HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1734

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.

Title: An act relating to reimbursement for substitute teachers participating in activities of the Washington state professional educator standards board to carry out its powers and duties.

Brief Description: Authorizing reimbursement for substitute teachers participating in activities of the Washington state professional educator standards board to carry out its powers and duties.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Education: 2/7/17, 2/14/17 [DP].

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires payments to school districts for substitutes needed because the Professional Educator Standard Board requested certificated or classified school district employees to serve on committees that further education in the state.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Santos, Chair; Dolan, Vice Chair; Stonier, Vice Chair; Harris, Ranking Minority Member; Muri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Caldier, Hargrove, Johnson, Kilduff, Lovick, McCaslin, Ortiz-Self, Senn, Slatter, Springer, Steele, Stokesbary and Volz.

Background:

In order to further education in the state, one or more certificated or classified school district employees may be requested to serve on a committee formed by the Legislature, the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), or the State Board of Education (SBE). If substitutes would be needed during these certificated or classified employees' time of service on these committees, the SPI must make payments to the employees' school districts using funds appropriated by the Legislature for the use of the common schools.

Summary of Bill:

The SPI must make payments to employees' school district for substitutes needed because the Professional Educator Standard Board (PESB) requested certificated or classified school district employees to serve on committees that further education in the state.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This is a technical bill. When the Legislature transferred responsibilities that were held by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to the PESB, some things were missed. For over a decade, the OSPI has allowed the PESB to use these funds, feeling that the legislative intent was clear. If the statute allows the SBE and the OSPI to use these dollars for substitute reimbursement, then it must have also intended for the PESB to have access to these dollars as well. The OSPI would now be more comfortable having this clarified in statute, and has shut off the PESB's access to these funds. This has limited the PESB's ability to fund work groups that engage classroom teachers. There is no reason why the Legislature would want these funds to be available for the OSPI and the SBE, but not the PESB.

(Opposed) None.