SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1819

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 31, 1999

Title:  An act relating to procedures for changing the names of school districts.

Brief Description:  Changing provisions for school district name changes.

Sponsors:  Representatives Anderson, Barlean, Thomas and O'Brien.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/29/99, 3/31/99 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Bauer, Benton, Brown, Finkbeiner, Goings, Hochstatter, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Sellar, Swecker and Zarelli.

Staff:  Natalie Adams (786-7444)

Background:  The Legislature established a process to change the name of a school district.

The process requires registered voters to petition the school board and submit a proposed new name.  The school board must accept or reject the petition.  If the petition is rejected, the board's decision is not appealable.  If the petition is accepted, the board must hold a public hearing where the proposal to change the district name is heard.

Proposals for a name change must be presented to the voters at the next special or general election.  If a majority of the voters approve the proposed name change, the new name shall be recorded in the school district office and all interested state officials and institutions shall be notified.

Summary of Bill:  The board of directors may change the name of the school district upon a petition of the voters or by its own motion.  Established procedures in current law must be adhered to, except that the proposal no longer must be presented to the voters at an election.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is a request bill from the Stanwood School District.  Testimony indicated that attempting to change the name of the school district by the election process is too costly.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO: Dan Steele, Washington State School Directors Association.