S-1377.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5726
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senators Conner, Rinehart, Bailey and Bauer.
Read first time February 18, 1991. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to fiscal responsibility for school programs; and adding a new section to chapter 43.135 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.135 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The legislature shall not impose responsibility for new programs or increased levels of service under existing programs on any school district unless the district is reimbursed for the costs thereof by the state.
(2) The amount of increased local revenue and state appropriations and distributions that are received or could be received by a school district as a result of legislative enactments after 1979 shall be included as reimbursement under this section. This subsection does not affect litigation pending on January 1, 1991.
(3) If by order of any court, or legislative enactment, the costs of a school district program are transferred to or from the state, the otherwise applicable state tax revenue limit shall be increased or decreased, as the case may be, by the dollar amount of the costs of the program.
(4) The legislature, in consultation with the office of financial management shall determine the costs of any new programs or increased levels of service under existing programs imposed on any school district or transferred to or from the state.