SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6394

BYSenators 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 2, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 1, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, all registered voters in school districts which elect their school directors by director districts may vote for candidates for each director district.  It is suggested that districts be allowed to determine whether only those voters in each director district be permitted to vote for candidates from those director districts.

SUMMARY:

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

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Seattle School District is exempted from the provisions of the bill.

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