SENATE BILL REPORT
2SHB 1896
As of March 19, 2003
Title: An act relating to the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
Brief Description: Adding powers and duties for the superintendent of public instruction.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Quall, Cox, Hunter and Anderson; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Education: 3/26/03.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Staff: Heather Lewis-Lechner (786-7448)
Background: The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has general supervisory authority over matters pertaining to the public K-12 schools, including the issues relating to curriculum and instruction, teacher certification, special education, transportation, school budgets, school improvement, and information technology services.
OSPI may currently receive grants, gifts, and endowments from private sources for certain specified uses. These uses include: use for the purposes of the Center for Improvement of Student Learning, for educational technology, and for the Washington civil liberties public education grant program. Use of these funds is restricted to the terms of the grant, gift or endowment. No authority currently exists for OSPI to solicit funds from private sources.
Summary of Bill: The powers and duties of OSPI are expanded to include the authority to solicit, receive and spend gifts, grants, conveyances, devises and bequests of real or personal property from private sources whenever such actions aid in carrying out the various educational programs administered by OSPI. The funds or property must be used according to the terms of the gift, grant, conveyance, devise or bequest. OSPI is not permitted to accept funds or property from a private source, if the receipt is contingent on the promotion, advertisement or display of commercial products.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.