SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5013

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senator Owen)

Relating to second class school districts changing back to having directors run at-large.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1989; February 9, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5013 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Gaspard, Metcalf, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  March 3, 1990

House Committe on Education

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, certain school districts are ineligible to dissolve their director districts and return to a system of electing some of their school board members on an at-large basis.  Allowing districts to elect their directors both at-large and from director districts could assist districts in recruiting school board candidates.

SUMMARY:

School districts may dissolve their director districts upon approval of the registered voters of the district.  No fewer than three school board members from director districts and no more than two school board members at-large may then be elected.

Current statutory provisions governing the dissolution process are not changed:  (1) at least 20 percent of the registered voters of the district must sign a petition or the school board must adopt a motion requesting dissolution of the director districts; (2) the petition or motion must be submitted to the educational service district superintendent and the county auditor shall call for a special election; and (3) if a majority of the voters approve, the district's directors shall be elected either at-large or from director districts upon expiration of the terms of the incumbent directors.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Cindy Manning, Aide to Senator Owen, sponsor; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The provisions of the bill are limited to second class school districts only.  Only second class school districts may dissolve their director districts upon approval of the registered voters of the district, and elect no fewer than three school board members from director districts and no more than two school board members at-large may then be elected.

In a second class district which elects no fewer than three board members from director districts and no more than two members at large, no more than two board members may reside within the same director district.