SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5788

                    As of February 8, 1999

Title:  An act relating to school district organization.

Brief Description:  Authorizing special elections to determine school district boundaries in areas with master planned communities.

Sponsors:  Senators Rasmussen, Hochstatter, Haugen, Patterson, Eide, Zarelli, Goings, Bauer and Brown.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/10/99.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff:  Natalie Adams (786-7444)

Background:  The Legislature does not set school district boundaries, but has established regional committees and statutory procedures for changing school district boundaries.  The current procedures do not provide provisions governing master planned communities.

Summary of Bill:  A master planned community is defined as one that was developed after January 1, 1985, and contains over 1,500 dwelling units.  The governing body of the area where the master planned community is located may call for a special election to decide reorganization of the school district boundary.  The persons eligible to vote must be qualified voters who have lived in the master planned community for at least 30 days before the election.  In order to transfer the territory from one school district to another, the proposed change in boundary must be approved by at least 3/5 of the voters who vote.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 5, 1999.

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