SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 2428
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 23, 1994
Brief Description: Allowing spouses of officers of school districts to be under contract as a certificated or classified employee.
SPONSORS: House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Karahalios, Foreman, Chappell, Chandler and J. Kohl)
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Pelz, Chairman; McAuliffe, Vice Chairman; Gaspard, Hochstatter, McDonald, Moyer, Nelson, M. Rasmussen, Rinehart, Skratek and A. Smith.
Staff: Susan Mielke (786‑7439)
Hearing Dates: February 21, 1994; February 23, 1994
BACKGROUND:
Municipal officers, which include all elected and appointed officers of a school district, are prohibited from directly or indirectly benefiting from any contract entered into by the officer or the district. With respect to the common school system, exceptions allow: (1) any second class school district to contract for school bus drivers; (2) some second class school districts to contract with the spouse of an officer to serve as a certificated or classified employee of the district; and (3) any school district to contract with the spouse of an officer to serve as a substitute teacher if there is a shortage of substitutes in the district. The exceptions require that the terms of the contract be commensurate with the pay plan or collective bargaining agreement operating in the district.
There are examples in Washington of an individual being appointed superintendent of a school district in which his or her spouse was already employed under contract as a teacher. According to advice from the Attorney General's office, renewal of the spouse's teaching contract would be in violation of state law.
SUMMARY:
Language is added to clarify that the exceptions involving officers of a school district apply only to employment contracts.
Any school district may contract with the spouse of an officer of the district to serve as a certificated or classified employee of the district, if the spouse was under contract as a certificated or classified employee of the district before the officer assumed office. Such a contract must be commensurate with the pay plan or collective bargaining agreement operating in the district.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: none requested
TESTIMONY FOR: None
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: No one