Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Appropriations Committee

HB 1374

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning the calculation of years of service for educational staff associate positions for salary allocation purposes.

Sponsors: Representatives Dolan, Harris, Doglio, Caldier, Sullivan, Kilduff, Ortiz-Self, Robinson, Bergquist, Santos and Pollet.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Eliminates the limit on the number of years of nonschool service that is counted toward years of service on the state's salary schedule.

Hearing Date: 2/2/17

Staff: Jessica Harrell (786-7349).

Background:

Certificated instructional staff (CIS) in public schools include both teachers and other professionals called educational staff associates (ESAs) who meet certification requirements adopted by the Professional Educator Standards Board. Educational staff associates include occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, nurses, social workers, counselors, and psychologists.

The state allocates funding for CIS salaries based on a salary schedule which provides salary values that increase based on educational attainment and years of service. Each district's CIS allocation is based on its respective "staff mix," that is, the distribution on the state salary grid of the CIS hired by the school district. For the purposes of calculating staff mix and allocating salaries for state-funded ESAs, the calculation of years of service includes each year of service in a nonschool position in the same field of work, up to a limit of two years of nonschool service.

Summary of Bill:

For purposes of calculating the years of service for an educational staff associate, the limit of two years of service in a nonschool position in the same field of work is eliminated.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available. Revised fiscal note requested on January 24, 2017.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.