Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes. Makes organizational changes. Makes conforming changes to Section 1's effective date along with the act’s long and short titles. Makes a technical change to the act’s effective date.

Section 2.

Amends SL 1977-633 (election of members to the Gaston County Board of Education) as follows. Staggers the four-year terms of the nine members of the Gaston County Board of Education (Board). Changes the method of election so that seven members of the Board are elected from residency districts (was, townships) where they reside and changes the election for all nine members from nonpartisan elections to partisan elections. Notwithstanding GS 115C-37 (providing for nonpartisan biennial elections of county board members), requires Board members to be elected on a partisan basis at the time of the general election in each even-numbered year as terms expire. Directs that all members be voted on by all eligible voters of the county. Removes outdated language. Repeals Section 4 of SL 1977-633, pertaining to ballot and notice of candidacy and residence requirements. Instructs that candidates for election to the Board will be nominated at the same time and manner as other county officers. Sets the start-date of a Board term as the first Monday in December following the election, with the member to serve until their successor is elected and qualified. Requires vacancies to filled in line with GS 115C-37.1 (concerning vacancies in county boards of election where members are elected by partisan elections).

Clarifies that the act does not affect the term of any Board member elected in 2024. Applicable to Board members in residency districts elected in 2024, requires vacancies to be filled by the appointment of the remaining Board members. If the vacancy occurs in a residency district, requires it to be filled by the appointment of a person residing in the same district in which the vacating member was elected to serve. Specifies that a person filling a vacancy caused by a Board member elected in 2024 will serve until a successor has been elected and qualified. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Section 3.

Makes the following changes to SL 1997-32. Requires that members of the Johnston County Board of Education (J Board) be elected by partisan elections (was, nonpartisan elections). Directs that members be nominated at the same time and manner as other county officers. Repeals Section 3 of SL 1997-32 as amended (addressing when nonpartisan primary elections are necessary for candidates to the J Board). Requires vacancies to be filled in accordance with GS 115C-37.1. Makes conforming changes.

Clarifies that the act does not affect the term of any J Board member elected in 2024. Applicable to J Board members in residency districts elected in 2024, requires vacancies to be filled by the appointment of the remaining Board members. If the vacancy occurs in a residency district, requires it to be filled by the appointment of a person residing in the same district in which the vacating member was elected to serve. Specifies that a person filling a vacancy caused by a Board member elected in 2024 will serve until a successor has been elected and qualified. Makes technical and conforming changes.

Section 4 (was, Section 6).

Makes conforming changes to GS 115C-37.1 to include Johnston and Gaston Counties.