Bill > H3959

This bill mandates that the department of higher education, referred to as "the department," will create and implement a comprehensive training program for members of higher education boards of trustees. This training will cover essential topics for managing educational institutions, including the open meeting law (ensuring transparency in government proceedings), the public records law (governing access to government documents), the conflict of interest law (preventing improper personal gain), procurement law (rules for purchasing goods and services), state finance provisions (laws related to managing state money), fraud prevention, and fiduciary responsibilities (duties of trust and care). The department will work with the attorney general and the inspector general to develop these programs. All new members must complete this training within six months of their appointment or election, and existing members must complete it every two years thereafter. Failure to complete the training within these timeframes will result in the termination of their membership, creating a vacancy that will be filled according to existing procedures, with the chairman responsible for notifying the governor of any such vacancy. This requirement is applied to both general higher education boards and specifically to the board of trustees under chapter 75.