HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5662

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed House:

April 10, 2017

Title: An act relating to professional educator standards board membership.

Brief Description: Authorizing the superintendent of public instruction to designate a member of the professional educator standards board.

Sponsors: Senator Zeiger; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 3/20/17, 3/28/17 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/10/17, 94-4.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Authorizes a designee of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to serve in place of the SPI on the Professional Educator Standards Board.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Stonier, Vice Chair; Harris, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Hargrove, Johnson, Kilduff, Lovick, McCaslin, Ortiz-Self, Senn, Slatter, Springer, Steele, Stokesbary and Volz.

Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

Background:

Professional Educator Standards Board.

Established by the Legislature in 2000, the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) is a 12-member board that adopts rules and creates policies for the preparation and certification of educators. Eleven of the PESB's members are appointed by the Governor, in accordance with qualifications established in statute, with the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) serving as the twelfth member. All appointments to the PESB made by the Governor are subject to confirmation by the Senate, and the appointed members serve four-year terms.

The PESB's statutory duties include:

Summary of Bill:

The composition requirements of the PESB are modified to allow a designee of the SPI to serve in place of the SPI on the PESB.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The SPI is one of the members of the PESB. This bill will allow the SPI to send an appropriate designee to serve in place of the SPI on the PESB. The SPI serves on more than 30 boards and groups, and in many of those instances, the SPI has voting responsibilities.  Some of those boards and groups require the SPI to serve, but most allow the SPI to designate a person to serve in his or her place. 

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Senator Zeiger, prime sponsor; and Sue Anderson, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.