SENATE BILL REPORT
E2SHB 1432
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported By Senate Committee On:
Early Learning & K-12 Education, March 26, 2007
Ways & Means, April 2, 2007
Title: An act relating to educational staff associates.
Brief Description: Granting service credit to educational staff associates for nonschool employment.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives P. Sullivan, Upthegrove, Simpson, Hunter, Moeller, Linville, Schual-Berke and Santos).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/12/07, 89-9.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/22/07, 3/26/07 [DP-WM].
Ways & Means: 4/02/07 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; Holmquist, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Clements, Eide, Hewitt, Hobbs, Kauffman, Oemig and Rasmussen.
Staff: Kimberly Cushing (786-7421)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Fairley, Hatfield, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Oemig, Parlette, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Tom.
Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)
Background: Through the school apportionment process, the state allocates full-time equivalent
(FTE) funding to school districts for basic education certificated instructional staff. Certificated
instructional staff include educational staff associates (ESAs), who may be school speech
pathologists or audiologists, school counselors, school nurses, school occupational therapists,
school physical therapists, school psychologists, and school social workers.
Funding for all certificated instructional staff salaries is based on a state salary allocation schedule
that is implemented in the state's biennial operating budget. The salary allocation schedule is
used by the state to account for differences in the education and experience of each district's
certificated instructional staff. One factor that the schedule recognizes is the number of years
staff has worked within the state school system. Typically, the greater the experience and
education of certificated instructional staff, the greater the salary. Actual salaries are negotiated
locally, within certain state established constraints.
Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill: Beginning in the 2007-08 school year,
occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, nurses,
social workers, counselors, and psychologists may include experience in schools and other related
nonschool positions as years of service under the state salary allocation schedule. One year of
service in a nonschool position will be counted as one year of service. The calculation of
nonschool years service will be limited to five years. Years of service for nonschool experience
must not be applied to service credit totals for the purposes of any retirement benefit.
The act is null and void if specific funding is not provided by June 30, 2007.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: This bill will enhance recruitment and retention of ESAs. School districts are concerned because they are legally required to provide services under an Individualized Education Program; however, they are short staffed. When districts contract with agencies to provide ESAs, it is not cost effective and they have less control over the quality of staff. Districts need to be able to pay more for ESAs in order to remain competitive with agencies.
Persons Testifying (Early Learning & K-12 Education): PRO: Representative Sullivan, prime sponsor; Camille Curry, Washington Occupational Therapy Association; Mark Haddock, Kent School District; Mitch Denning, Alliance of Educational Associations.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): PRO: This bill will achieve savings because they no longer will have to contract for these services. By increasing the salary of Educational Staff Associates, the ability of school districts to attract and retain staff will improve.
Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Rose Raciot, Camille Curry, Washington Occupational Therapy Association.