Gov. Haley Barbour has signed law a bill that would require additional training for school board members in low-performing districts. The bill becomes law July 1.

It would affect local school boards that serve in districts with one or more under-performing schools or in districts with serious financial problems.

The members would undergo training geared toward improving learning and promoting effective financial management. The training would be provided annually by the Mississippi School Boards Association.

Sen. Alice Harden of Jackson is a former teacher and a member of the Senate Education Committee. Harden said the bill doesn't go far enough. She says the additional training should be required for school board members in all districts.

Some of the other bills signed into law this week would:
-- Make the misuse of an electronic benefits transfer card welfare fraud, starting July 1.
The bill says anyone who "attempts to exchange food purchased or obtained with benefits or an electronic benefits transfer card under the federal Food and Nutrition Program for cash or anything of value other than food, is guilty of fraud."
-- Delete the two-year state residency requirement for anyone who is buried at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The bill becomes law July 1.
-- Revise educational and competency requirements for justice court judges. No justice court judge elected after Jan. 1, 2012, can take office until the person completes a course of training and passes an examination given by the Mississippi Judicial College. The college is located the University of Mississippi Law Center. Most of the bill becomes law July 1. Parts of it need approval by the U.S. Justice Department.