A House committee Thursday approved a bill that would change a residency requirement for county school-board candidates, sending the issue to the full House.
The State Affairs Committee backed the bill (HB 411), sponsored by Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Dade City. Under current law, candidates have to live in the districts they are seeking to represent at the time they qualify to run.
The bill would require candidates to live in the districts at the time they assume office. Steele said, in part, the bill would put school-board candidates in line with the residency requirements for other types of office.
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But opponents said they are concerned that it could open the door to wealthy outsiders running for school-board seats without living in the districts.
An identical Senate bill (SB 444), filed by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, has been approved by one committee.
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