FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2043

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.

Background:

Initiative 732 Cost-of-Living Adjustments.

Initiative 732 (I-732) was approved by voters in the November 2000 general election. It required the state to provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) teachers and other public school employees, as well as community and technical college academic employees and classified employees at technical colleges. The COLA is based on the Seattle-area Consumer Price Index from the most recently completed calendar year.

The I-732 COLA has been suspended during three biennia since being approved by voters. The suspensions occurred during the 2003-05, 2009-11, and 2011-13 biennia. The I-732 COLA adjustments assumed in the 2013-15 maintenance level budget are 2.5 percent for the 2013-14 school year, and 1.8 percent for the 2014-15 school year.

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Program.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) program provides an opportunity for teachers to seek an advanced teaching credential by undertaking a rigorous application process. Once earned, the certification is valid for 10 years.

Washington is in its thirteenth year of participation in the NBPTS program. In 2000 Washington had 71 NBPTS-certified teachers. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction projects 5,501 teachers will be certified in the 2013-14 school year, and approximately 575 teachers will become newly certified in the 2013-14 school year. Adjusting for inflation, the NBPTS certification bonus for the 2013-14 school year is $5,510, up from $5,090.

Votes on Final Passage:

Second Special Session

House	54	36
Senate	25	23