HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2559

                       As Passed House

                      February 14, 1992

Title:  An act relating to school district employment contracts.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to the permissibility of contracts between municipal officers and their spouses in cases where the spouse is a certificated or classified school district employee or a substitute teacher.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Chandler, Peery, Neher, McLean, Hochstatter, Betrozoff and Paris).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 6, 1992, DPA;

Passed House, February 14, 1992, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Vance, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Broback; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; P. Johnson; Jones; J. Kohl; Neher; Orr; Rasmussen; Roland; H. Sommers; and Valle.

Staff:  Margaret Allen (786-7191).

Background:  Current law permits second class school districts with fewer than 200 full time equivalent students to employ the spouse of an officer of the district as a certificated or classified employee.

The law also permits second class school districts with fewer than 500 full time equivalent students to employ the spouse of an officer of the district as a substitute teacher, provided the board of directors has found a shortage of substitute teachers in the district.

In both cases the terms of the contracts must be commensurate with the pay plan or collective bargaining agreement operating in the district.

Second class school districts are defined by statute as having fewer than 2,000 students.  "Officer" is defined to include all elected and appointed officers of the district, together with all deputies and assistants of such an officer, and all persons exercising any of the powers or functions of a district officer.

Summary of Bill:  Only second class school districts with fewer than 200 students may hire the spouse of an officer of the district as a certificated or classified employee.

All school districts may employ the spouse of an officer of the district as a substitute teacher, as long as the board of directors has found a shortage of substitute teachers in the district.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  There is a shortage of teachers and substitutes in rural areas.  Leave it to the local school districts to determine whether to hire the spouse of an officer.  School districts are aware of the need for the appearance of fairness in hiring.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Gary Chandler, prime sponsor (supports); David R. James, Royal School District (supports); Robert Say, citizen (supports); and Lorraine Wilson, Washington State School Directors' Association (supports).