SB 601: Atlanta Board of Education; residency limitations on qualifications for employment of the executive assistant to the board, chief financial officer, and internal auditor; remove

The Atlanta Independent School System operates under a special state law from 2003 that sets rules for how the Atlanta Board of Education runs the district. That law previously required certain top staff, the executive assistant to the board, the chief financial officer, and the internal auditor, to live within certain residency limits to qualify for the jobs. This bill rewrites the sections covering those three positions. It removes the residency qualification requirement entirely. It also changes how the positions are filled: each would be appointed and, if needed, removed by the superintendent with the board's advice and consent, rather than solely by the board. The bill spells out duties for each role, including the chief financial officer's bonding and experience requirements and the internal auditor's audit powers and duty to report fraud to the ethics commission, and requires the superintendent and board to jointly set performance goals for the executive assistant and internal auditor.

• Removes residency requirements that previously limited who could qualify for the executive assistant, chief financial officer, and internal auditor positions at Atlanta Public Schools.
• Changes the hiring and removal process so the superintendent appoints and removes these three officials, subject to the board's advice and consent.
• Requires the superintendent and board to jointly set performance goals for the executive assistant and internal auditor, with the board having significant input on evaluations.
• Requires the chief financial officer to have at least ten years of progressive fiscal management experience, waivable by a three-fourths board vote, and to post a bond.
• Requires the internal auditor to be a certified internal auditor or certified public accountant with at least ten years of relevant experience and lists specific audit duties, including referring board member fraud to the ethics commission.
• Guarantees the board direct access to the executive assistant and internal auditor and requires internal audit reports to be available for public inspection.

The Atlanta Board of Education, the Atlanta Public Schools superintendent, and the district's executive assistant to the board, chief financial officer, and internal auditor. It also affects school system employees and contractors who must give the internal auditor access to records, and members of the public who can inspect audit reports and board minutes.

By dropping residency limits, more candidates from outside the district's residency zone become eligible for these three key jobs. Shifting hiring and removal authority to the superintendent, subject to board approval, changes the balance of power over who runs the district's finances and internal oversight.

• Section 1 revises Section 2-112 so the superintendent appoints and removes the executive assistant to the board with the board's advice and consent, and requires jointly set performance goals.
• Section 2 revises Section 4-101 to have the superintendent appoint and remove the chief financial officer, require a bond, and set a ten-year fiscal management experience requirement waivable by a three-fourths board vote.
• Section 3 revises Section 4-102 to have the superintendent appoint and remove the internal auditor, require certification and ten years of experience, and detail audit powers, duties, and confidentiality rules.
• Section 3 also requires the internal auditor to refer suspected fraud or abuse by a board member to the ethics commission and make audit reports available for public inspection.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 700
3. 2026-05-12Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senado)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senado)
5. 2026-04-02House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2026-04-02House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)Patrocinador principal
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)

1. AprobadaVotación: Senado6 de marzo de 2026

   49 a favor, 0 en contra (3 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #639

2. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes2 de abril de 2026

   94 a favor, 75 en contra (2 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857

• Atlanta Public Schools
• school board governance
• residency requirements
• internal auditing
• school district finance