SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 2040

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.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Early Learning & K-12 Education, February 28, 2020

Title: An act relating to providing flexibility and accountability for nonhigh school districts.

Brief Description: Concerning nonhigh school districts.

Sponsors: Representative MacEwen.

Brief History: Passed House: 3/05/19, 97-0; 2/18/20, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/26/20, 2/28/20 [DPA].

Brief Summary of Amended Bill

  • Changes the calculation of a nonhigh school district's local levy payments to a high school district to serve a nonhigh school student.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Wilson, C., Vice Chair; Hawkins, Ranking Member; Holy, Hunt, McCoy, Mullet, Padden, Pedersen, Salomon and Wagoner.

Staff: Alex Fairfortune (786-7416)

Background: A nonhigh school district is a district that does not provide instruction for all grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. When a student residing in a nonhigh school district attends high school, the nonhigh school district sends the student to a high school district that provides secondary instruction.

Nonhigh school and high school districts may raise funds locally through enrichment levies. Enrichment levies must be used only for enrichment beyond the state's program of basic education. New limits on enrichment levy collections take effect in 2020, limiting most districts to the lesser of $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in the district or $2,500 per pupil. Enrichment levy rates per student vary by district.

Nonhigh school districts are required to reimburse the high school districts for the costs of educating nonhigh school students. The payment amount per student is defined as the enrichment levy rate per student levied by the high school district.

Summary of Amended Bill: A nonhigh school district's payment per student to a high school district is the lesser of the enrichment levy rate per student levied by the high school district or the enrichment levy rate per student levied by the nonhigh school district. If the nonhigh school district does not have an enrichment levy, then the payment is the enrichment levy rate per student in the high school district.

Revenue provided by nonhigh school districts to high school districts is designated for secondary school buildings. Upon a nonhigh school district's request, the high school district must report annual data for attendance, grades, discipline, and state assessments for nonhigh school secondary students served by the high school district within 60 days of the request.

EFFECT OF EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE AMENDMENT(S):

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed House Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This bill has been passed unanimously both years this biennium, but last year the Senate ran out of time to pass it on the floor. The districts that this would affect are primarily rural, small, and less than 300 students. The vast majority of these small districts levy at a higher rate than the host district, but this bill ensures that when that is not the case the nonhigh district will not have to pay more to the high district than they levy.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Troy Nichols, Capital Region ESD 113.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.