The bill in the Oregon Legislature to boot a non-voting member off the state board of education is dead.
House Bill 4013 would’ve prohibited the secretary of state and state treasurer from naming non-state employees to the board of education. It would've immediately removed Kim Sordyl from the board. The self-described "moderate Democrat" was put on the board last year by Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, a Republican whom Sordyl supported in the 2016 election.
Related: ‘Witch Hunt’ Or ‘Legislative Intent?’ Oregon Lawmakers' Dilemma Over Kim Sordyl
Sordyl's supporters said the bill unfairly targeted Sordyl for her outspoken criticism of state education policies and practices. The bill's supporters said it would've clarified what lawmakers originally intended — that such representatives be state employees. But as reported earlier this week by OPB, discussion of the original bill in 2009 included support for non-employees serving on the board, such as in testimony by then-Secretary of State (now Oregon governor) Kate Brown.
The bill passed the Oregon House last week, but it’s been stuck in the Senate Rules Committee. Legislative leaders say the 2018 legislative session could end as soon as Saturday.
Senator Majority leadership spokesman Rick Osborn confirmed to OPB that the bill is not going anywhere before the legislative session ends. It’s dead.
That means Sordyl can keep her state board of education seat. The board's next meeting is March 22.
