FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1777

                         C 111 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Requiring specificity in school board resolutions for ballot propositions authorizing indebtedness.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Radcliff, Carrell, D. Schmidt, Thompson, Goldsmith, Pelesky, McMahan, Johnson, Smith, Fuhrman, Campbell, Lambert, Casada, Lisk, Mulliken, McMorris, Hargrove, Brumsickle, Clements, Silver, Koster, Backlund, Boldt, Hymes, Mitchell, Skinner and Blanton).

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Education

Background:  To raise funds for school construction, school districts are required to get approval from voters to issue bonds or to raise funds through a multi-year capital tax levy. 

Districts also are eligible for state assistance for capital construction.  In recent years, there has been a lag between when the voters approve the bonds or capital levy and when state assistance funds are available.

Prior to elections, school districts inform voters regarding how the proceeds from the election will likely be spent.  However, nothing in current law requires the school district to use the funds for the purposes previously stated.

It has been reported that some school districts have used state school construction assistance and capital funds raised through bond elections for projects other than those previously stated.

Summary:   Prior to conducting an election on a debt financing measure, a school district must adopt a resolution that specifies the purposes of the debt financing measure and any associated state assistance, including the specific buildings to be constructed or remodelled and any additional specific purposes.

If the school board subsequently determines that circumstances have changed, the board shall first conduct a public hearing to consider the circumstances and to receive public testimony.  If the board determines alterations to the resolution are in the best interests of the district, it may adopt a new resolution or amend the original resolution at a public meeting held after the meeting in which public testimony was received.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     97 1

Senate    37 0

Effective:  July 23, 1995