SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 6515
As Passed Senate, February 15, 2002
Title: An act relating to clarifying the uses of the school district capital projects fund to include the costs of implementing technology facilities plans.
Brief Description: Allowing the school district capital projects fund to provide for costs associated with implementing technology systems.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Finkbeiner, B. Sheldon, Carlson, Kohl‑Welles, Shin, Kastama, Jacobsen, Fraser, Fairley, Winsley, Oke and Rasmussen).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Education: 1/28/02, 1/31/02 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 2/15/02, 43-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6515 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Carlson, Finkbeiner, Hewitt, Kastama, Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen, Regala and Zarelli.
Staff: Kelly Simpson (786‑7403)
Background: Under current law, school districts must establish capital projects funds for major capital purposes. Sources of revenue for capital projects funds include bond proceeds, proceeds from excess levies, state apportionment proceeds, earnings from certain investments, rental and lease proceeds, and proceeds from the sale of real property. Some of the permitted uses of capital projects funds include erecting buildings, purchasing equipment for buildings, structural changes and additions, major renovations, and energy capital improvements.
Summary of Bill: The law is clarified to allow that capital projects funds may be used by school districts to pay the costs of implementing technology systems, facilities, and projects.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: Providing technology in schools is an integral part of a modern K‑12 education. This bill provides needed flexibility to school districts regarding purchasing and implementing technology systems in schools. This is particularly true in light of changes in the software industry that often require software subscription agreements in order to purchase software applications and to receive necessary upgrades.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: PRO: Charlie Brown, Dick Anastasi, Grace Yuan, School Technology Coalition.
House Amendment(s):A clarifying amendment providing examples of permissible expenditures that are related to the installation of technology systems, facilities, and projects.