HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  SSB 5071

Title:  An act relating to school district territory included in city and town boundary extensions.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to territory included in city and town boundary extensions.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Stevens, Haugen and Hochstatter; by request of Board of Education).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

  Meeting Date: March 21, 1997.

  Analysis Prepared by: Joe Hauth (786-7111).

Background: The Legislature has established statutory procedures for changing school district boundaries.   If a town extends its limits to include any part of a school district operating on more than one site, then the issue goes before the regional committee of the educational service district.  The regional committee decides which school district will contain the annexed property.  The members of the regional committee are selected by the boards of directors of the school districts in the educational service district.

If a town extends its limits to include any part of a school district operating all schools on a single site, or a school district operating elementary schools only on two or more sites, then the educational service district superintendent must automatically transfer school district territory that is located within the annexed territory to the school district affiliated with the city or town that is annexing the territory.

Summary: The automatic transfer of annexed property of a one-site school district to an annexing city or town is changed.   If a city or town annexes property in a one-site school district and the annexed property contains a school building, then the regional committee must have the discretion to decide which school district will contain the property. 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.