SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2327

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Education, February 22, 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:  2/15/96, 2/22/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background:  Under current law, the State Board of Education is authorized to appoint only an "ex officio secretary" to keep a record of the board's proceedings.  Other staff assisting the State Board have been employed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Summary of Bill:  The State Board of Education may appoint an executive director, who also must serve as the board's secretary.  The board may also appoint other staff to support the duties of the board, including duties delegated to the board by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The executive director and other staff appointed by the board and designated by the superintendent are exempt from civil service.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction must employ the executive director and other staff appointed by the State Board if state funds are appropriated.  Compensation and termination of these employees must be approved by the State Board of Education.

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:  Millard Battles, State Board of Education (pro).