HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2183

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to a student conduct task force.

Brief Description:  Creating a student conduct task force.

Sponsors:  Representatives Karahalios, Foreman, Kessler, Grant, Rust, Cothern, Quall, J. Kohl, Lemmon, Dorn, Chappell, Eide, Roland, Brough, Carlson, Long, Pruitt, Johanson, Sehlin, Springer, Morris, Cooke, Jones and Patterson.

Brief History:

Reported by House Committee on:

Education, January 28, 1994, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; B. Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  Educators and parents have expressed concern that there is a growing number of disruptive students in public school classrooms and that legal and other barriers make it difficult to effectively deal with these students.  These students often require extra attention and energy, which may mean that nondisruptive students often receive less attention and assistance.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A Task Force on Student Conduct is created.  The task force is to identify laws, rules and practices that make it difficult for educators to manage their classrooms and schools effectively. 

Based on its findings, the task force shall make recommendations regarding actions that could be taken to reduce the problems generated by disruptive students and thereby make schools more conducive to learning.

Members of the task force and the chair shall be appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI).  Groups to be represented on the task force are specified.

SPI personnel may staff the task force, or the superintendent may enter into a contract with a public or private entity.

The findings and recommendations of the task force shall be available by November 1, 1994.

The act expires on December 31, 1994.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Task force membership was expanded, and the due date for the report was moved forward one year.  The appropriation clause was removed.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  In many cases, the rights of the disruptive student supersede the rights of those who come to learn.  This task force will review relevant laws and regulations and make recommendations that will help educators handle disruptive students.

Testimony Against:  We must be careful to protect the civil rights of students.

Witnesses:  Rep. Karahalios (sponsor); Marsha Costello, Washington Association of School Administrators (concerns); Susan Patrick, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Walter Ball, Washington Association of School Principals; and Ann Lee, Evergreen Legal Services (concerns).