SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6620
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 Reported by Senate Committee On:
Early Learning & K-12 Education, February 4, 2016
Title: An act relating to a statewide plan for funding cost-effective methods for school safety.
Brief Description: Concerning a statewide plan for funding cost-effective methods for school safety.
Sponsors: Senators McAuliffe, Dammeier, Rolfes, Litzow, Billig, Keiser and Conway.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 2/04/16 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Litzow, Chair; Dammeier, Vice Chair; McAuliffe, Ranking Member; Billig, Fain, Hill, Mullet, Rivers and Rolfes.
Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)
Background: Current law requires school districts to adopt and implement safe school plans. The plans must contain specified information. To the extent funds are available, school districts must annually review and update safe school plans.
In the 2001-02 budget, the Washington Legislature established a School Safety Center in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The School Safety Center's requirements included disseminating successful models of school safety plans, providing assistance to schools to establish a comprehensive safe school plan, coordinating activities relating to school safety, and maintaining a school safety information website.
In addition, the Superintendent of Public Instruction was directed to participate in a School Safety Center Advisory Committee that included representatives from a wide variety of stakeholders in education and law enforcement. According to the School Safety Center's website, the purpose of the Committee is to advise OSPI and support and assist in the implementation of the School Safety Center's work, as well as support the efforts for increased academic achievement by students.
Summary of Bill: Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) Evaluation. The WSIPP must complete an evaluation of how Washington and other states have addressed the funding of school safety and security programs. It must submit a report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature, the Governor, and OSPI by December 1, 2017. This section expires August 1, 2018.
School Safety Summit. OSPI and the School Safety Advisory Committee must hold annual school safety summits. Each annual summit must focus on establishing and monitoring the progress of a statewide plan for funding cost-effective methods for school safety that meet local needs. Other areas of focus may include planning and implementation of school safety planning efforts, training of school safety professionals, and integrating mental health and security measures.
Summit participants must be appointed no later than August 1, 2016.
the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate must appoint two members from each of the relevant caucuses of the Senate;
the Speaker of the House of Representatives must appoint two members from each of the two largest caucuses of the House of Representatives; and
the Governor shall appoint one representative.
Other summit participants may include representatives from OSPI, the Department of Health, educational service districts, educational associations, emergency management, law enforcement, fire departments, parent organizations, and student organizations.
Staff support for the annual summit must be provided by OSPI and the School Safety Advisory Committee.
Legislative and nonlegislative summit participants must be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in current law.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: Yes.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Officials at the state and local level would benefit from gathering at a summit to discuss school safety. The summit must be annual because school safety is fluid and different approaches are needed at different times. This summit will help make schools safer.
OTHER: This bill should move beyond a summit and build on the work that is being done through an educational service district school safety cooperative. This bill could be broadened to include that work.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator McAuliffe, prime sponsor.
OTHER: Melissa Gombosky, Educational Service District 105.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.