HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1655

BYRepresentatives Peery, Betrozoff, Grimm, H. Sommers, Walker and D. Sommers 

Specifying the uses of capital funds by school districts.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (21)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Betrozoff, Butterfield, Cole, Cooper, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Holland, Holm, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Schoon, Taylor, Todd, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Education as amended by Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations do pass.  (22)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Brough, Butterfield, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Silver, H. Sommers, Spanel, Sprenkle, Wang and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Janet Peterson (786-7136) 

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

FEBRUARY 7, 1988

BACKGROUND:

School districts have been authorized to issue bonds and collect excess tax levies for capital purposes.  House Joint Resolution 55 authorized capital levies for up to six years.  In 1986, when House Joint Resolution 55 was submitted to the public for approval, the voters pamphlet indicated that the proceeds were to be used for remodeling, modernization and construction of buildings.  Recent levy requests have included the intent to expend funds generated by these financing mechanisms for computers. 

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Money generated by a six year capital levy may be used for the purchase of computers, portable equipment and furnishings only if the purchases are (a) included in a school district construction or modernization project and do not exceed ten percent of the total cost of the construction or modernization project or (b) do not exceed twenty percent of the total cost of a construction or modernization project for a vocational technical institute or vocational skills center cooperative.  These provisions shall apply to six year capital levies passed after February 2, 1988.

 SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Provisions applying limitations to bond and one year levies are removed.  Language is added limiting the effect of this measure only to levies passed after February 2, 1988.  Modernization project may spend ten percent rather than five percent of the total cost on portable equipment.  Provisions are added allowing vocational technical institutes and vocational skills center cooperatives to spend twenty percent of the total cost of construction and modernization on portable equipment.

 CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  The definition of "facility" is expanded to include building complexes, as well as buildings, portions of buildings, and permanent athletic structures.  The definition of "portable equipment or furnishings" is changed to delete any specific reference to "supplies". 

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 19, 1988. 

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately. 

House Committee ‑ Testified For: (Education)  Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association;  Bruce Mrkvicka, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators; and Gerald Post, Snoqualmie Valley School District.

 (Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Bruce Mrkvicka, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors Association. 

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Education)  None Presented.

 (Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented. 

House Committee - Testimony For:      (Education)  We support the limitation of expenditures for computers and portable equipment to the six year capital levy.  It is important that the percentage which may be expended on equipment be realistic and we will aid the committee in developing this information.

 (Ways & Means/Appropriations)  The bill clarifies the intent of House Joint Resolution 55. 

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Education)  None Presented.

 (Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.