Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Appropriations Committee |
SB 5664
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. |
Brief Description: Eliminating the reduction in state basic education funding that occurs in counties with federal forestlands.
Sponsors: Senators Braun, Takko, Hawkins and King.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/13/17
Staff: Jessica Harrell (786-7349).
Background:
Federal forests comprise over 21 percent of all of Washington state's land. The federal government provides a portion of the revenues from the management of these lands to the counties in which the lands are located. The majority of the revenues come from the harvest of timber. A portion of the federal forest revenue must be distributed to the public school district within the county. If there is more than one school district within the county, the revenue is distributed in proportion to the number of full-time equivalent students in each respective district.
Prior to 2014, the state basic education allocation to school districts in counties with federal forest lands was reduced by an amount equal to the federal forest revenue that each school district received. In 2014 the formula was adjusted so that the state basic education allocation to a school district with a poverty level of at least 57 percent is reduced only by the portion of federal forest revenues that exceeds $70,000. A school district's poverty level is determined by the percentage of student eligible for free and reduced-price lunch in the previous school year.
The 2015-17 biennial budget temporarily eliminated the reduction of the federal forest revenue from school districts' basic education allocation.
Summary of Bill:
The reduction of federal forest revenues from school district basic education allocations is eliminated.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on September 1, 2017.