SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5753

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.

As of February 20, 2013

Title: An act relating to flexibility in the education system.

Brief Description: Providing flexibility in the education system.

Sponsors: Senators Hobbs, Tom, Hewitt, King and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/20/13.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION

Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background: Current law contains a number of requirements for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), school districts, and schools to complete. These requirements include providing information, specific programs, and training.

Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute): The following laws are repealed, suspended until July 1, 2015, or amended.

The repealed laws include the following:

The following programs or requirements established by law are each suspended until July 1, 2015:

The amended laws include the following:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Our schools are burdened by so many unfunded mandates. This bill tries to provide some relief from some of those, such as observing Temperance Day.

CON: We appreciate the intent of this bill in providing flexibility and savings for school districts. We are concerned with not keeping the requirement for school directors to be a member of WSSDA. More than half of the board members have less than five years of experience and it is critical to have a resource for them to go to that provides support and training.

OTHER: We appreciate the intent and the effort that has gone into this bill but the same bill has been introduced multiple times before and it did not make it through the entire legislative process. We strongly support the suspension of the two green building requirements. We support removing the provision making WSSDA permissive. WSSDA gives the school board directors a universal voice and that is important.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Steve Hobbs, prime sponsor.

CON: Mari Taylor, WSSDA.

OTHER: Dan Steele, WA Assn. of School Administrators.