SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5546

As Passed Senate, January 30, 2002

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:  Senators McAuliffe, Finkbeiner, Rasmussen, B. Sheldon, Fairley, Johnson, Hewitt, Eide and Kohl‑Welles; by request of State Board of Education.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  2/1/01, 2/12/01 [DP‑WM].

Passed Senate:  3/10/01, 46-0; 1/30/02, 47-2.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Carlson, Finkbeiner, Hewitt, Hochstatter, Johnson, Kastama, Kohl‑Welles, Prentice, Rasmussen and Zarelli.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786‑7422)

Background:  Part-time state boards and commissions are divided into five groups based primarily on the duties and functions of the board or commission.  The State Board of Education is currently a class three group.  Class three groups have rule-making authority, perform quasi-judicial functions and regulate and set policies for professions, occupations, businesses, or industries.  Members of a class three group may receive up to $50 a day when attending an official meeting, in addition to food, lodging, and travel allowances.

Class four groups perform the same functions as the class three groups; however, the duties of the class four group are considered to be of "overriding sensitivity and importance to the public welfare and the operation of state government."  Usually, a class four group meets more than 100 hours a year.  Members of a class four group may receive up to $100 a day when attending an official meeting, in addition to food, lodging, and travel allowances.

Summary of Bill:  The State Board of Education is changed from a class three group to a class four group.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 23, 2001.

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

Testimony For:  The State Board has done yeoman's work carrying out their responsibilities with education reform, graduation requirements, school construction and the Certificate of Mastery.  They deserve to be recognized as a class four board.  We believe that the State Board meets all the standards set for a class four board.  Clearly the work that the State Board does in the area of education, which is the paramount duty of the state, meets the standard requiring class four boards to have duties that have overriding sensitivity and importance to the public welfare.  The State Board members certainly exceed the requirement of meeting over 100 hours each year.  Current State Board members gladly serve voluntarily, but the small increase in compensation (from $50 to $100, per meeting day) could enable others to also serve.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator McAuliffe, prime sponsor; Jonathan Harris, SBE; Linda Lamb, SBE; Carolyn Tolas, SBE.