HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1606

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to education.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the determination of "years of service" for certain educational employees.

Sponsors:  Representatives Carlson, Johnson, Linville, Cole and Keiser.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education:  2/25/97, 3/4/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Johnson, Chairman; Hickel, Vice Chairman; Cole, Ranking Minority Member; Keiser, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Linville; Quall; Smith; Sterk; Sump; Talcott and Veloria.

Staff:  Bronwyn Mauldin (786-7093).

Background:  Each year the Legislature must establish a statewide salary allocation schedule for the purpose of allocating funds for basic education certificated instructional staff salaries.  This schedule allocates higher salaries for certificated instructional staff with more education and more years of experience.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction calculates salary allocations for state funded basic education certificated instructional staff based on the salary schedule set by the Legislature. 

Basic education certificated instructional staff includes teachers, nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.  For the purpose of salary calculations, years of experience for certificated instructional staff includes all years of documented full-time and part-time professional education employment accumulated in Washington, other states, or other countries. 

All school nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists must be certified by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in order to work in Washington schools.  Each must have completed certain educational requirements and have an appropriate state license in order to receive an initial or continuing certificate.

Summary of Bill:  Calculations of years of experience for all school nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists must include not only the employee=s experience working in schools, but also any years worked in nonschool positions as a licensed nurse, occupational therapist, or physical therapist.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Including nonschool years of service would attract more experienced and better nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists to work in schools.  Speech pathologists and audiologists should be added to this bill.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ann Simons and Jeanne Baranski, School Nurse Organization of Washington; Jan Galvin, Washington State Physical Therapy Association; Pat Gabrielse, Washington Speech and Hearing Association; and Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association.