HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6053

As Amended by the House

BYSenators Gaspard and Bauer

Changing powers of educational service district boards.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Ebersole, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Appelwick, Betrozoff, Cole, Cooper, Holland, Holm, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, Schoon, Taylor and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7109)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Current state law does not authorize the boards of directors of educational services districts (ESD) to enter into agreements longer than five years for the rental or lease of facilities.  State law also prohibits ESD boards of directors from directly borrowing funds to acquire real or personal property necessary to the operation of the educational service district.

SUMMARY:

Educational service district boards of directors may enter into contracts for periods not exceeding twenty years to rent or lease building space, portable buildings, security systems, computers and other equipment.

The boards of directors for ESDs may directly borrow funds to contract for real and personal property necessary for the operation of the educational service district, subject to State Board of Education approval and conditions that the board may establish.

Educational service districts may directly provide transportation for special education cooperatives.  With the consent of the participating school district, the educational service district shall directly receive state apportionment funds for this purpose.  Educational service districts which provide this service and receive transportation money directly shall establish and maintain a separate vehicle transportation account in the educational service district's general expense fund for these funds.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Doyle E. Winter, Educational Service District  121, Seattle.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Currently educational service districts cannot enter into leases and contracts of more than five years duration or borrow money which may be necessary to fund the purchase of a building to house its offices. Several of the educational service districts were allowed to purchase buildings prior to clarification that there was no statutory authority to do so.  This change would allow all educational service districts equal opportunity to purchase property and to enter into contracts and leases for equipment with terms that are more beneficial because of the longer duration of the lease or contract.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None presented.