Title: An act relating to reclassifying the state board of education as a class four group.

Brief Description: Reclassifying the state board of education as a class four group.

Sponsors: Representatives Quall, P. Sullivan and Talcott; by request of State Board of Education.

Brief History:

Education: 2/23/05, 2/24/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Quall, Chair; P. Sullivan, Vice Chair; Talcott, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Haigh, Hunter, McDermott, Santos, Shabro and Tom.

Staff: Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:

Part-time state boards and commissions are divided into five groups based primarily on the duties and functions of the board or commission. The State Board of Education (Board) is currently a class three group. Class three groups have rule-making authority, perform quasi-judicial functions, and have responsibility for the policy direction of a state agency or program, or regulate and/or adopt licensing requirements for professions, occupations, businesses, or industries. In addition to food, lodging, and travel allowances, members of a class three group may receive up to $50 a day when attending an official meeting or performing statutory duties approved by the chair of the organization.

Class four groups perform most of the same functions as the class three groups, however, the duties of the class four groups are considered to be of "overriding sensitivity and importance to the public welfare and the operation of state government." Usually, a class four group meets more than 100 hours a year. In addition to food, lodging, and travel allowances, members of a class four group may receive up to $100 a day when attending an official meeting or performing statutory duties approved by the chair of the organization.

Summary of Bill:

The Board is changed from a class three group to a class four group for the purpose of determining the compensation level paid to board members.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Class four groups are lay boards or commissions that have duties of overriding sensitivity. Generally, members of class four boards spend more than 100 hours a year on board business. The members of the Board are diligent and work hard to fulfill their responsibilities. On average, Board members spend two to 20 hours a month and about 120 hours a year in Board meetings or working on the Board's subcommittees. The Board is responsible for the K-12 Capital Budget system. It also oversees educator certification and has a quasi-judicial function over school district boundaries so it meets all the qualifications for a class four board.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Quall, prime sponsor; and Kate Lykins Brown, State Board of Education.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.