BILL REQ. #:  S-4353.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/07/14.   

     AN ACT Relating to the school construction assistance program; creating new sections; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature seeks to reduce overcrowded classes in public schools and to support the availability of adequate facilities for students as the legislature continues to implement reduced class sizes and state-funded all-day kindergarten. The legislature recognizes that certain areas of the state have large numbers of students that cannot be accommodated by current, available school building space. The legislature also recognizes that certain areas of the state are experiencing rapid growth in the number of students who are enrolling in school and that continued significant growth is projected for the foreseeable future.
     (2) The legislature intends to create a legislative task force to review and recommend changes to the eligibility requirements and distribution formulas for the state's school construction assistance grant program in time for the legislature to implement such changes in the 2015-2017 capital construction budget.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The joint task force on public school construction funding is established to review issues related to funding for construction and renovation of public schools, including but not limited to:
     (a) The statutory provisions governing the school construction assistance program funding formula;
     (b) Eligibility requirements and the funding assistance percentage for the state's school construction assistance program; and
     (c) Flexibility needed within the funding formula to address the particular needs of school districts experiencing rapid growth.
     (2) Appointments to the task force shall be completed within thirty days of the effective date of this section. The task force shall consist of eleven voting members. The members shall be:
     (a) Four members from the house of representatives, two from each major caucus, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
     (b) Four members from the senate, two from each major caucus, appointed by the majority leader and minority leader of the major caucuses of the senate; and
     (c) One member representing an urban school district, one member representing a suburban school district, and one member representing a rural school district, appointed by a majority of the legislative members.
     (3) The task force shall:
     (a) Examine the statutory provisions regarding the funding formula of school construction projects and how the formula should be adjusted in light of the legislature's revisions to the definition of basic education;
     (b) Examine eligibility requirements and funding assistance percentage formulas for the state's school construction assistance program and how the formula should be adjusted to achieve equitable and ample funding for the facilities required by school districts to provide basic education to all Washington students;
     (c) Examine flexibility needed in the system to address the needs of school districts experiencing rapid growth and propose changes;
     (d) Examine actual construction costs per square foot and any variations by geographic region and propose revisions to the existing construction cost allowance;
     (e) Recommend approaches in a report to the governor and the legislature to address the various examined issues by December 1, 2014, so that any recommended changes may be implemented in the 2015-2017 capital budget.
     (4) The task force shall receive staff and logistics support from the house of representatives office of program research, senate committee services, office of financial management, the department of enterprise services, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The first meeting of the task force shall be convened by the house of representatives office of program research and senate committee services within forty-five days of the effective date of this section.
     (5) Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 44.04.120.
     (6) This section expires June 30, 2015.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.