HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2276

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.

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/11/14, 98-0.

Senate Amended.

Passed Senate: 3/4/14, 49-0.

House Concurred.

Passed House: 3/10/14, 95-0.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Bill

Provides that an Educational Service District may enter into an agreement to provide a program of education for residential school residents or detention facilities on behalf of the school district as a cooperative service program.
Provides that the statute addressing provision of an educational program at county detention facilities applies throughout the Residential Education Programs Chapter.
Makes technical changes to internal references.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Stonier, Vice Chair; Dahlquist, Ranking Minority Member; Magendanz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Fey, Haigh, Hargrove, Hawkins, Hayes, S. Hunt, Klippert, Lytton, Muri, Orwall, Parker, Pollet, Seaquist and Warnick.

Background:

Certain school districts must provide a program of education to juveniles committed by the courts and confined in residential schools operated by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). There are four such residential schools.

A school district may contract with an educational service district (ESD) to provide the educational program. The ESDs are authorized to enter into agreements with one or more school districts to provide cooperative services on their behalf or and to coordinate joint purchase programs. The governing statutes are located in Chapter 28A.190 RCW, the Residential Education Program Chapter.

Additionally, certain school districts must provide a program of education to juveniles at county detention facilities operated by certain counties. There are 22 such county detention facilities. The governing statute is located in RCW 13.04.145, in the chapter known as the Basic Juvenile Court Act. The education program must be provided in the same manner as outlined in the Residential Education Program Chapter.

The governing statutes in the Residential Education Program Chapter do not cross reference the statute in the Basic Juvenile Court Act.

Summary of Bill:

An ESD may enter into an agreement to provide a program of education for residential school residents or detention facilities on behalf of a school district as a cooperative service program.

The statute addressing provision of an educational program at county detention facilities applies throughout the Residential Education Programs Chapter. Technical changes are made to internal references.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is a simple bill that will help schools provide services for students in certain counties. This bill will not result in a financial cost; it will actually result in savings for the school districts impacted. The ESDs often provide services for the detention centers at the request of school districts. Some counties in which detention centers are located want the ESD to provide educational services, but certain judges have interpreted the law to prohibit county contracts with the ESDs. To contract with the ESDs, these counties had to create contracts between three parties rather than two: between the ESDs and school districts and between the school districts and the counties. This bill would allow the ESDs to contract with counties directly, resulting in a reduced number of contracting parties. This would result in services being provided in a more economical way and it would enhance accountability from the ESDs to the counties. The school districts have an obligation to meet needs of all students, even students in detentions centers. The ESDs can provide services to an entire county, even detention centers within a county. It makes sense to allow the ESDs to contract directly with counties. This bill just clarifies the current law, resulting in time and money savings.

(Opposed) None.