HOUSE BILL REPORT

2SHB 163

BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen, Ebersole, Appelwick, Brekke, Heavey, Dellwo, Pruitt, Cole, Fisher, Armstrong, O'Brien, H. Sommers, Niemi, Rust, Locke, Nelson, Valle and Winsley)

Compensating school district boards of directors.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (16).

     Signed by Representatives Ebersole; Chair, Spanel; Vice Chair, Appelwick, Cole, Cooper, Holm, P. King, Peery, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, L. Smith, Todd, Valle and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:     The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass.  (22)

     Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers and Sprenkle.

House Staff:    Janet Peterson (786-7143)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 18, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The time commitment of individuals serving as school board members for a first class district is substantial and often results in personal and financial sacrifices.  School board members do not receive financial compensation in the form of per diem or salary for their service, but do receive money to cover expenses.

SUMMARY:

To assure that persons of all financial circumstances have the opportunity to serve as a school board member, each school board member of a district shall be eligible to receive up to $50 per diem for attending board meetings and performing other duties for the school district.  The per diem for each board member shall not exceed $4,800 per year.

A member may waive receipt of per diem on a monthly basis.  Waivers of receipt of per diem does not waive receipt of compensation for expenses.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  The resolution authorizing receipt of compensation by members of the boards of directors of a school district must be adopted by those board members in a regularly scheduled meeting.  The money used to pay for the compensation shall be locally collected excess levy funds.  The act shall take effect on September 1, 1987.

Fiscal Note:    Requested March 5, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Education)  Representative Ken Jacobsen; Ellen Roe, Seattle School Board member.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as in Committee on Education.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Education)  Working as a school board member is a full time occupation.  Some board members have been told an employer would not consider hiring them because their school board responsibilities took so much time and should be more important than their job.  Most citizens cannot give up employment to be a school board member, therefore some compensation must be provided to assure individuals from all walks of life can serve as school board members.  Most large metropolitan school districts in other states and other boards of water districts, fire districts, etc. in the state do provide compensation for board members.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as in Committee on Education.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Yeas 61; Nays 35; Absent 2; Excused 2

Voting Nay:     Representatives Amondson, Ballard, Barnes, Baugher, Brooks, Brough, Bumgarner, Chandler, Doty, Hankins, Heavey, P. King, Kremen, Lewis, Lux, May, McLean, Miller, Moyer, Nealey, Padden, Patrick, Prince, Sanders, Sayan, Schmidt, Schoon, Silver, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Taylor, Walk, B. Williams, S. Wilson and Zellinsky

Absent:    Representatives Grimm and Vekich