SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5340
As of January 28, 2021
Title: An act relating to qualifications for school board directors.
Brief Description: Concerning qualifications for school board directors.
Sponsors: Senators Salomon, Das, Dhingra, Hunt, Lovelett, Nguyen and Salda?a.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/01/21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Expands the eligibility criteria for school board directors to allow lawful permanent residents to qualify, rather than only United States citizens.
  • Provides that a school board director does not need to be a registered voter to qualify, but still must be at least 18 years old and reside within the district.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Alexandra Fairfortune (786-7416)
Background:

School Board Director Elections.  Each member of a school district board of directors is elected by the registered voters of the school district to serve a term of four or six years.  Some school districts are divided into director districts, where school directors are elected by the residents of their respective district for a term of two, four, or six years.


Individuals are eligible to run for the office of school director if they are a citizen of the United States and the state of Washington, and are a registered voter of the school district or director district.


Voter Eligibility.  Individuals are eligible to vote in the state of Washington if they are:

  • a citizen of the United States;
  • a legal resident of Washington State;
  • at least 18 years old by Election Day;
  • not disqualified from voting due to a court order; and
  • not under Department of Corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction.
Summary of Bill:

The eligibility criteria for qualifying as a school director candidate are modified.  An individual is eligible to run for the office of school director if they are at least 18 years old, a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident, a resident of Washington, and a resident of the school district or director district.  The requirement that an individual be a registered voter of the school district or director district is eliminated.


Declaration of candidacy forms for school director candidates must be modified to reflect the new criteria.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 26, 2021.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.