HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2548

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                       Appropriations

Title:  An act relating to education.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the determination of "years of service" for certain educational employees.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Peery, H. Myers, Brough, Ogden, Orr, J. Kohl and Roland.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Appropriations, February 10, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 27 members:  Representatives Locke, Chair; Inslee, Vice Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Morton, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Belcher; Bowman; Braddock; Brekke; Carlson; Dorn; Ebersole; Ferguson; Fuhrman; Hine; Lisk; May; Mielke; Nealey; Peery; Pruitt; D. Sommers; H. Sommers; Sprenkle; Valle; and Wang.

Minority Report: Without Recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Rust.

Staff:  Jack Daray (786-7178).

Background:  The Legislature provides salary funds through the Appropriations Act to school districts based on calculations of each district's employee education and experience.  For teachers, school nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other certificated instructional staff, funds are provided based on an annual allocation schedule which takes into consideration the education and school-related work experience of each certificated staff member.

The definition of work experience is limited primarily to employment in schools. Thus, the work experience of a nurse in a pediatric section of a hospital would not be counted under the allocation schedule's definition of work experience.

In recent years, a large number of school districts have adopted the state allocation schedule, with associated definitions, as the district's salary schedule.  Prior to adopting the allocation schedule, many of these districts counted relevant non-school experience in determining the salary of school nurses and other educational staff associates.  Once the allocation schedule is adopted, this experience is no longer counted, which results in lower salaries for many existing staff and makes it more difficult to recruit individuals for these education staff associate positions.  According to school personnel officials, it has become especially difficult to recruit and retain occupational therapists, and nurses.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Beginning in the 1992-93 school year, the determination of years of experience for licensed occupational therapists, physical therapists, and nurses is expanded to also include nonschool work experience as licensed therapists or nurses.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The bill takes effect only if funded in the budget.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This legislation addresses the need for licensed health care employees in the K-12 system and need to pay salaries commensurate with professional experience.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Margaret A. Whitney, Washington Association of School Administrators (pro); Linda Dukes, Washington Speech & Hearing Association; Candace Baker, Evergreen School District, Vancouver, Washington; Gwen Dewey, Washington Association of School Administrators; John Kuamme, Washington Association of School Administrators (con); Karen Davis, Washington Education Association (pro); and Lis Gildemeister, Washington State Nurses Association (pro).