HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5858

As Amended by the House

BYSenators McCaslin, Murray and Bailey

Regarding meetings of school directors.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (15)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Horn, Jones, Phillips, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 14, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Open Public Meetings Act of 1971 provides that meetings of public governing bodies may be attended by all persons and that the actions and deliberations of a governing body shall be taken openly.  The law requires that notice of the time and place for holding regular meetings be provided in accordance with agency ordinance, resolution or bylaws.

Current law applicable to first class school districts requires that the district board of directors maintain an office where all regular meetings of the district must be held.  Many school districts prefer to conduct meetings throughout the school district to provide an opportunity for broader public participation.

SUMMARY:

The requirement to hold all regular meetings of the school board in the office where all records, vouchers and other important papers are preserved is eliminated.  However, all regular meetings must be held within the district's boundaries.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    School districts often wish to have meetings in locations other than their district office.  Although districts are in compliance with the Public Meetings Act, there is a little known provision in statute that requires that all meetings be held in the district office where its records are kept.  We feel that this provision should be deleted.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.