Brief Description: Permitting certain school district substitute employee contracts.

Sponsors: Representatives Buri, Sump and Haler.

Hearing Date: 1/16/06

Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).

Background:

Classification of school districts.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction is responsible for the classification of school districts based upon student enrollment figures. A school district with a student enrollment of more than two thousand pupils is classified as a first class school district. All school districts with enrollments of less than two thousand students are classified as second class school districts.

Prohibition against municipal officers having beneficial interests in public contracts.
The law prohibits a municipal officer from having a beneficial interest, whether direct or indirect, in any public contract that he or she is involved in creating. In addition, a municipal officer is prohibited from receiving any compensation in connection with such a contract from any other person with a beneficial interest. A "municipal officer" is broadly defined to include any elected or appointed officer of a local government, district, or municipal corporation, or any deputy or assistant to such officer, and all persons undertaking the exercise of the powers or functions of a municipal officer. An officer or employee of a school district would be included in the definition of "municipal officer."

Exceptions are made to this general prohibition with respect to certain contractual arrangements meeting specified criteria, including but not limited to the following:

• Leasing arrangements made by port districts;
• Contracts involving payment of less than one thousand five hundred dollars per month;
• Employment contracts involving wages of not more than two hundred dollars per month; and
• The designation of a school director to act as clerk or purchasing agent for a school district.

Summary of Bill:

An officer of a second class school district with fewer than two hundred full time students may enter into an employment contract as a substitute teacher or substitute educational aide. However, the terms of the contract must be commensurate with the pay plan or collective bargaining agreement applicable to the district.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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