HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2327

                      As Passed House:

                      February 6, 1996

Title:  An act relating to state board of education office staff.

Brief Description:  Changing state board of education staff provisions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Brumsickle and Cole; by request of Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  1/18/96, 1/26/96 [DP].

  Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  2/6/96, 95-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Brumsickle, Chairman; Elliot, Vice Chairman; Johnson, Vice Chairman; Cole, Ranking Minority Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Clements; Fuhrman; Hatfield; Linville; McMahan; Pelesky; Poulsen; Quall; Radcliff; Smith; Talcott; B. Thomas; Thompson and Veloria.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  Under current law, the state Board of Education is authorized to appoint only an "ex officio secretary," who is to keep a record of board proceedings.  The state board would like clear statutory authority to appoint its executive director and other staff.

Summary of Bill:  The state Board of Education (SBE) is given the authority to appoint an executive director who also shall serve as the board's secretary.  The state board also may appoint other assistants to perform board duties.

The executive director, his or her confidential secretary, and administrative assistants are exempt from civil service requirements.

Once an individual is appointed by the SBE, the Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to employ the individual without undue delay.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The bill will allow the state board to appoint its executive director and other exempt staff.  This legislation is similar to a bill passed by the Legislature last year that was vetoed when it was found to include technical problems that would result in a financial impact to the state board.  The technical problems have been fixed in this legislation.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Kathleen Anderson, state Board of Education (support).