SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5913

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 3, 1999

Title:  An act relating to employment contract exceptions to school district officers' conflicts of interest.

Brief Description:  Changing employment contract exceptions for second class school districts.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe, Hochstatter and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/1/99, 3/3/99 [DP, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Finkbeiner, Goings, Hochstatter, Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen and Swecker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

  Signed by Senator Benton.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background:  Currently, RCW 42.23.030 prohibits officers of municipalities and school districts to benefit from contracts (including employment contracts) entered into on behalf of the municipality or school district, with limited exceptions.  Some of the exceptions apply to both second class and first class school districts.

There is an education statute that requires second class school districts to adopt a policy governing employment contracts authorized under RCW 42.23.030.  However, there is no requirement for first class school districts to adopt such a policy.

Summary of Bill:  The education statute requiring a policy governing employment contracts is expanded to include all school districts.  The statute is moved from a section of the code applicable only to second class school districts to a section of the code applicable to all school districts.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is a technical fix to correct an incongruence between two statutes. Need to make it clear that first class school districts should have a policy addressing the letting of contracts just as second class school districts should have such a policy.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Lorraine Wilson, (WSSDA) (pro).