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