1/10/13 - A measure sponsored by a local lawmaker that prevents a school board member from voting when there is a conflict of interest has been signed into law. Public Act 606 of 2012 was authored by Republican Senator Joe Hune of Hamburg Township and states that if a board member is presumed to have a conflict of interest, they must abstain from voting. It ensures that a board member or a legal counsel or consultant to a school district, intermediate school district or a public school academy would also have to disclose whether he or she has a conflict of interest and exactly what that conflict is. Hune said he was excited to see the bill signed and feels it will help safeguard the integrity of school boards, noting it was the result of mounting concerns over local school board members voting on financial transactions when their family members are employees of a school district. However, local school officials have said they felt the bill could actually prevent board votes on critical matters, such as contracts. (JM)
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