BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to increasing funding for common school transportation; amending 1997 c 454 s 503 (uncodified); and amending 1997 c 149 s 505 (uncodified).

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. 1997 c 454 s 503 (uncodified) is each amended to read as follows:

FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION‑-FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS

General Fund Appropriation (FY 1998)........... $ 79,966,000

General Fund Appropriation (FY 1999)........... $ ((~~116,310,000~~))

116,547,000

TOTAL APPROPRIATION................. $ ((~~196,276,000~~))

196,513,000

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) $((~~176,525,000~~)) 176,757,000 is provided for a cost of living adjustment of 3.0 percent effective September 1, 1997, for state formula staff units. The appropriations include associated incremental fringe benefit allocations at rates of 19.58 percent for certificated staff and 15.15 percent for classified staff.

(a) The appropriations in this section include the increased portion of salaries and incremental fringe benefits for all relevant state-funded school programs in part V of this act. Salary adjustments for state employees in the office of superintendent of public instruction and the education reform program are provided in part VII of this act. Increases for general apportionment (basic education) are based on the salary allocation schedules and methodology in section 502 of this act. Increases for special education result from increases in each district's basic education allocation per student. Increases for educational service districts and institutional education programs are determined by the superintendent of public instruction using the methodology for general apportionment salaries and benefits in section 502 of this act.

(b) The appropriations in this section provide salary increase and incremental fringe benefit allocations based on formula adjustments as follows:

(i) For pupil transportation, an increase of $0.60 per weighted pupil‑mile for the 1997‑98 school year and ((~~maintained~~)) $0.66 for the 1998-99 school year;

(ii) For education of highly capable students, an increase of $6.81 per formula student for the 1997‑98 school year and maintained for the 1998-99 school year; and

(iii) For transitional bilingual education, an increase of $17.69 per eligible bilingual student for the 1997‑98 school year and maintained for the 1998-99 school year; and

(iv) For learning assistance, an increase of $8.74 per entitlement unit for the 1997‑98 school year and maintained for the 1998-99 school year.

(c) The appropriations in this section include $912,000 for salary increase adjustments for substitute teachers at a rate of $10.64 per unit in the 1997-98 school year and maintained in the 1998-99 school year.

(2) $19,751,000 is provided for adjustments to insurance benefit allocations. The maintenance rate for insurance benefit allocations is $314.51 per month for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 school years. The appropriations in this section provide increases of $2.83 per month for the 1997-98 school year and $18.41 per month for the 1998-99 school year at the following rates:

(a) For pupil transportation, an increase of $0.03 per weighted pupil‑mile for the 1997‑98 school year and $0.19 for the 1998-99 school year;

(b) For education of highly capable students, an increase of $0.20 per formula student for the 1997‑98 school year and $1.35 for the 1998-99 school year;

(c) For transitional bilingual education, an increase of $.46 per eligible bilingual student for the 1997‑98 school year and $3.44 for the 1998-99 school year; and

(d) For learning assistance, an increase of $.36 per funded unit for the 1997‑98 school year and $2.70 for the 1998-99 school year.

(3) The rates specified in this section are subject to revision each year by the legislature.

(4)((~~(a)~~)) For the 1997-98 school year, the superintendent shall prepare a report showing the allowable derived base salary for certificated instructional staff in accordance with RCW 28A.400.200 and LEAP Document 12D, and the actual derived base salary paid by each school district as shown on the S-275 report and shall make the report available to the fiscal committees of the legislature no later than February 15, 1998.

Sec. 2. 1997 c 149 s 505 (uncodified) is each amended to read as follows:

FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION‑-FOR PUPIL TRANSPORTATION

General Fund Appropriation (FY 1998)........... $ 174,344,000

General Fund Appropriation (FY 1999)........... $ ((~~179,560,000~~))

191,952,000

TOTAL APPROPRIATION................. $ ((~~353,904,000~~))

366,296,000

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:

(1) The appropriation for fiscal year 1998 includes such funds as are necessary for the remaining months of the 1996‑97 school year.

(2) A maximum of $1,451,000 may be expended for regional transportation coordinators and related activities. The transportation coordinators shall ensure that data submitted by school districts for state transportation funding shall, to the greatest extent practical, reflect the actual transportation activity of each district.

(3) $30,000 of the fiscal year 1998 appropriation and $40,000 of the fiscal year 1999 appropriation are provided solely for the transportation of students enrolled in "choice" programs. Transportation shall be limited to low-income students who are transferring to "choice" programs solely for educational reasons.

(4) Allocations for transportation of students shall be based on reimbursement rates of $34.47 per weighted mile in the 1997-98 school year and $((~~34.76~~)) 37.95 per weighted mile in the 1998-99 school year exclusive of salary and benefit adjustments provided in section 503, chapter 454, Laws of 1997 and section ((~~504~~)) 1 of this act. Allocations for transportation of students transported more than one radius mile shall be based on weighted miles as determined by superintendent of public instruction times the per mile reimbursement rates for the school year pursuant to the formulas adopted by the superintendent of public instruction. Allocations for transportation of students living within one radius mile shall be based on the number of enrolled students in grades kindergarten through five living within one radius mile of their assigned school times the per mile reimbursement rate for the school year times ((~~1.29~~)) 1.42.