HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 3030

Title:  An act relating to school district boundaries.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to school district boundaries.

Sponsors:  Representatives Talcott, Smith and Bush.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 3, 1998.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Charlie Gavigan (786-7340).

Background:  The Legislature enacted the Acity or town districts@ statute in 1909, primarily to ensure that each city or town is served by a single school district.  Over the years, the Legislature has added several procedural requirements to change school district boundaries in response to city or town boundary changes.  The Legislature also created regional committees in each educational service district to review proposals on school district boundary changes.  If the regional committee recommends a boundary change, on its own or to resolve conflicting boundaries, the recommendation goes to the State Board of Education for approval.  There are statutory guidelines and agency rules to be considered in recommending and approving boundary changes.

Typically, the regional committee and educational service district implement the boundary changes based on statutory provisions, such as reapportioning assets and obligations..

Summary of Bill:   When school boundary changes are made, the State Board of Education may authorize up to a three year transition period to implement the boundary changes to avoid undue hardship provide for an efficient transition.  The appropriate educational service district superintendent must prepare a boundary change implementation plan. 

The nine regional committees, one in each educational service district, are replaced by one state-wide committee on school district reorganization.  The state-wide committee is comprised of one member from each educational service district elected by the school boards in that educational service district.  The terms, after initially being staggered, are three years.  The state-wide committee has the duties and powers of the regional committees it replaces. 

The State Board of Education must study existing laws and rules regarding changing school district boundaries and must recommend to the education committees in the legislature comprehensive legislation to modernize laws on reorganizing school district boundaries to make the process more understandable, more efficient, more consistent, and more equitable.  The board is encouraged to seek input from a variety of organizations and viewpoints.  The report is due September 1, 1998.

Appropriation: An unspecified amount is appropriated for the State-wide Committee on School District Organization.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 29, 1998.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed, except section 34 (the study), which takes effect immediately.