HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1221

                       As Passed House

                       March 12, 1991

Title:  An act relating to the Washington State School Directors' Association.

Brief Description:  Permitting compensation of school directors' association directors.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Peery, Brough, Brumsickle, G. Fisher, Betrozoff, Holland, Paris, Broback and Orr.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 4, 1991, DP;

Passed House, March 12, 1991, 98-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Betrozoff; Broback; Brumsickle; Cole; Dorn; Holland; P. Johnson; Jones; Neher; Orr; Phillips; Rasmussen; Roland; H. Sommers; and Valle. 

Staff:  Susan Kirkpatrick (786-7291).

Background:  The membership of the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) consists of school district board members from throughout the state.   The statute currently authorizes the Washington State School Directors' Association to employ an executive secretary.

The association is governed by a twenty-member board of directors.  The officers of the association, which include a president, 1st vice president, 2nd vice president, and an immediate past president, serve on the board of directors.  The officers and other board members are currently paid only expenses (e.g., travel, food, lodging) when they are carrying out business of the association.

Summary of Bill:  The school directors' association is given the power to employ an executive director, instead of an executive secretary. 

The members of the board of directors are entitled to receive compensation in accordance with RCW 43.03.240, which provides that any member of a part-time board is entitled to receive compensation in an amount not to exceed $50 for each day during which the member attends an official meeting of the group or performs statutorily prescribed duties approved by the chairperson of the group.

Fiscal Note:  Requested January 16, 1991.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  It is hard for people to serve on boards because of conflicting time demands.  Allowing a per diem compensation would help attract good members to the board.  At this time, only the officers are authorized to receive per diem compensation by resolution of the WSSDA board of directors.  WSSDA would be treated like any other board with respect to a maximum amount of compensation.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association (in favor).