 | WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE | |
| Legislative Digest No. 55 | ||
| SIXTIETH LEGISLATURE | ||
| Friday, March 30, 2007 | 82nd Day - 2007 Regular Session | |
| SENATE |
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| HOUSE |
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This publication includes digest and history for bills, joint memorials, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, initiatives, and substitutes. Engrossed measures may be republished if the amendment makes a substantive change.
Electronic versions of Legislative Digests are available at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/digests.aspx?year=2007.
HB 1871-S2
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representative Santos)
Regarding education system benchmarks and monitoring.
Finds that the existing school district budget review system focuses on current school year budget implementation and preparation of the ensuing school year budget and does not provide a systematic look of longer-range budget issues, including any indication of impending financial problems in school districts. Parents, students, taxpayers, school employees, and school administrators need a financial monitoring system that considers long-term budgeting issues and commitments, and provides early warning of school district financial health concerns. Once financial concerns and issues are identified, districts should receive early, practical assistance.Requires the office of financial management to develop and implement a school district financial health and monitoring system, with input and collaboration from the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee and the office of the superintendent of public instruction.Requires the office of financial management to present proposed system measures and a financial health outlook rating system to the governor and the legislature by November 1, 2007. The legislative evaluation and accountability program committee shall make recommendations to the legislature for modifications to the measures and systems, if necessary. Unless the legislature takes action during the 2008 legislative session to change the measures and the rating system, the financial health and monitoring system shall be implemented during the 2008-09 school year.Requires the office of financial management to submit a report summarizing the review and reporting recommendations in this act to the governor, the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, and the education and fiscal committees of the legislature by November 15, 2007.Directs the office of the superintendent of public instruction to convene a work group composed of representatives of school districts of varying sizes and geographic locations, educational service districts, the Washington school information processing cooperative, and at least one additional school information system vendor. The work group shall develop an implementation plan for consistent coding of secondary courses in subjects other than mathematics that is based on the national classification system. The work group shall present the plan to the fiscal committees of the legislature by September 1, 2008.
| Feb 6 | Work session and public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Mar 27 | Placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 28 | 2nd substitute bill substituted. | |
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 68; nays, 29; absent, 0; excused, 1. | ||
| Mar 29 | Scheduled for public hearing and executive session in committee. (Subject to change) | |
| First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education. | ||
HB 1882-S2
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Wallace, Moeller, Haigh, McDermott, Kagi, Roberts, O'Brien, Kenney, Hurst, and Ormsby)
Implementing Washington learns higher education recommendations.
Implements Washington learns higher education recommendations.Finds that access to higher education is of critical importance to the current and future prosperity of the citizens of the state of Washington. However, the legislature further finds that the following three factors are creating barriers to access for students: (1) Tuition increases have varied dramatically over the last decade, making the cost of postsecondary attendance unpredictable for students and families;(2) There are at least thirty separate state and federal programs providing direct financial aid or tax benefits to individuals seeking postsecondary education, in addition to institutional aid, private scholarships, and other programs. The system is complicated and difficult to understand, with the unfortunate effect of discouraging some low-income students from even applying to college. Additionally, some students are not able to access enough financial assistance to make postsecondary education affordable; and(3) Students frequently must repeat college-level coursework when transferring from one institution of higher education to another, increasing their financial and time costs.Declares that, through implementing of a complementary and coordinated set of policies around tuition, financial aid, and student transitions, the legislature intends to make access to higher education a top priority.
| Feb 8 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; do not pass. | ||
| Placed on second reading. | ||
| Mar 30 | Scheduled for executive session in committee. (Subject to change) | |
HB 1906-S2
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Hunter, Anderson, Wallace, Seaquist, Eddy, P. Sullivan, McDermott, Ormsby, McIntire, Pedersen, Rolfes, Barlow, Goodman, Rodne, O'Brien, Kenney, McDonald, Morrell, Newhouse, Hurst, Skinner, Wood, and Bailey)
Improving mathematics and science education.
Declares that the activities in this act revise and strengthen the state learning standards that implement the goals of RCW 28A.150.210, known as the essential academic learning requirements, and improve alignment of school district curriculum to the standards.Directs the state board of education to appoint a mathematics advisory panel and a science advisory panel to advise the board regarding essential academic learning requirements, grade level expectations, and recommended curricula in mathematics and science and to monitor implementation of these activities. In conducting their work, the panels shall provide objective reviews of materials and information provided by any expert national consultants retained by the board and shall provide a public and transparent forum for consideration of mathematics and science learning standards and curricula.Creates the after-school mathematics support program to study the effects of intentional, skilled mathematics support included as part of an existing after-school activity program.Directs the office of the superintendent of public instruction to provide grants to selected community-based, nonprofit organizations that provide after-school programs and include support for students to learn mathematics.Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to evaluate program outcomes and report to the governor and the education committees of the legislature on the outcomes of the grants and make recommendations related to program continuation, program modification, and issues related to program sustainability and possible program expansion. An interim report is due November 1, 2008. The final report is due December 1, 2009.Authorizes a mathematics and science instructional coach program, which shall consist of a coach development institute, coaching seminars, coaching activities in schools, and program evaluation.Directs the Washington state institute for public policy to conduct an evaluation of the mathematics and science instructional coach program in this act.Requires the institute for public policy to report its findings to the governor, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and the education and fiscal committees of the legislature. An interim report is due November 1, 2008. The final report is due December 1, 2009.Provides that, by September 1, 2008, the state board for community and technical colleges, the council of presidents, the higher education coordinating board, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction, under the leadership of the transition math project and in collaboration with representatives of public two and four-year institutions of higher education, shall jointly revise the Washington mathematics placement test to serve as a common college readiness test for all two and four-year institutions of higher education.Requires the revised mathematics college readiness test to be implemented by all public two and four-year institutions of higher education by September 1, 2009. All public two and four-year institutions of higher education must use a common performance standard on the mathematics placement test for purposes of determining college readiness in mathematics. The performance standard must be publicized to all high schools in the state.Provides that, subject to funding appropriated for this purpose and beginning in the fall of 2009, school districts shall provide all high school students enrolled in the district the option of taking the mathematics college readiness test developed under this act once at no cost to the students.Provides that, beginning September 1, 2007, through December 1, 2008, the state board of education shall provide a status report at the beginning of each calendar quarter on the activities and progress in completing the requirements under this act. The report shall be provided to the governor and the members of the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives.
| Feb 8 | Work session and public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 19 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Minority; without recommendation. | ||
| Mar 27 | Placed on second reading. | |
| Mar 28 | 2nd substitute bill substituted. | |
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 90; nays, 7; absent, 0; excused, 1. | ||
| Mar 29 | Scheduled for public hearing and executive session in committee. (Subject to change) | |
| First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education. | ||
HB 1907-S2
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives P. Sullivan, McDermott, and Ormsby)
Regarding educator preparation, professional development, and compensation.
Establishes a public-private partnership to develop, pilot, and implement the Washington state leadership academy to focus on the development and enhancement of personal leadership characteristics and the teaching of effective practices and skills demonstrated by school and district administrators who are successful managers and instructional leaders. It is the goal of the academy to provide state-of-the-art programs and services across the state.Declares that the purpose of the duties in this act for the professional educator standards board is to take the next steps in developing quality teaching knowledge and skill in the state's teaching ranks.Requires the professional educator standards board to: (1) By December 2007: (a) adopt new knowledge and skill standards that prepare all individuals seeking residency teacher certification to integrate mathematics across all content areas; and (b) adopt new certification requirements for individuals seeking residency teacher certification as elementary education or middle level and secondary mathematics teachers to assure adequate content and instructional strategy preparation to teach to the kindergarten through twelfth grades state mathematics and science standards;(2) By June 2009: (a) set performance standards and develop, pilot, and implement a uniform and externally administered professional-level certification assessment based on demonstrated teaching skill. In the development of this assessment, consideration shall be given to changes in professional certification program components such as the culminating seminar; (b) summarize its work in the development of the assessment in this act in the annual reports required by RCW 28A.410.240; and (c) review and revise the standards for higher education teacher preparation programs to incorporate updated practices to enhance teacher success in a knowledge and skill-based performance system that emphasizes strong content, applied learning, and personal, meaningful connections with students; and(3) By December 2009, review and revise as needed teacher preparation standards and requirements to focus on diversity in cultural knowledge and respect.Requires that, in support of the mathematics, science, and targeted secondary reading improvement initiative, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall create a partnership with the educational service districts to develop and deliver professional development learning opportunities for educators that fulfill the goals and address the specific targeted activities described in this act.Establishes the recruiting diverse Washington teachers program to recruit and provide training and support for diverse high school students to enter the teaching profession, especially in teacher shortage areas and among multilingual, multicultural students. The program shall be administered by the professional educator standards board.Repeals RCW 28A.300.350 and 28A.415.205.
| Feb 6 | Work session and public hearing in committee. | |
| Feb 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| Mar 15 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 26 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Mar 28 | Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. | |
HB 2262-S2
by House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Barlow, McCoy, Hunter, Seaquist, Eddy, Fromhold, Ormsby, Sells, and Morrell)
Providing salary bonuses for individuals certified by the national board for professional teaching standards.
Finds and declares: (1) The national board for professional teaching standards has established high and rigorous standards for what highly accomplished teachers should know and be able to do in order to increase student learning results;(2) The national board certifies teachers who meet these standards through a rigorous, performance-based assessment process;(3) A certificate awarded by the national board attests that a teacher has met high and rigorous standards and has demonstrated the ability to make sound professional judgments about how to best meet students' learning needs and effectively help students meet challenging academic standards; and(4) Teachers who attain national board certification should be acknowledged and rewarded in order to encourage more teachers to pursue certification for the benefit of Washington students.Provides that certificated instructional staff who have attained certification from the national board for professional teaching standards shall receive a bonus each year in which they maintain the certification. The bonus shall be calculated as follows: (1) The annual bonus shall be five thousand two hundred fifty dollars for fiscal year 2008 and five thousand four hundred dollars for fiscal year 2009. Thereafter, the annual bonus shall be an amount established in the omnibus appropriations act; and(2) State appropriations for this bonus may be limited to the amount of funding required to provide the full amount of the bonus to five percent of the certificated instructional staff who are eligible to receive certification from the national board for professional teaching standards.Declares that the bonuses provided under this act are in addition to compensation received under a district's salary schedule adopted in accordance with RCW 28A.405.200 and shall not be included in calculations of a district's average salary and associated salary limitations under RCW 28A.400.200.Provides that the bonuses provided under this act shall be paid in a lump sum amount and shall not be included in the definition of "earnable compensation" under RCW 41.32.010(10).
| Feb 26 | Public hearing and executive action taken in committee. | |
| Mar 15 | Public hearing in committee. | |
| Mar 27 | Executive session in committee. | |
| APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. | ||
| Placed on second reading. | ||
| Mar 28 | 2nd substitute bill substituted. | |
| Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. | ||
| Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 1. | ||
| Mar 29 | Scheduled for public hearing and executive session in committee. (Subject to change) | |
| First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education. | ||
HB 2396
by Representatives Fromhold and McDonald
Regarding investment of moneys in the permanent common school fund.
Finds that permanent fund common school fund income as a percentage of total school construction budgets has declined while school construction budgets have grown, and that other state revenues have filled the gap between income from state lands and the total school construction budget. For this reason, the fund may tolerate higher risk and volatility in favor of growth, and therefore a balance of long-term growth and current income is in the best interest of the state and the fund's beneficiaries. The legislature recognizes that by investing in equities, the value of the permanent fund may fluctuate over time due to market changes even if no disposition of the fund principal is made. Declares an intent to clarify state law to permit equity investment of the permanent common school fund even if there is a decline in the value of the permanent fund due to market changes. The legislature recognizes that the irreducible portion of the principal amount in the permanent fund must be held in perpetuity for the benefit of the fund and future generations, and that only the earnings from the permanent fund may be appropriated to the common school construction fund.Authorizes the state investment board to invest the permanent common school fund in various types of allowable investments in order to achieve a balance of long-term growth and current income, when consistent with the best interest of the state and the permanent common school fund, and in conformance with RCW 43.84.150. The state treasurer shall calculate the irreducible principal amount of the fund in accordance with the state Constitution and state law. The irreducible principal shall not include investment gains on the principal, and the fund may retain or distribute income and investment earnings in order to achieve the appropriate balance between growth and income.
| Mar 28 | First reading, referred to Capital Budget. | |
| Mar 29 | Scheduled for public hearing in committee. (Subject to change) | |
| Mar 30 | Scheduled for executive session in committee. (Subject to change) | |
HB 2397
by Representatives Hasegawa, Chase, Appleton, Roberts, Green, Kenney, and Williams
Raising revenue by restricting or eliminating tax preferences.
Raises revenue by restricting or eliminating tax exemptions, deductions, and credits.Repeals RCW 82.04.062, 82.04.315, 82.04.317, 82.04.4292, and 82.04.44525.Declares that the legislature intends to supersede the holding of the supreme court of the state of Washington in Puget Sound National Bank v. Department of Revenue, 123 Wn.2d 284 (1994).
| Mar 28 | First reading, referred to Finance. | |
HB 2398
by Representatives Cody and Sommers
Rebasing direct care, therapy care, support services, and operations component rate allocations under the nursing facility medicaid payment system based upon calendar year 2005 cost report data, excluding costs related to the quality maintenance fee repealed by chapter 241, Laws of 2006.
Rebases direct care, therapy care, support services, and operations component rate allocations under the nursing facility medicaid payment system based upon calendar year 2005 cost report data, excluding costs related to the quality maintenance fee repealed by chapter 241, Laws of 2006.
| Mar 29 | First reading, referred to Appropriations. | |
SB 6168
by Senators Berkey, Zarelli, Stevens, and Shin
Studying excise tax relief for aerospace product development businesses.
Revises provisions relating to excise tax relief for aerospace product development businesses.
| Mar 28 | First reading, referred to Ways & Means. | |
| Mar 30 | Scheduled for public hearing in committee. (Subject to change) | |