CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5497

67TH LEGISLATURE

2022 REGULAR SESSION

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5497

BySenate Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators C. Wilson, Nobles, Conway, Das, Hunt, Lovelett, Lovick, Nguyen, Saldaña, and Wellman; by request of State Board of Education)

AN ACT Relating to extending voting authority to student members on the state board of education; and amending RCW 28A.305.011.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.305.011 and 2006 c 263 s 105 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The membership of the state board of education shall be composed of sixteen members who are residents of the state of Washington:

(a) Seven shall be members representing the educational system, as follows:

(i) Five members elected by school district directors. Three of the members elected by school district directors shall be residents of western Washington and two members shall be residents of eastern Washington;

(ii) One member elected at large by the members of the boards of directors of all private schools in the state meeting the requirements of RCW 28A.195.010; and

(iii) The superintendent of public instruction;

(b) Seven members appointed by the governor; and

(c) Two students selected in a manner determined by the state board of education.

(2) Initial appointments shall be for terms from one to four years in length, with the terms expiring on the second Monday of January of the applicable year. As the terms of the first appointees expire or vacancies on the board occur, the governor shall appoint or reappoint members of the board to complete the initial terms or to four-year terms, as appropriate.

(a) Appointees of the governor must be individuals who have demonstrated interest in public schools and are supportive of educational improvement, have a positive record of service, and who will devote sufficient time to the responsibilities of the board.

(b) In appointing board members, the governor shall consider the diversity of the population of the state.

(c) All appointments to the board made by the governor are subject to confirmation by the senate.

(d) No person may serve as a member of the board, except the superintendent of public instruction, for more than two consecutive full four-year terms.

(3) The governor may remove an appointed member of the board for neglect of duty, misconduct, malfeasance, or misfeasance in office, or for incompetent or unprofessional conduct as defined in chapter 18.130 RCW. In such a case, the governor shall file with the secretary of state a statement of the causes for and the order of removal from office, and the secretary of state shall send a certified copy of the statement of causes and order of removal to the last known post office address of the member.

(4)(a) The chair of the board shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the board. The chair of the board shall serve a term of two years, and may be reelected to an additional term. A member of the board may not serve as chair for more than two consecutive terms.

(b) ((Eight))Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, nine voting members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(c) All members ((except the student members)) are voting members.

(5) Members of the board appointed by the governor who are not public employees shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250 and shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the board in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

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