FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5859

                              C 325 L 89

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard, Lee, Murray and Bailey)

Regarding the school directors' association.

Senate Committee on Education

House Committe on Education

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) is an "agency of the state" that provides services to the 296 school boards in Washington.  Membership in the association is mandatory.  Dues are paid by school district boards of directors.

The major purpose of the association is to coordinate the policymaking, control and management of the school districts of the state.  The association is required to make reports and recommendations at least annually to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  Other powers of the association include purchasing liability insurance for school directors and providing special services, research and consultants to school districts on a cost reimbursable contract basis.

The association was founded as a private association in the 1920s.  It became an "agency of the state" in 1947.  It was subject to sunset review in 1982.  The second sunset review has been conducted by the Legislative Budget Committee in 1988.  The Legislative Budget Committee recommends that the association continue to exist.

SUMMARY:

The existence of the Washington School Directors' Association is continued.  The requirement that the Washington Association of School Directors' service contracts with local school directors be filed with the Office of Financial Management and the Legislative Budget Committee is eliminated.

The association is given the authority to lease property and to borrow money for the acquisition of sites for office facilities.  The duties of the association are expanded to include providing advice and assistance to local boards to promote their primary duty of representing the public interest.

The association is subject to the sunset review process and is scheduled to terminate June 30, 1998.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   48    0

     House 90  4 (House amended)

     Senate   46    0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 30, 1989