HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                      Olympia, Washington

Bill Analysis      Bill No. HB 2071

School site-councils/open public meetings act        Public Hrg: 3/4/97

Brief Title

Reps. Wensman/Ballasiotes                            Staff Contact: B. Mauldin

Sponsor                                         Comm. on Govt. Admin.

                                           Phone: 786-7093

BACKGROUND:

The Open Public Meetings Act requires that all meetings of the governing body of any public agency be open to the public, with some specified exceptions.  A public agency includes all state agencies, committees and commissions, any county, city, school district or other political subdivision of the state, or any subagency of a public agency.

The governing body of a public agency must inform the public of the time for all regular meetings.  A governing body of a public agency may hold special meetings in addition to regular meetings, but must comply with public notification requirements.  Emergency meetings may be held without notification, but only in such cases where fire, flood, or earthquake necessitates expedited action, or to deal with situations where injury or damage to persons or property are certain or likely.

There are several exceptions to the open meeting requirements.  The governing body of a public agency may meet in executive session to consider certain issues, such as matters of national security, discussion of the qualifications of job applicants or candidates for appointment to public office, and discussion of legal matters relating to agency enforcement.  In addition, the Open Public Meetings Act does not apply to proceedings involving issuance, revocation, or denial of certain licenses, discussion by a quasi-judicial body that impacts specific named parties and not the general public or a class of people, matters governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, and collective bargaining discussions.

A school site-council is a board made up of teachers, parents, and other persons connected to a school that may act as the representative of the school in certain situations.  A school site-council may be required to approve a school=s application for certain grants, such as Student Learning Improvement Grants, prior to its submission.

                                                         Cont.

HB 2071 - Page 2

SUMMARY:

All school site-councils are subject to the Open Public Meetings Act.  A school site-council is the multi-member board that acts as the representative body of persons connected to a school, if any of its actions are on behalf of the school or school district board, including the approval of grant applications.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.