Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 1173
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: Repealing certain obsolete common school provisions.
Sponsors: Representatives Santos and Ortiz-Self; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/28/19
Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).
Background:
Task Force on Gangs in Schools.
Legislation enacted in 2007 established the Task Force on Gangs in Schools (Task Force) and charged it with examining adult and youth gang activities affecting school safety. Task Force members were selected by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and were required to possess expertise related to gang activities in schools. The Task Force was directed to work under the guidance of the School Safety Center at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the School Safety Center Advisory Committee, and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
The Task Force was required to annually report its findings and recommendations to the education committees of the Legislature. Although provisions for the Task Force remain in statute, the final annual report of the Task Force was in 2011 and it discontinued its activities in 2012.
Education Centers.
Originally authorized through legislation adopted in 1977, an Education Center is a for-profit or nonprofit private school that teaches basic academic skills, as well as student achievement motivation and employment orientation. As specified in statute, Education Centers must diagnose individual educational abilities, determine individual goals and courses of instruction, and evaluate each client's progress. While the SPI has certification authority for Education Centers, the OSPI indicates that no Education Centers have been authorized in more than a decade and that related state funding was discontinued in 2002. Additionally, the OSPI has indicated that it is not aware of any private organizations operating in compliance with the Education Center statutes.
Summary of Bill:
Provisions establishing and prescribing duties for the Task Force on Gangs in Schools are repealed.
All provisions related to the certification and operation of Education Centers are repealed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.