HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2331

                      As Passed House:

                      February 13, 1998

Title:  An act relating to school district contracts.

Brief Description:  Changing school district contracting provisions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hickel, Johnson and B. Thomas.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  1/23/98, 2/4/98 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/13/98, 57-39.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 6 members:  Representatives Johnson, Chairman; Hickel, Vice Chairman; Smith; Sterk; Sump and Talcott.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Cole, Ranking Minority Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Linville and Veloria.

Staff:  Charlie Gavigan (786-7340).

Background:  The board of directors of a school district may enter into contracts with public or private persons or organizations to: (1) rent or lease building space, portables, security systems, computers, and other equipment; (2) maintain security systems, computers, and other equipment; and (3) provide pupil transportation services.  These contracts cannot have a term of more than five years.  For contracts with private parties  to provide pupil transportation services, each school district must engage in an open competitive process at least once every five years.

Summary of Bill:  The requirement that the length of certain contracts entered into by school districts not exceed five years is removed.  The board of directors of a school district may enter into contracts with a term that exceeds five years: (1) to rent or lease building space, portables, security systems, computers, and other equipment; (2) to maintain security systems, computers, and other equipment, and (3) to provide pupil transportation services.  For contracts with private parties to provide pupil transportation services, the requirement that each school district engage in an open competitive process at least once every five years is removed; school districts still must use a competitive process initially.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  School districts should have the discretion to enter into contracts that meet their needs, not be limited to a contracts of five years or less.

Testimony Against:  Contracts should be rebid through a competitive process at least every five years.

Testified:  Representative Hickel, prime sponsor; Doug Nelson, Public School Employees (con); and Barbara Mertens, Washington Association of School Administrators (pro).