HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 163

BYRepresentatives Jacobsen, Ebersole, Appelwick, Brekke, Heavey, Dellwo, Pruitt, Cole, Fisher, Armstrong, O'Brien, H. Sommers, Niemi, Rust, Locke, Nelson, Valle and Winsley

Compensating school district boards of directors in districts having twenty thousand or more students.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (16).

     Signed by Representatives Ebersole; Chair, Spanel; Vice Chair, Appelwick, Cole, Cooper, Holm, P. King, Peery, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, L. Smith, Todd, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (22)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers and Sprenkle.

House Staff:    Janet Peterson (786-7143)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

MARCH 5, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The time commitment of individuals serving as school board members for a first class district is substantial and often results in personal and financial sacrifices.  School board members do not receive financial compensation in the form of per diem or salary for their service, but do receive money to cover expenses.

SUMMARY:

SECOND SUBSTITUTE BILL:  To assure that persons of all financial circumstances have the opportunity to serve as a school board member, each school board member of a district shall be eligible to receive up to $50 per day per diem for attending board meetings and performing other duties for the school district.  The per diem for each board member shall not exceed $4,800 per year.

A member may waive receipt of per diem on a monthly basis.  Waivers of receipt of per diem does not waive receipt of compensation for expenses.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Limitations restricting payment of per diem to only board members representing first class school districts are removed.  All school board members shall receive per diem unless the member waives the right.

SECOND SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO FIRST SUBSTITUTE:  School boards must adopt a board resolution in order to provide compensation for their members.  Compensation may be provided from local funds only and shall not imply state funding.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  Second substitute proposed.

Fiscal Note:    Requested March 5, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Education)  Representative Ken Jacobsen; Ellen Roe, Seattle School Board member.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as in Committee on Education.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Education)  Working as a school board member is a full time occupation.  Some board members have been told an employer would not consider hiring them because their school board responsibilities took so much time and should be more important than their job.  Most citizens cannot give up employment to be a school board member, therefore some compensation must be provided to assure individuals from all walks of life can serve as school board members.  Most large metropolitan school districts in other states and other boards of water districts, fire districts, etc. in the state do provide compensation for board members.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as in Committee on Education.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.