272B.1 - COMPACT FOR EDUCATION.



        272B.1  COMPACT FOR EDUCATION.
         The compact for education is hereby entered into and enacted into
      law with all jurisdictions legally joining therein, in the form
      substantially as follows:
         1.  Article I -- Purpose and policy.
         a.  It is the purpose of this compact to:
         (1)  Establish and maintain close cooperation and understanding
      among executive, legislative, professional educational and lay
      leadership on a nationwide basis at the state and local levels.
         (2)  Provide a forum for the discussion, development,
      crystallization and recommendation of public policy alternatives in
      the field of education.
         (3)  Provide a clearing house of information on matters relating
      to educational problems and how they are being met in different
      places throughout the nation, so that the executive and legislative
      branches of state government and of local communities may have ready
      access to the experience and record of the entire country, and so
      that both lay and professional groups in the field of education may
      have additional avenues for the sharing of experience and the
      interchange of ideas in the formation of public policy in education.

         (4)  Facilitate the improvement of state and local educational
      systems so that all of them will be able to meet adequate and
      desirable goals in a society which requires continuous qualitative
      and quantitative advance in educational opportunities, methods and
      facilities.
         b.  It is the policy of this compact to encourage and promote
      local and state initiative in the development, maintenance,
      improvement and administration of educational systems and
      institutions in a manner which will accord with the needs and
      advantages of diversity among localities and states.
         c.  The party states recognize that each of them has an
      interest in the quality and quantity of education furnished in each
      of the other states, as well as in the excellence of its own
      educational systems and institutions, because of the highly mobile
      character of individuals within the nation, and because the products
      and services contributing to the health, welfare and economic
      advancement of each state are supplied in significant part by persons
      educated in other states.
         2.  Article II -- State defined.  As used in this compact,
      "state" means a state, territory or possession of the United
      States, the District of Columbia, or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

         3.  Article III -- The commission.
         a.  The education commission of the states, hereinafter called
      "the commission", is hereby established.  The commission shall
      consist of seven members representing each party state.{  One of such
      members shall be the governor; two shall be members of the state
      legislature selected by its respective houses and serving in such
      manner as the legislature may determine; and four shall be appointed
      by and serve at the pleasure of the governor, unless the laws of the
      state otherwise provide.  If the laws of a state prevent legislators
      from serving on the commission, six members shall be appointed and
      serve at the pleasure of the governor, unless the laws of the state
      otherwise provide.  In addition to any other principles or
      requirements which a state may establish for the appointment and
      service of its members of the commission, the guiding principle for
      the composition of the membership on the commission from each party
      state shall be that the members representing such state shall, by
      virtue of their training, experience, knowledge or affiliations be in
      a position collectively to reflect broadly the interests of the state
      government, higher education, the state education system, local
      education, lay and professional, public and nonpublic educational
      leadership.  Of those appointees, one shall be the head of a state
      agency or institution, designated by the governor, having
      responsibility for one or more programs of public education.  In
      addition to the members of the commission representing the party
      states, there may be not to exceed ten nonvoting commissioners
      selected by the steering committee for terms of one year.  Such
      commissioners shall represent leading national organizations or
      professional educators or persons concerned with educational
      administration.
         b.  The members of the commission shall be entitled to one
      vote each on the commission.  No action of the commission shall be
      binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of the total
      number of votes on the commission are cast in favor thereof.  Action
      of the commission shall be only at a meeting at which a majority of
      the commissioners are present.  The commission shall meet at least
      once a year.  In its bylaws, and subject to such directions and
      limitations as may be contained therein, the commission may delegate
      the exercise of any of its powers to the steering committee or the
      executive director, except for the power to approve budgets or
      requests for appropriations, the power to make policy recommendations
      pursuant to article IV and adoption of the annual report pursuant to
      paragraph "j" of this article.
         c.  The commission shall have a seal.
         d.  The commission shall elect annually, from among its
      members, a chairperson, who shall be a governor, a vice chairperson
      and a treasurer.  The commission shall provide for the appointment of
      an executive director.  Such executive director shall serve at the
      pleasure of the commission, and together with the treasurer and such
      other personnel as the commission may deem appropriate shall be
      bonded in such amount as the commission shall determine.  The
      executive director shall be secretary.
         e.  Irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other
      merit system laws of any of the party states, the executive director
      subject to the approval of the steering committee shall appoint,
      remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the
      performance of the functions of the commission, and shall fix the
      duties and compensation of such personnel.  The commission in its
      bylaws shall provide for the personnel policies and programs of the
      commission.
         f.  The commission may borrow, accept or contract for the
      services of personnel from any party jurisdiction, the United States,
      or any subdivision or agency of the aforementioned governments, or
      from any agency of two or more of the party jurisdictions or their
      subdivisions.
         g.  The commission may accept for any of its purposes and
      functions under this compact any and all donations, and grants of
      money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, conditional or
      otherwise, from any state, the United States, or any other
      governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association,
      foundation, or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of
      the same.  Any donation or grant accepted by the commission pursuant
      to this paragraph or services borrowed pursuant to paragraph "f"
      of this article shall be reported in the annual report of the
      commission.  Such report shall include the nature, amount and
      conditions, if any, of the donation, grant, or services borrowed, and
      the identity of the donor or lender.
         h.  The commission may establish and maintain such facilities
      as may be necessary for the transacting of its business.  The
      commission may acquire, hold, and convey real and personal property
      and any interest therein.
         i.  The commission shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its
      business and shall have the power to amend and rescind these bylaws.
      The commission shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall
      file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the
      appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states.
         j.  The commission annually shall make to the governor and
      legislature of each party state a report covering the activities of
      the commission for the preceding year.  The commission may make such
      additional reports as it may deem desirable.
         4.  Article IV -- Powers.  In addition to authority conferred
      on the commission by other provisions of the compact, the commission
      shall have authority to:
         a.  Collect, correlate, analyze and interpret information and
      data concerning educational needs and resources.
         b.  Encourage and foster research in all aspects of education,
      but with special reference to the desirable scope of instruction,
      organization, administration, and instructional methods and standards
      employed or suitable for employment in public educational systems.
         c.  Develop proposals for adequate financing of education as a
      whole and at each of its many levels.
         d.  Conduct or participate in research of the types referred
      to in this article in any instance where the commission finds that
      such research is necessary for the advancement of the purposes and
      policies of this compact, utilizing fully the resources of national
      associations, regional compact organizations for higher education,
      and other agencies and institutions, both public and private.
         e.  Formulate suggested policies and plans for the improvement
      of public education as a whole, or for any segment thereof, and make
      recommendations with respect thereto available to the appropriate
      governmental units, agencies and public officials.
         f.  Do such other things as may be necessary or incidental to
      the administration of any of its authority or functions pursuant to
      this compact.
         5.  Article V -- Cooperation with federal government.
         a.  If the laws of the United States specifically so provide,
      or if administrative provision is made therefor within the federal
      government, the United States may be represented on the commission by
      not to exceed ten representatives.  Any such representative or
      representatives of the United States shall be appointed and serve in
      such manner as may be provided by or pursuant to federal law, and may
      be drawn from any one or more branches of the federal government, but
      no such representative shall have a vote on the commission.
         b.  The commission may provide information and make
      recommendations to any executive or legislative agency or officer of
      the federal government concerning the common educational policies of
      the states, and may advise with any such agencies or officers
      concerning any matter of mutual interest.
         6.  Article VI -- Committees.
         a.  To assist in the expeditious conduct of its business when
      the full commission is not meeting, the commission shall elect a
      steering committee of thirty-two members which, subject to the
      provisions of this compact and consistent with the policies of the
      commission, shall be constituted and function as provided in the
      bylaws of the commission.  One-fourth of the voting membership of the
      steering committee shall consist of governors, one-fourth shall
      consist of legislators, and the remainder shall consist of other
      members of the commission.  A federal representative on the
      commission may serve with the steering committee, but without vote.
      The voting members of the steering committee shall serve for terms of
      two years, except that members elected to the first steering
      committee of the commission shall be elected as follows:
         (1)  Sixteen for one year and sixteen for two years.
         (2)  The chairperson, vice chairperson, and treasurer of the
      commission shall be members of the steering committee and, anything
      in this paragraph "a" to the contrary notwithstanding, shall
      serve during their continuance in these offices.
         (3)  Vacancies in the steering committee shall not affect its
      authority to act, but the commission at its next regular ensuing
      meeting following the occurrence of any vacancy shall fill it for the
      unexpired term.
         (4)  No person shall serve more than two terms as a member of the
      steering committee; provided that service for a partial term of one
      year or less shall not be counted toward the two-term limitation.
         b.  The commission may establish advisory and technical
      committees composed of state, local, and federal officials, and
      private persons to advise it with respect to any one or more of its
      functions.  Any advisory or technical committee may, on request of
      the states concerned, be established to consider any matter of
      special concern to two or more of the party states.
         c.  The commission may establish such additional committees as
      its bylaws may provide.
         7.  Article VII -- Finance.
         a.  The commission shall advise the governor or designated
      officer or officers of each party state of its budget and estimated
      expenditures for such period as may be required by the laws of that
      party state.  Each of the commission's budgets of estimated
      expenditures shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or
      amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states.
         b.  The total amount of appropriation requests under any
      budget shall be apportioned among the party states.  In making such
      apportionment, the commission shall devise and employ a formula which
      takes equitable account of the populations and per capita income
      levels of the party states.
         c.  The commission shall not pledge the credit of any party
      states.  The commission may meet any of its obligations in whole or
      in part with funds available to it pursuant to article III, paragraph
      "g", of this compact, provided that the commission takes specific
      action setting aside such funds prior to incurring an obligation to
      be met in whole or in part in such manner.  Except where the
      commission makes use of funds available to it pursuant to article
      III, paragraph "g", the commission shall not incur any obligation
      prior to the allotment of funds by the party states adequate to meet
      the same.
         d.  The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all
      receipts and disbursements.  The receipts and disbursements of the
      commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures
      established by its bylaws.  However, all receipts and disbursements
      of funds handled by the commission shall be audited yearly by a
      qualified public accountant, and the report of the audit shall be
      included in and become part of the annual reports of the commission.

         e.  The accounts of the commission shall be open at any
      reasonable time for inspection by duly constituted officers of the
      party states and by any persons authorized by the commission.
         f.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent
      commission compliance with laws relating to audit or inspection of
      accounts by or on behalf of any government contributing to the
      support of the commission.
         8.  Article VIII -- Eligible parties -- entry into and
      withdrawal.
         a.  This compact shall have as eligible parties all states,
      territories, and possessions of the United States, the District of
      Columbia, and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.  In respect of any
      such jurisdiction not having a governor, the term "governor", as
      used in this compact, shall mean the closest equivalent official of
      such jurisdiction.
         b.  Any state or other eligible jurisdiction may enter into
      this compact and it shall become binding thereon when it has adopted
      the same:  Provided that in order to enter into initial effect,
      adoption by at least ten eligible party jurisdictions shall be
      required.
         c.  Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting
      a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take
      effect until one year after the governor of the withdrawing state has
      given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all
      other party states.  No withdrawal shall affect any liability already
      incurred by or chargeable to a party state prior to the time of such
      withdrawal.
         9.  Article IX -- Construction and severability.  This compact
      shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes
      thereof.  The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if
      any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared
      to be contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United
      States, or the application thereof to any government, agency, person
      or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of
      this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency,
      person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.  If this
      compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state
      participating therein, the compact shall remain in full force and
      effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.  
         Section History: Early Form
         [C75, 77, 79, 81, § 272B.1] 
         Section History: Recent Form
         2008 Acts, ch 1032, §201
         Referred to in § 272B.2, 272B.3
         {See § 272B.2