H-1040.1          _______________________________________________

                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1036

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Backlund, Brumsickle, Sherstad, Carlson, Dyer, Kremen, Horn, Schoesler, Buck, Johnson, Thompson, Radcliff, Hickel, Elliot, Pennington, Carrell, Robertson, Foreman, Van Luven, Koster, D. Schmidt, Mulliken, Fuhrman, Campbell, L. Thomas, Huff, Mielke, Talcott, Silver, McMahan and Casada)

Read first time 01/23/95. 

Requiring a performance audit of the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

     AN ACT Relating to a performance audit of the office of the superintendent of public instruction; adding a new section to chapter 43.88 RCW; making an appropriation; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 43.88 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) The legislature finds that student learning in Washington state will increase if the organizations and individuals in the K-12 education system use available funds more economically and efficiently.  In order to increase economy and efficiency at the state level, the state auditor shall conduct a performance audit of the office of the superintendent of public instruction.  It is the intent of the legislature that funds saved through increased economy and efficiency in the office of the superintendent of public instruction be directed to the classroom.

     In conducting the audit, the state auditor shall evaluate the following:

     (a) Whether the office of the superintendent of public instruction is conducting the duties and tasks required by state law economically and efficiently;

     (b) The causes of any inefficiencies or uneconomical practices; and

     (c) What efficiencies could be made in the delivery of services and programs, and what savings would be incurred if these changes were made.

     (2)  The state auditor shall solicit suggestions for purposes of this audit from legislators, the governor, school district and educational service district employees, parents, students, state-wide education and parent associations, and other appropriate interest groups.

     (3) The state auditor may require the superintendent of public instruction to provide information required for completion of the audit, and the superintendent shall fully and completely cooperate with the auditor for the purposes of this section.

     (4)  The restriction on conducting  performance verifications by the state auditor in RCW 43.88.160(6)(c) does not apply to this section.

     (5) The state auditor shall report its findings to the legislature by November 15, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The sum of one hundred seventy-four thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the general fund to the state auditor for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act shall expire December 31, 1995.

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