HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 776

BYHouse Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Cole, Holm, Taylor, Betrozoff, Ebersole, Brough, May, Amondson, Schoon, Silver and L. Smith) 

Removing the requirement that hearing officers for school employee cases be attorneys.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (20)

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

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 18, 1987

BACKGROUND:

When an employee requests a hearing challenging an adverse change in a contract or nonrenewal, the hearing must be presided over by a hearing officer.  The statute requires that individuals nominated for this be a member in good standing of the Washington state bar association.

SUMMARY:

The hearing officer appointed for hearings on nonrenewal or adverse changes in contract may be an attorney or a person who adhere to the arbitration standards established by the Public Relations Commission and on its current roster.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  The employee's designee and the employer each appoint nominees to jointly appoint a hearing officer.  This is a clarifying amendment.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Bob Swartager, Washington Association of School Administrators; Ken Hower, self.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     There are many individuals with knowledge of labor laws who are not attorneys and who can fairly participate in due process hearings.  Examples of individuals who are not attorneys who could effectively carry out these duties are law professors and arbitrators.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Yeas 98