HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1328

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to special educational services demonstration projects.

Brief Description:  Funding special educational services demonstration projects.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives H. Sommers, Holland and Ferguson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 13, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1328 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Betrozoff; Broback; Cole; Dorn; P. Johnson; Jones; Neher; Orr; Phillips; Rasmussen; Roland; H. Sommers; and Valle.

Staff:  Susan Kirkpatrick (786-7291).

Background:  The Education Committee is recommending Substitute House Bill 1329, a related bill which authorizes special services demonstration projects that use resources efficiently and increase student learning.  Specifically, it authorizes 10 to 25 demonstration projects commencing during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 school years in individual school districts or groups of school districts.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The bill implements SHB 1329 by authorizing the special educational services demonstration projects.

The sum of one million seven hundred thousand dollars, or as much as may be necessary is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991 from the general fund to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the purposes of SHB 1329.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill referenced an oversight board created in HB 1329 and did not specify the amount of the appropriation.  The substitute bill eliminates the reference to an oversight board that was removed in SHB 1329 and specifies the appropriation amount.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on Substitute February 13, 1991.

Appropriation:  Yes.

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

Testimony For:  Staff development is an important component to the success of the special educational services demonstration projects.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Christie Perkins, Special Education Coalition (in favor); John Pearson, Superintendent of Public Instruction (in favor); Judy Hartman, Washington Education Association (in favor); Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association (in favor); Diane Barkoll, Council for Administrators of Special Education (in favor); Dennis Matthews, Special Education Director of ESD-112 (in favor); Stillman Wood, Olympia School District administrator (in favor); Edward Vargas, Seattle Public Schools (in favor); Mary Hines, Reading Reform Foundation (in favor); Margaret Whitney, Washington Association of School Administrators (in favor); Nick Moore, Chairman of ESD Special Education Management Team (in favor); and Mary McKnew, Governor's Office (in favor).