HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2304

                       As Passed House

                        May 19, 1999

Title:  An act relating to school safety programs.

Brief Description:  Providing for school safety programs.

Sponsors:  Representatives Quall, Talcott, Edwards, McIntire, McDonald, Edmonds and Kenney.

Brief History:

  Floor Activity:

Passed House:  5/19/99, 95-0.

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Appropriates an additional $7 million for school safety programs.

Background:

The Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), working with the State Board of Education,  oversees the pubic school system in Washington.  The SPI provides programs that assist school districts and public schools and allocates basic education and other funding to local school districts as instructed by the Legislature.

School districts may contract with alternative educational service providers to provide services to eligible students.  These service providers include other schools, alternative educational service programs not operated by the school district, education centers, skills centers, dropout prevention programs, and other public and private organizations.  Eligible students include students who are likely to be expelled, present disciplinary problems, or are academically at risk.

The 1999-01 Operating Budget added $2 million to current funding for alternative schools, and added $5.9 million for school safety.

Summary of Bill:

An additional $7 million dollars is appropriated for school safety.  Four million dollars is appropriated to the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to be used for: (1) grants for alternative school start-ups (in addition to the funding for this in the 1999-01 Operating Budget); or (2) grants for school safety prevention and intervention programs.   Three million dollars is appropriated to the SPI for matching grants to enhance safety in public schools (in addition to funding for this in the 1999-01 Operating Budget). 

The SPI must report to the education committees of the legislature on the grants for alternative school start-ups and school safety prevention and intervention by February 15, 2001, and every two years thereafter.

Appropriation:  $7 million.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  None.