When declaring books, equipment, materials, and relocatable facilities as surplus property, school districts, educational service districts (ESDs), and other state or local government agencies concerned with education must comply with public notice requirements before disposing of the property.
The public notice requirements generally obligate the school districts, ESDs, and agencies to serve notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the school district, and to any school district or private school in the state that has requested notice. The notice must specify that the items are for sale, rent, or lease to school districts or approved private schools, at the greater of either a depreciated cost or fair market value. Students who wish to purchase surplus text books, however, have priority for doing so before school districts and private schools. Thirty days after publishing the required notice and making the items available to school districts and approved private schools, a school district or agency may sell any remaining items to private persons or entities.
As an alternative to satisfying the public notice requirements, school districts and ESDs may grant or loan surplus personal property to public entities, qualifying private entities, or indigent persons, on the condition the property be used for the preschool through twelfth grade education of members of the public, and that other requirements are met.
School districts and educational service districts are exempted from public notice requirements that generally apply for surplus property if they sell or grant surplus technology hardware at a depreciated cost to public school students, a term that includes recent graduates. The sale or grant must be recorded in an agreement between the parties that indicates the surplus technology hardware's depreciated cost, if any.
"Surplus technology hardware" is defined as computer laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices or equipment issued by the public school to students for their use during a school year.
School districts that sell or grant surplus technology hardware should prioritize the receipt of items to students they have reasonably determined to have the greatest need. In making these determinations, school districts may consider, among other factors, whether a student's family qualifies for free or reduced-price meals or has an income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level at the time of the sale or grant.
(In support) This bill is the result of school district requests. Many students don't have access to the same computer equipment they used while in high school. This equipment could help students apply for jobs, complete college applications, and meet postgraduation needs. The bill also intends for students that have been determined to be in need by school districts to have access to the equipment at depreciated cost.
Every year school districts retire student laptops and tablets that no longer meet the rigors of classroom use but remain reliable for use at home. Under current rules, school districts don't have a path for getting surplus technology to students, but this bill fixes that. Most students don't have access to a computer at home other than their phone and laptops issued by school districts. This bill allows school districts to turn surplus technology into student opportunity.
Today's rules make it difficult for school districts to pass surplus technology on to students that can still benefit from them. This bill respects local decision-making, supports the responsible use of taxpayer dollars by extending the value of investments, and helps students.
(Opposed) None.
Representative Lisa Callan, prime sponsor; Martin Turney, Issaquah School District, Chief of Finance and Operations; and David S. Moon II, Sultan School District, Technology Director.