BILL REQ. #:  H-3678.2 

Prefiled 01/08/10. Read first time 01/11/10.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to statewide school district reorganization; adding new sections to chapter 28A.315 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.315 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The commission on statewide school district reorganization is established to develop and recommend a comprehensive plan for the reorganization of Washington school districts for adoption by the legislature as provided in section 2 of this act.
     (2) The commission shall be composed of the following members:
     (a) A representative of the state board of education selected by the members of the board;
     (b) Two representatives of school administrators selected by the Washington association of school administrators, with one representative each from eastern and western Washington;
     (c) Two representatives of school board directors selected by the Washington state school directors' association, with one representative each from eastern and western Washington;
     (d) One representative of certificated instructional school employees selected by the Washington education association;
     (e) An individual with experience as a demographer or as a participant on the redistricting commission under chapter 44.05 RCW selected by the governor; and
     (f) Four individuals selected jointly by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate, with two individuals each from eastern and western Washington.
     (3) Staff support for the commission shall be provided by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The superintendent of public instruction shall convene the initial meeting of the commission, at which time the members of the commission shall elect a chair from among the members.
     (4) Members of the commission are entitled to receive compensation under RCW 43.03.240 and reimbursement for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (5) Any vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the selection originally provided.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.315 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The commission on statewide school district reorganization established under section 1 of this act shall develop objective criteria, ranked in priority order, for the reorganization of Washington school districts. The commission may consider but shall not be limited to the criteria in RCW 28A.315.015 and 28A.315.205. The commission shall adopt the criteria as administrative rules under the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW. The commission shall hold at least one public hearing on the proposed criteria in each educational service district before final adoption. The commission shall cause notice to be given at least ten days before the scheduled date of the hearing in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the educational service district.
     (2)(a) Based on the adopted objective criteria, the commission shall develop a comprehensive plan for the reorganization of Washington school districts. The plan shall result in no more than one hundred fifty school districts in the state and their boundaries. The plan shall also result in a reorganization of the number and boundaries of educational service districts.
     (b) The commission shall hold at least one public hearing in each educational service district during the development of the proposed plan. The commission shall cause notice to be given at least ten days before the scheduled date of the hearing in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the educational service district.
     (c) After considering the information from the public hearings, the results of the review under section 3 of this act, and any other information or considerations, the commission shall submit the final comprehensive school district reorganization plan to the superintendent of public instruction, the governor, and the legislature by December 1, 2012, as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
     (3) The comprehensive school district reorganization plan shall consist of two parts, each of which shall be submitted separately in the form of proposed legislation:
     (a) Part A of the plan shall be a list of the recommended school districts and educational service districts and their respective boundaries. Except for amendments to correct technical errors or omissions, the legislation implementing part A of the plan as submitted by the commission may be amended only if approved by a two-thirds vote of each house of the legislature; and
     (b) Part B of the plan shall be recommended procedures and timelines for implementation of the reorganization plan, including but not limited to:
     (i) A phased-in implementation schedule;
     (ii) Procedures and timelines for determination, adjustment, and transfer of assets and liabilities among school districts, including bonded indebtedness;
     (iii) Procedures and timelines for determination and election of school district and educational service district boards of directors, which shall include a transition period for any consolidated school districts of up to two years, during which time all previous school district boards of directors of the consolidated districts shall continue to have governing responsibilities until a single board is elected; and
     (iv) Amendments to or temporary suspension of the provisions of this chapter, chapter 28A.310 RCW, and other laws that are necessary to implement the reorganization plan and also provide an ongoing process for management of school district organization and boundary issues after the plan has been implemented.
     (4) Nothing in this section requires consolidation or closure of high schools or other schools. Decisions regarding the disposition of schools rest with school district boards of directors.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28A.315 RCW to read as follows:
     The joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct an independent review of the comprehensive plan developed under section 2 of this act to assure that the proposed plan is based on and follows to the maximum extent possible the objective criteria adopted by the commission. The committee shall submit a report of its findings, along with recommendations for any changes to the plan that would improve its alignment with the criteria, to the commission on statewide school district reorganization by September 1, 2012.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Sections 1 through 3 of this act expire June 30, 2014.