SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5625

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard and Bauer;by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Board of Education)

Providing a pilot program to provide health and assessment services before school begins.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 16, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass and refer to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bender, Smitherman, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Marcia Costello (786-7419)

                  February 20, 1987

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 9, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5625 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDermott, Chairman; Gaspard, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Fleming, Kreidler, Lee, Moore, Owen, Talmadge, Vognild, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Mike Williams (786-7439)

                  March 19, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 18, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Depending on grade level, schools are required to screen students for scoliosis, vision, hearing, etc.  Students must be tested for placement in a variety of special programs such as special education, Chapter 1, remediation assistance and others.  All students are required to have immunizations for a variety of communicable diseases, and may not enter school without the required immunizations.

SUMMARY:

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is authorized to develop a pilot program for school districts to offer health screening, school placement and orientation programs before the school year begins.  The program is to be developed in cooperation with representatives of the Department of Social and Health Services, the Department of Community Development, and various interested organizations.  SPI shall grant such funds as may be appropriated to selected school districts to conduct pilot programs.  Districts shall be representative of geographical locations, sizes and grade levels of schools and school districts in the state, as well as be capable of evaluating the program and meet other requirements established by the Superintendent.  An expiration date of June 30, 1989 is established.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: EDUCATION:  Judy Hartmann, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Monica Schmidt, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; Dwayne Boyd, Superintendent, Elma School District, Washington Association of School Administrators; Pam Baldwin, School Nurses Organization of Washington; Ben Edlund, Washington State School Directors Association

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS: No one