VETO MESSAGE ON HB 1223

                   April 13, 1995

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,

  The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval, House Bill No. 1223 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the state board of education office staff;"

     I commend the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for their cooperation in advancing House Bill No. 1223.  I support the intention of giving the SBE more direct control over staff.  However, subsequent to passage of the bill, the SBE, OSPI and the Attorney General's office discovered impacts of House Bill No. 1223 not previously recognized.  The language of this bill, when combined with the language of RCW 43.09.210, creates an unforeseen fiscal impact for the SBE.

     Currently, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction receives the appropriation for SBE expenditures, employs SBE staff, and performs administrative functions.  The unforeseen result of implementing the bill, as written, is the transfer of these responsibilities and associated costs directly to the SBE.

     The SBE and OSPI have requested the opportunity to work with this office and with the legislature to revise language as necessary to better reflect the intent of House Bill No. 1223.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill No. 1223 in its entirety.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Mike Lowry

                   Governor