HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1745

BYHouse Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Peery, Holm, Taylor, Rasmussen, Betrozoff, Cole, Haugen, Holland, P. King, Schoon, D. Sommers, Dorn and Ebersole)

Specifying when school directors officially start their terms of office.

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)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 15, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1980, the legislature established common dates for the assumption of office by local elected officials.  School board members were not included. Consequently there has been confusion as to when new school directors take office.

SUMMARY:

Every person elected to the office of school director shall begin his or her term of office at the first official meeting of the board of directors following the certification of the election results.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  Provisions are added allowing second class school districts, previously divided into director districts, to return to a structure that would allow school directors to run at-large.  The opportunity to make this change shall be available to second class school districts from September 1, 1988 to August 31, 1989.  To make this change in election procedure, a petition signed by 20% of the registered voters in the school district must request the change,  the proposal must be submitted to the registered voters of the district, and the proposal must be approved by the voters.

Additional provisions are added that would allow districts that are divided into director district to required that only residents of the particular director district elect the director for that district.  To make this change in election procedure, 20% of the registered voters in the school district must request the change, the change must be submitted to the voters, and a majority of the voters voting in the election must approve the change.  These provisions shall not apply to the Seattle School District.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This will make it clear when school board members shall take office.  This will clear up a very confusing situation for school districts.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 96; Excused 2

Excused:    Representatives Allen, Smith C