SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1777

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 28, 1995

Title:  An act relating to the disclosure of proceeds from a school bond levy.

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/23/95, 3/28/95 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pelz, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Gaspard, Hochstatter, Johnson and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

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

Summary of Bill:   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.  The resolution must specify the buildings to be constructed or remodelled and any other uses of the funds.  The use of any state funds must also be specified.

If the school board determines that circumstances are changed and the expenditures should be altered, the board must hold a public hearing.  If the board finds that changes are in the best interests of the district, the board may adopt a new resolution or amend the original resolution at a subsequent public meeting. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This legislation will give the public information on how bond funds and state matching funds will be spent.  The legislation helps lessen public mistrust.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Radcliff, prime sponsor; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors Assn.