HB 719: Worth County; board of education; revise compensation of chairperson and members

This bill amends a 1986 state law that set pay for the chairperson and members of the Worth County board of education. Under current law, board members are paid a per diem (a set daily rate) for attending board meetings or traveling on official board business. House Bill 719 rewrites the section of that 1986 law setting the pay rates. It sets the chairperson's per diem at $300.00 and each board member's per diem at $200.00 for each day of attendance at board meetings or authorized committee travel, plus reimbursement for actual expenses incurred. Payment claims must still be submitted to the county school superintendent for approval. The new pay rates would take effect on the first day of the month after the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without the Governor's signature.

• Rewrites Section 1 of the 1986 Worth County board of education compensation law to set new per diem pay rates.
• Sets the chairperson's per diem at $300.00 for each day of attendance at board meetings or authorized official travel.
• Sets each board member's per diem at $200.00 for each day of attendance at board meetings or authorized official travel.
• Keeps the existing requirement that board members be reimbursed for actual expenses and that claims be approved by the county school superintendent.
• Sets the effective date as the first day of the month following the bill's approval by the Governor or its becoming law without approval.

The chairperson and members of the Worth County board of education, who would receive the revised per diem pay rates, and the county school superintendent, who reviews and approves the board's expense and pay claims.

The change means Worth County board of education members would be paid at updated daily rates for meetings and official travel, replacing whatever rates were set under the 1986 law, affecting the cost of running the local school board and the compensation its elected members receive.

• Section 1 replaces the 1986 law's compensation section, setting a $300.00 per diem for the chairperson and a $200.00 per diem for each board member.
• Section 1 continues to allow reimbursement for actual expenses tied to attending meetings or authorized committee travel inside or outside the state.
• Section 1 requires accounts for such service and expenses to be submitted to the county school superintendent for approval.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the first day of the month after the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without his signature.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-06-01Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 214
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-13House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 13, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #273

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 0 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #277

• Worth County
• school board pay
• local legislation
• board of education compensation