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Ethics commission warns school‑board conflict bill could block boards from acting; ESDs say enforcement would overburden them
Summary
The Senate Education Committee heard testimony on SB 4‑72, which would require school board members to abstain from votes when an actual conflict of interest exists and empower education service districts to adjudicate complaints. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission and ESD representatives raised legal and practical concerns.
Senate Bill 4‑72, explained to the committee March 26, would require school board members to abstain from votes when an actual conflict of interest exists and would task Education Service District (ESD) boards with adjudicating complaints that a school district violated the conflict‑of‑interest rule. The measure would allow appeal of ESD findings to the State Board of Education and provides penalties for noncompliance.
Susan Myers, executive director of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, said the commission is not taking a position on the policy but raised legal concerns about the bill as drafted. Myers told the committee…
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