HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1715

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to reclassifying the state board of education as a class four group.

Brief Description:  Reclassifying the state board of education as a class four group.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cox, Stensen, Schual‑Berke and Talcott; by request of Board of Education.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Education:  2/17/99, 2/24/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$The members of the State Board of Education may receive up to $100 rather than $50 per day for every day that the board is working.   The money is in addition to food, lodging and travel allowances.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Quall, Democratic Co-Chair; Talcott, Republican Co-Chair; Haigh, Democratic Vice Chair; Schindler, Republican Vice Chair; Carlson; Cox; Keiser; Rockefeller; D. Schmidt; Schual-Berke; Stensen; Sump and Wensman.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 1 member:  Representative Santos.

Staff:  Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:

Part-time state boards and commissions are divided into four groups.  The State Board of Education is a class three group.  Class three groups generally have the following types of responsibilities:  rule making authority, quasi-judicial functions, administration or policy direction of state agencies or state programs, or regulatory or licensing functions for professions, occupations, businesses, or industries.  Members of a class three group may receive up to $50 a day when the group is working, in addition to food, lodging, and travel allowances.  Those members who are also full-time federal, state, or local government employees may not receive the $50 a day in compensation if they have received any compensation from their employer for working that day.

Class four groups are like class three groups except that the Legislature considers class four duties to be of overriding sensitivity and importance to the public welfare and the operation of state government.  Usually, a class four group will meet more than 100 hours a year.  Members of a class four group may receive up to $100 a day when the group is working, in addition to food, lodging, and travel allowances.  Those members who are also full-time federal, state, or local government employees may not receive the $100 a day in compensation if they have received any compensation from their employer for working that day.

Laws describing the duties of and compensation for class three and four groups have not been updated since 1984.

Summary of Bill:

The State Board of Education is changed from a class three to a class four group.  Therefore, in addition to food, lodging, and travel allowances, members of the board may receive up to $100 rather than $50 a day when the board is working.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The State Board of Education meets the statutory requirements for a class four group.  Since the board devotes countless hours each year to improving the education of  the state's children, it deserves to be included among the other class four groups.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Cox, prime sponsor.