SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1158

BYRepresentatives Holland, Peery, Betrozoff, Cole, Fuhrman, Pruitt, Walker, Jones, Silver, H. Sommers, Brumsickle, Sayan, Nealey, Rayburn, Ebersole, May, Haugen, Baugher, Valle, Leonard, Horn, Rasmussen, D. Sommers, Moyer, G. Fisher, Prentice, Grant, Bristow, Phillips, Miller, Patrick, Jacobsen, Winsley, Kremen, McLean, Crane, Spanel, Inslee and Rector

Repealing the expiration of the Washington school directors' association.

House Committe on Education

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 21, 1989; March 30, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Fleming, Metcalf, Murray.

Senate Staff:Leslie Goldstein (786-7424)

                  March 31, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 30, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) is an "agency of the state" that provides services to the 296 school boards in Washington.  Membership in the association is mandatory.  Dues are paid by school district boards of directors.

The major purpose of the association is to coordinate the policymaking, control and management of the school districts of the state.  The association is required to make reports and recommendations at least annually to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  Other powers of the association include purchasing liability insurance for school directors and providing special services, research, and consultants to school districts on a cost reimbursable contract basis.

The association was founded as a private association in the 1920s.  It became an "agency of the state" in 1947.  It was subject to sunset review in 1982.  The second sunset review has been conducted by the Legislative Budget Committee in 1988.  The Legislative Budget Committee recommends that the association continue to exist.

SUMMARY:

The existence of the Washington School Directors Association is continued.  The duties of the association are expanded to include providing advice and assistance to local boards to promote their primary duty of representing the public interest.  The association is no longer required to submit copies of service contracts with local school districts to the Office of Financial Management and the Legislative Budget Committee.

The association is subject to the sunset review process and may terminate June 30, 1998.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect June 30, 1989.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The association is given the authority to lease property and to borrow money for the acquisition of sites for office facilities.

Senate Committee - Testified: FOR:  Dwayne Slate, Kathleen Taylor Sherman, Larry Swift, Washington State School Directors Association; Walter Ball, Association of School Principals; Cathy Pearsall, Pat McCarthy, Tacoma School Board; Ellen Roe, Seattle School Board; Ken Watson, Seattle School District; Gene Pollard, self