HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1969

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Education Appropriations

Title: An act relating to promoting predictable funding for school districts that provide residential education.

Brief Description: Promoting predictable funding for school districts that provide residential education.

Sponsors: Representatives Haigh, Appleton, Kagi, Seaquist, Hurst, O'Brien, Morrell, Green, Dickerson and Sullivan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education Appropriations: 2/18/09, 2/26/09 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Requires allocations to school districts for institutional education programs at state juvenile rehabilitation centers and county juvenile detention facilities not be less than funding levels to support 90 percent of the prior school year's enrollment, beginning in the 2009-10 school year.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Haigh, Chair; Sullivan, Vice Chair; Priest, Ranking Minority Member; Hope, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Carlyle, Cox, Haler, Hunter, Kagi, Probst, Quall, Rolfes and Wallace.

Staff: Ben Rarick (786-7349)

Background:

The state funds a 220-day educational program for children in certain institutions. Institutional education funding is allocated to local school districts, educational service districts, or other entities that provide the educational program on a monthly basis. The five types of institutions receiving institutional education program funding are:

  1. Residential habilitation centers, which provide 24-hour-a-day care of children with disabilities. The disabilities range from profoundly mentally retarded, physically impaired, or severe behavior disorders. There are three centers maintained by the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Division of Mental Health of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

  2. State group homes, which provide 24-hour-a-day services for adjudicated youth. There are six group homes maintained by the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration of the DSHS.

  3. Institutions for juvenile delinquents, which provide 24-hour-a-day diagnosis, confinement, and rehabilitation of juveniles committed by the courts. There are five institutions maintained by the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration of the DSHS.

  4. County detention centers, which provide 24-hour-a-day treatment and care for juveniles who have been placed under protective custody or have committed a criminal offense. There are 21 centers maintained by county governments.

  5. State corrections facilities, which provide 24-hour-a-day incarceration of adults and juveniles committed as adults. Institutional education funding is provided for the education of juveniles under 18 years of age. There is one correctional facility operated by the Department of Corrections that houses juvenile inmates.

State funding for each type of institution is provided based on a formula similar to the basic education funding formula. Each full-time equivalent student generates staff units, which in turn generate dollars for salaries, benefits, and other costs of the program. Institutional education allocations are based on annual average full-time equivalent student enrollment, which reflect the average of student counts taken once per month throughout the year.

During the 2007-2008 school year, there were approximately 1,573 student full time equivalencies served through institutional educational programs. The average per student allocation was approximately $11,943. The 2007-2009 budget included approximately $38.9 million for institutional education funding.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, based on school districts or Educational Service Districts that provide instruction at state juvenile rehabilitation services and county juvenile detention facilities shall receive allocations for institutional education that are not less than 90 percent of the prior year's enrollments.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill specifies that the 90 percent floor applies only to residential education allocations based on enrollments at state juvenile rehabilitation facilities and county juvenile detention facilities, rather than all residential education. The substitute bill also clarifies that the 90 percent funding floor is calculated based on 90 percent of prior year enrollments, rather than 90 percent of prior year allocations.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The bill will allow for more effective staffing. Juvenile facilities often have very rapid turnover. Last year there were over 22,000 students educated in the system for some period of time. This kind of funding mechanism will provide the kind of stability these programs need to address the educational needs of these disadvantaged children. Many of these children are special needs children without evaluations. The daily attendance for these institutional programs can fluctuate four or five-fold within a given month. Last year a $16,000 reduction in the budget due to enrollment fluctuation meant the discontinuation of the NovaNet curriculum program.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Haigh, prime sponsor; Kathleen Sande, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Christie Perkins, Washington State Special Education Coalition; and Krag Unsoeld, Shelton School District.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.