SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5644

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:

Ways & Means, February 23, 2017

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Requires a host district of a skill center cooperative to maintain a separate capital account for minor repair and maintenance costs of the skill center.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5644 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Braun, Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Vice Chair, Capital Budget ; Ranker, Ranking Minority Member; Rolfes, Assistant Ranking Minority Member, Operating Budget; Frockt, Assistant Ranking Minority Member, Capital Budget; Bailey, Becker, Billig, Carlyle, Conway, Darneille, Fain, Hasegawa, Keiser, Miloscia, Padden, Pedersen, Rivers, Schoesler, Warnick and Zeiger.

Background: There are 15 skill centers Washington which operate as cooperatives with participating school districts and offer in-depth programs for about 7000 students. Facility funding is provided through the capital budget; the funding is administered by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction School Facilities and Organization.

Summary of Bill (First Substitute): The host district of a skill center cooperative must maintain a separate capital account into which the participating school districts must make annual deposits to pay for minor repair and maintenance costs for the skill center. The annual deposits may be a per pupil facility fee charged by the host district.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE (First Substitute):

Removes the requirement that minor repair or maintenance cost is a cost less than 40 percent of the value of the building.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Proposed Substitute: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This is valuable because the consortium of districts cannot sell bonds. We recommend removing the 40 percent value threshold in lines 12-16. Skill centers are funded through direct appropriation.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Paul Randall, Tri-Tech Skills Center; Casey Moore, Director of School Facilities, OSPI; Michael Christianson, Bethel School District, Pierce County Skills Center.