SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 6137

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.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6137 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Tom, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Fairley, Hobbs, Keiser, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Murray, Oemig, Regala and Rockefeller.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators McDermott and Schoesler.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Honeyford, Parlette and Pflug.

Background: The 2007-09 Omnibus Appropriations Act provides transfer authority among the various appropriations to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for the support of K-12 common schools. Under Substitute House Bill 1244 (omnibus operating budget) enacted in the 2009 Legislative Session, the specific program appropriations that are allowed to be transferred are general apportionment; employee compensation adjustments; pupil transportation; special education programs; institutional education programs; transitional bilingual programs; and learning assistance programs. Given the potential volatility around caseloads and other cost drivers in these programs, the purpose of this transfer authority is to provide additional flexibility to OSPI in managing its overall appropriation level.

Summary of Engrossed Bill: The list of OSPI appropriations that may be transferred to cover under or over expenditures in other programs is expanded to include the I-728 Student Achievement Fund allocations.