FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2726

                          C 48 L 96

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Moving school bond election resolution provisions.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Radcliff and Blanton).

House Committee on Education

Senate Committee on Education

Background:  The board of directors of any school district has the authority to borrow money and issue negotiable bonds for certain stated purposes.  The school district must get approval from the voters to issue bonds above the school district's non-voter-approved debt limit.  School districts also are eligible for state assistance for capital construction.

In 1995 the Legislature enacted  SHB 1777.  The bill requires that, prior to an election on a bond measure, the school district must adopt a resolution specifying the purposes of both the measure and any state financing assistance.  The resolution must include a description of any specific buildings to be constructed or remodeled.  The school board may amend the resolution or adopt a new resolution after conducting a public hearing and receiving public testimony concerning changed circumstances.  The school board must determine that alterations are in the best interest of the school district, and the amendments or new resolution must be adopted at a public meeting.

SHB 1777 was codified into a section of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) dealing with the district's authority to validate and ratify indebtedness instead of into the section dealing with the district's authority to borrow money and issue bonds.

Summary:   The requirement that districts adopt resolutions specifying the purposes of a bond measure is moved from the section of the RCW relating to validating indebtedness to the section of the RCW authorizing bond issuance.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     96 0

Senate    48 0

Effective:  June 6, 1996