FINAL BILL REPORT
SHB 2310
PARTIAL VETO
C 201 L 96
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Changing the date for notification of nonrenewal of a contract for a certificated employee.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Brumsickle, Radcliff and Mitchell).
House Committee on Education
Senate Committee on Education
Background: Certificated employees' contracts, except as otherwise provided by law, are limited to a term of not more than one year. When there is probable cause to believe that a contract for a certificated employee will not be renewed by the district for the next school year, the employee must be notified in writing by May 15. Probable cause determinations are made by the superintendent. Employees are entitled to receive the notice personally or by certified or registered mail, and also are entitled to some form of hearing.
The requirement that school districts send notices of nonrenewal of contracts for certificated employees by May 15 creates uncertainty in years when the state operating budget has not yet been passed by the Legislature by that date. School districts have sent notices to employees that would not have been sent if the school district had known the allocations in the final state budget. In 1995, the budget was passed on May 25 and signed into law on June 15. In 1993, the budget was passed on May 6 and signed on May 28.
Summary: Statutes requiring certificated employees to be notified in writing of nonrenewals of their contracts on or before May 15 preceding the commencement of the next school year are amended. Employees are to be notified by May 15 or, if the omnibus appropriations act has not been passed by the Legislature by May 15, then employees shall be notified no later than June 1.
Partial Veto Summary: The emergency clause is deleted.
Votes on Final Passage:
House 98 0
Senate 48 0 (Senate amended)
House 89 0 (House concurred)
Effective: June 6, 1996