SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6244

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Bailey, Metcalf, Vognild, Anderson, McMullen, Nelson, Bender, Kiskaddon, Smith and Barr)

Providing additional capital construction assistance to certain small school districts.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 18, 1988; January 26, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6244 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Kiskaddon, Vice Chairman; Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Lee, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  January 27, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Under current law school districts are eligible for state matching funds for school construction projects approved by the State Board of Education.  The amount of the state match varies from 20 percent to 90 percent according to the classification of the approved project.  It is proposed that a new category of eligibility for a 90 percent match be established for certain small school districts.

SUMMARY:

School districts are eligible for a 90 percent state match for approved school construction projects if they meet each of the following criteria:  (1) in the current and preceding two school years the district's annual average enrollment of fulltime equivalent students (FTEs) does not exceed 600; (2) in the current school year at least 45 percent of the lunches served in the district are free and reduced price meals; (3) the district's special levy assessed valuation per resident FTE student does not exceed $200,000, for special levies collectible in the current and preceding two years; and (4) more than 50 percent of the total acreage comprising the district is exempt from school district special levy taxation.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Dr. William Kildall, Superintendent, Darrington School District; Pete Selvig, Darrington School District; Bill Walters, Self; Bob Barnard, Self; Charles Requa, President, Darrington Education Association; Dan O'Malley, Athletic Director, Darrington School District; Beryl Mauldin, Principal, Darrington Elementary School; Jim Anderson, Self; Susan Richter, Member, Board of Directors, Darrington School District; Representative Sim Wilson