SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1536
As Passed Senate, April 11, 2023
Title: An act relating to requirements governing the withholding of high school diplomas.
Brief Description: Clarifying requirements governing the withholding of high school diplomas.
Sponsors: Representatives Timmons, Harris, Bergquist, Ortiz-Self, Walen, Ramel, Morgan, Stonier, Gregerson, Ormsby and Paul.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/27/23, 74-21.
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 3/23/23, 3/27/23 [DP, DNP, w/oRec].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 4/11/23, 28-21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Modifies the authority of school districts to withhold the diplomas of students who lose or willfully damage property, and amends reporting requirements on this topic.
  • Requires community service by a student performed in lieu of the payment of monetary damages to be credited at the applicable local or state minimum wage, whichever is greater.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Nobles, Vice Chair; Wilson, C., Vice Chair; Hunt and Pedersen.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senators Hawkins, Ranking Member; Dozier and McCune.
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senator Mullet.
Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)
Background:

A school district may withhold the diploma of a student who is responsible for losing or for willfully cutting, defacing, or injuring the property of the school district, a contractor of the district, an employee, or another student, until the student or the student's parent or guardian has paid for the loss or damage.  School districts must adopt procedures to protect students' rights to due process before diplomas are withheld for these reasons.
 
Each school district that withholds diplomas for these reasons must publish and maintain the following information on its website:

  • the number of diplomas withheld, by graduating class, during the previous three school years; and
  • the number of students with withheld diplomas who were eligible for free or reduced-price meals during their last two years of enrollment in the school district.

 
When a student and the student's parent or guardian are unable to pay for the loss or willful damages, the school district must provide a program of community service for the student in lieu of the payment of monetary damages.  Upon completion of community service, the student's diploma must be released.
Summary of Bill:

The authority for school districts to withhold the diploma of a student who is responsible for loss or willful damage to property of the school district, a contractor of the district, an employee, or another student is limited to property loss or damages that exceed $1,000.  School districts are required to release a withheld student's diploma at the earlier of: 

  • five years from the date of the student's graduation; or
  • until the amount owed is less than $1,000.

 

Community service performed by the student in lieu of payment of monetary damages must be credited at the applicable local or state minimum wage, whichever is greater.
 
Information about withheld diplomas must be published and maintained in a location on the school district website that facilitates easy access to the information.  When publishing required information about withheld diplomas on their websites, school districts must include information about the preceding five years, rather than three years, and must annually update the data from the prior reporting year to reflect the permitted release of diplomas.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: Students that would be targeted by this bill would be ones that would have met all other requirements for graduation except for owing a small amount of debt.  The bill also puts a mechanism in place for students who owe $1,000 or more to work off the debt and begin to contribute to society.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Joe Timmons, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.