Section 103.49. Powers of committee

(A) The joint education oversight committee and its employees may investigate any school district, other public school, or state institution of higher education for the purposes of fulfilling its duties. All of the following apply to an investigation:

(1) The joint education oversight committee and its employees may enter and inspect a school district, other public school, or state institution of higher education for the conduct of the investigation;

(2) A member or employee of the joint education oversight committee is not required to give advance notice of, or to make prior arrangements before, an inspection; and

(3) No person shall deny a member or employee of the joint education oversight committee access to office when access is needed for an inspection.

(B) A member or employee of the joint education oversight committee shall not conduct an inspection under this section unless the joint education oversight committee chairperson grants prior approval for the inspection. The chairperson shall not grant approval unless the committee, the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of representatives authorize the chairperson to grant the approval. Each inspection shall be conducted during the normal business hours of the office being inspected, unless the chairperson determines that the inspection must be conducted outside of normal business hours. The chairperson may make such a determination only because of an emergency circumstance or other justifiable cause that furthers the committee's mission. If the chairperson makes such a determination, the chairperson shall specify the reason for the determination in the grant of prior approval for the inspection.

Added by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 64, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2015.