SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6394

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Craswell and Bailey)

Providing for the option to elect school district directors by director district.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 27, 1988; February 1, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6394 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  February 18, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 16, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Registered voters whose school directors are elected by director districts may vote for candidates from every director district.  It is suggested that districts determine whether only voters registered in a specific director district be permitted to vote for directors from the specific district.

SUMMARY:

Except for Seattle, school districts may provide that only the voters within each director district may vote for directors under the following conditions: (1) Twenty percent of the registered voters in the school district must sign a petition to that effect; (2) the district superintendent must notify the county auditor to put the question on the ballot at the next general election; and (3) if a majority of the voters approve, the district's directors shall be elected only by the registered voters of each director district upon expiration of the terms of the incumbent directors.

Effective September 1, 1988 through August 31, 1989, second class districts ineligible to elect directors at large may do so under the following conditions:  (1) At least 20 percent of the registered voters of the qualifying second class district must sign a petition or the school board must adopt a motion requesting dissolution of the director districts; (2) the petition or motion must be submitted to the Educational Service District Superintendent and the county auditor shall call for a special election; and (3) if a majority of the voters approve, the districts' directors shall be elected at large upon expiration of the terms of the incumbent directors.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Senator Craswell, Sponsor (pro); Don Buster, self (pro); Bruce Harlow, self (pro); Steven Hargrove, self (pro); Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Director's Association