SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2311

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Education, February 22, 1996

Title:  An act relating to school district board of directors' terms of office.

Brief Description:  Providing for the elimination of six‑year terms of office for school board directors.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Brumsickle and Regala).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/15/96, 2/22/96 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

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

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background: Under current law, the members of the school boards of directors in 293 of the state's 296 school districts serve four-year terms of office.  The members of the school boards of directors in three school districts, Spokane, Everett, and Tacoma serve six-year terms of office.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The striking amendment provides that school district boards of directors who serve six-year terms of office may reduce the length of the terms of office from six to four years.  The reduction in the length of term may not affect the term of office of any incumbent director without his or her consent, and provisions must be made to appropriately stagger future elections of school directors.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  The substitute bill permitted school districts to request the State Board of Education to approve the reduction of the length of the term of office of their board of directors from six years to four years.  The State Board of Education was required to grant the request if the reduction in the length of the term did not affect the term of office of an incumbent director without his or her consent and provisions were made to appropriately stagger future elections.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill provides flexibility for school districts where board members serve six years to reduce the term of office served to four years.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Dwayne Slate, WSSDA.