HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1602

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to election of regional committee members.

Brief Description:  Changing election provisions for regional committee members.

Sponsors:  Representatives Chappell, Cothern and Thomas; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, March 2, 1993, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; G. Fisher; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens; and Vance.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  There are nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) in the state that provide services to school districts.

Each of these ESDs has a "regional committee" that is responsible for hearing and making decisions regarding proposed school district boundary changes.  Regional committees also make equitable adjustments in assets when boundaries are changed, and are involved in decisions regarding sharing the costs of high school construction with non-high school districts.  Decisions made by regional committees may be appealed to the State Board of Education.

Seven to nine members serve on the regional committees, and committee members serve five-year terms.  The election of members is staggered, with a portion of the committee up for election each year.

In order to reduce unnecessary work, it has been recommended that regional committee member elections be held every two years instead of each year.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Regional committee member elections shall be held every two years instead of each year.  The term for regional committee members is reduced from five to four years.

A process for implementing the change is provided.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute added a process for implementing the new election cycle and a delayed effective date.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  The bill takes effect on September 1, 1994.

Testimony For:  This is an efficiency and cost-cutting measure, and was developed at the request of Educational Service Districts.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Susan Patrick, Superintendent of Public Instruction.