FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 2011

                         C 260 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing school levies for periods not exceeding four years.

Sponsors:  Representatives Wensman, Cole, H. Sommers, Talcott, B. Thomas, Regala, Constantine, Ballasiotes, Radcliff, D. Schmidt, Carlson, Clements, Dyer, Bush, Johnson, Cairnes, Quall, Morris, Keiser, Linville, Veloria, L. Thomas, Backlund, Cooke, Kenney, Poulsen, Hatfield, Dickerson, Ogden, Kessler, Blalock, Tokuda, Conway, Costa and Honeyford.

House Committee on Education

Background:  The Washington State Constitution specifies that propositions to levy additional taxes for school operating purposes must be limited to a period of two years.  For a district operating levy to continue, it must be reauthorized by the voters every two years. Article VII, section 2 of the constitution requires the Legislature to affirm this taxing authority in statute.

Local school boards submit levies for initial voter consideration at either a state primary or  general election, or on other election dates as provided by law.  Levies may be for a single year or for two years.  If the voters do not pass the first levy request, the levy may be submitted a second time.

Summary:  State laws are modified to increase the two-year time period for authorizing a school operating levy.  Propositions to levy additional taxes for school operating purposes may be for a period of up to four years.

The act takes effect if an accompanying constitutional amendment is approved at the next general election.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  93 4

Senate 41 8

Effective:December 4, 1997 (if approved and ratified by the voters at the next general election)