| HB 2242.E - DIGEST |
| (DIGEST AS ENACTED) |
States that in chapter 548, Laws of 2009 and chapter 236, Laws of 2010 the state established a comprehensive plan for enhancing the state's program of basic education. |
Declares an intent, with this act, to realize the promise of these reforms and to improve student outcomes by increasing state allocations for school staff salaries, revising state and local education funding contributions, and improving transparency and accountability of education funding. |
Creates the school employees' benefits board within the state health care authority to design and approve insurance benefit plans for school employees and establish eligibility criteria for participation in the plans. |
Requires the superintendent of public instruction to convene a technical work group to review the staffing enrichments to the program of basic education. |
Creates the school employees' insurance account, the school employees' insurance administrative account, and the school employees' benefits board medical benefits administration account. |
| VETO MESSAGE ON EHB 2242 |
| July 6, 2017 |
| To the Honorable Speaker and Members, |
| The House of Representatives of the State of Washington |
| Ladies and Gentlemen: |
| I am returning herewith, without my approval as to Sections 106, 607, 819, and 1003, Engrossed House Bill No. 2242 entitled: |
"AN ACT Relating to funding fully the state's program of basic education by providing equitable education opportunities through reform of state and local education contributions." |
| Section 106 limits school districts' use of late start and early release days to seven occurrences each school year. Educators use this time to develop new competencies, collaborate with other educators, receive mentoring from senior teachers, and analyze student data to inform instructional practices. Research shows that this time for job-embedded professional learning and collaboration is linked to student success. Limiting practices that improve student achievement goes against the intent of this bill and our goals. |
| Section 607 requires the Caseload Forecast Council (Council) to convene a technical working group to determine the feasibility of developing a model to aid in school district four-year budget plans. Timely data does not exist to predict school district-level enrollments that factor in business growth and other local factors. The work required in this section is outside the scope of expertise for the Council. No funding is provided in the 2017-19 omnibus appropriations act; therefore, the Council is unable to contract for this work. |
| Section 819 ends reporting requirements for school employee health insurance benefits, effective December 1, 2018. House Bill 1042, which I am signing today, removes these reporting requirements. Moreover, funding to support these requirements was not included in the budget, so the Office of the Insurance Commissioner will be unable to produce the report. |
| Section 1003 repeals, among other things, the statutes that govern approved training and continuing education clock hours for the purpose of credit on the salary schedule, effective for the 2017-18 school year. These statutes are essential to compensation in the upcoming school year. |
| For these reasons I have vetoed Sections 106, 607, 819, and 1003 of Engrossed House Bill No. 2242. |
| With the exception of Sections 106, 607, 819, and 1003, Engrossed House Bill No. 2242 is approved. |
| Respectfully submitted, |
| Jay Inslee |
| Governor |