1 to June 30), not to exceed 24 consecutive months or two consecutive terms, becoming eligible to serve again after one year’s absence from the committee. Term extensions must be approved by a majority vote of the Board. 
2. Committee meetings shall be public and will be announced.
3. Meeting agendas shall be prepared for every meeting and provided to the committee members and the public in advance of the meeting, along with appropriate materials needed to make informed decisions.
4. The Committee shall act only on the affirmative vote of a majority of the members at meeting or by unanimous consent. Minutes of the committee meetings shall be recorded.
5. Committee meetings are presided over by the committee chair (or the vice-chair in the chair’s absence). Observers of Legislative Committee meetings will not engage in the discussion unless invited to do so by the chair.

The Legislative Committee chair shall provide a verbal summary of the meeting during the next Board meeting. Additionally, the complete agenda packet and the recording of the meeting shall be made available to all members of the Board no later than one business day after the committee meeting.