SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5257

               As Passed Senate, March 12, 1997

Title:  An act relating to changing the name of the noncertificated employee category.

Brief Description:  Changing the name of the noncertificated employee category.

Sponsors:  Senators Hochstatter, McAuliffe, Johnson, Zarelli, Finkbeiner, Rasmussen, Goings and Sheldon.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/6/97, 2/21/97 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/12/97, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Hochstatter, Chair; Finkbeiner, Vice Chair; Goings, Johnson, McAuliffe, Rasmussen and Zarelli.

Staff:  Karen Carter (786-7424)

Background:  School employees are identified as either Acertificated@ or Aclassified@ personnel in the education code.

CCertificated personnel are those employed in a position for which a certificate, issued by the State Board of Education (SBE), is required.  The SBE issues certificates for teachers, administrators, vocational instructors, and educational staff associates.

CClassified personnel include all school district personnel other than certificated personnel.  Classified personnel include instructional aides, office and clerical workers, crafts and trade workers, bus drivers, as well as directors and supervisors other than superintendents and deputy superintendents.

Select provisions of the education code refer to classified personnel as Anoncertificated@ staff. Some suggest that this term is not necessary.

Summary of Bill:  Terminology used in the education code is changed. For uniformity, the term "noncertificated" is replaced with the term "classified" where such references exist.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains a contingent effective date. Please refer to the bill.

Testimony For:  This housekeeping measure cleans up the educational code so that one class of educational employees are referred to as Awhat they are@ rather than Awhat they are not.@  No substantive change is made to state laws.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Tamara Warnke, Public School Employees (pro).