FINAL BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 5175

                          C 186 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing the donation of surplus computers and computer‑related equipment to school districts and educational service districts.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, Horn, Franklin, Eide, B. Sheldon, Finkbeiner, McCaslin, Goings, Oke, Winsley, Kohl‑Welles, Fraser, Rasmussen, Costa and Benton; by request of Department of General Administration and Superintendent of Public Instruction).

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

House Committee on Education

Background:  The Division of Purchasing of the Department of General Administration sells or exchanges, at public or private sales, surplus personal property belonging to state agencies or educational institutions.  Currently agencies are not allowed to donate surplus computers or computer-related equipment to school districts or educational service districts in Washington.

Summary:  An agency may donate, to any school district or educational service district in Washington, surplus computers and computer-related equipment.  The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of General Administration must, no later than September 1, 1999, develop guidelines and distribution standards to include considerations for quality, school-district need, and accountability.

The guidelines and distribution standards adopted by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and General Administration must give priority to meeting the computer-related needs of children with disabilities, including those disabilities that require the portability of laptop computers.

The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate, and the directors of legislative agencies may authorize surplus computers and computer-related equipment owned by his or her respective entity to be donated to school districts and educational service districts.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 48 0

House     92 0 (House amended)

Senate        (Senate refused to concur)

House     96 0 (House amended)

Senate    46 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1999