WSSDA Governmental Relations has released a short summary of legislation signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee.
Click here for a copy of the 12-page summary.
Inslee vetoed only one bill that would have affected school districts, and that was ESHB 1652. The bill would have deferred impact fees from the time a building permit is submitted to the time of occupancy. Local jurisdictions have found it difficult to plan for new growth and ensure infrastructure is in place. School districts can't just close their doors to new enrollments. They count on impact fees to help cover the cost of portables and space remodeling.
In vetoing the bill, Inslee pledged to work with the state's smaller home builders who could use assistance as the industry recovers in the Great Recession.
WSSDA, the Puget Sound Schools Coalition, many individual school districts, local government associations, and environmental organizations formally requested the veto.
A complete session summary will be available once the 63rd Legislature wraps up its work.
Updates on the Legislature and state government from the Washington State School Directors' Association.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Legislative Review this week on Senate education bills
Go to TVW or look at this week's Legislative Review for a synopsis of the Senate action on education bills. The action took place on Wednesday, with more than an hour debate on grading schools A-F. For true TVW wonks, or for a rainy day, watch the debate on the Senate floor for March 6 to get a sense of the arguments for and against these bills. (The total debates spanned several hours.)
Bills that passed include:
The House passed HB 1652, an bill that would defer impact fees, including school impact fees, from the time of a building permit to time of occupancy. Instead of allowing local jurisdictions to decide whether to defer the impact fees, the bill would require it. A similar bill in the Senate is stalled.
Finally, a number of House education bills passed this week as well. Check out the floor calendar for today's action.
Bills that passed include:
- E2SSB 5237 - 3rd grade reading assessment failure consequences;
- SSB 5242 - requiring the consent of the principal in teacher transfers;
- E2SSB 5243 - requiring all high schools to automatically enroll students who pass the statewide assessments or end-of-course exams in the next more rigorous course;
- E2SSB 5244 - eliminating indefinite suspensions or expulsions except in certain circumstances;
- ESSB 5328 - grading schools A-F;
- E2SSB 5330 - changing various educational programs;
- ESSB 5587 - requiring students in 2018 to pass the statewide comprehensive English Language Arts and math assessments to graduate (exam first rolls out in 2014-15 school year); and
- 2SSB 5794 - changing Alternative Learning Experience courses, including weekly contact time requirements.
The House passed HB 1652, an bill that would defer impact fees, including school impact fees, from the time of a building permit to time of occupancy. Instead of allowing local jurisdictions to decide whether to defer the impact fees, the bill would require it. A similar bill in the Senate is stalled.
Finally, a number of House education bills passed this week as well. Check out the floor calendar for today's action.
House passes bid limit bill, 86-11
The state House of Representatives passed House Bill 1633 tonight, a bill that would allow school districts to use department staff to perform repairs and improvements to school property and buildings when the total cost of the project is less than $60,000.
The bill was amended on the House floor to drop the proposed threshold increase of $75,000 to $60,000.
The amendment was offered by House Capital Budget Chair Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, who said he was responding to requests from the Washington State Building Trades Council about the higher threshold. The BTC argued that allowing school districts to use in-house staff would hurt contractor jobs.
Speaking against the $60,000 proposal were bill sponsor Rep. Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah, and Rep. Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton. Both are former school directors. And both argued that allowing the higher limit would allow districts to use existing staff and save money.
The bill was set aside earlier in the day, when it appeared that the amendment might not be adopted. When brought back this evening, a roll call vote showed the amendment passing along party lines, with most Democrats supporting the amendment to go to $60,000.
A companion bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 5724, has a $75,000 threshold. WSSDA and its partners will continue to advocate for the higher threshold. The Senate bill is in Senate Rules; the Senate said it was waiting for the House bill, which is offered by the freshman legislator Magendanz. This was his first bill passed this session.
Also as part of an agreement with the Senate was the removal of an automatic price inflator. If it had been adopted, it would have been the first of its kind on contract thresholds.
Both bills have faced fierce opposition from the building trades council, Associated General Contractors, the Independent Business Association, and several contractor-specific organizations.
The WSSDA Board of Directors voted last fall to support initiating legislation to increase the in-house threshold from the current level of $40,000 to $75,000. The last time the threshold was changed was 2005.
The bill is a priority for the organization, and has received active assistance from PSE/SEIU 1948 and the International Union of Operating Engineers. Also supporting the bill are WEA, WASA, and the Alliance of Education Associations.
The bill was amended on the House floor to drop the proposed threshold increase of $75,000 to $60,000.
The amendment was offered by House Capital Budget Chair Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, who said he was responding to requests from the Washington State Building Trades Council about the higher threshold. The BTC argued that allowing school districts to use in-house staff would hurt contractor jobs.
Speaking against the $60,000 proposal were bill sponsor Rep. Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah, and Rep. Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton. Both are former school directors. And both argued that allowing the higher limit would allow districts to use existing staff and save money.
The bill was set aside earlier in the day, when it appeared that the amendment might not be adopted. When brought back this evening, a roll call vote showed the amendment passing along party lines, with most Democrats supporting the amendment to go to $60,000.
A companion bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 5724, has a $75,000 threshold. WSSDA and its partners will continue to advocate for the higher threshold. The Senate bill is in Senate Rules; the Senate said it was waiting for the House bill, which is offered by the freshman legislator Magendanz. This was his first bill passed this session.
Also as part of an agreement with the Senate was the removal of an automatic price inflator. If it had been adopted, it would have been the first of its kind on contract thresholds.
Both bills have faced fierce opposition from the building trades council, Associated General Contractors, the Independent Business Association, and several contractor-specific organizations.
The WSSDA Board of Directors voted last fall to support initiating legislation to increase the in-house threshold from the current level of $40,000 to $75,000. The last time the threshold was changed was 2005.
The bill is a priority for the organization, and has received active assistance from PSE/SEIU 1948 and the International Union of Operating Engineers. Also supporting the bill are WEA, WASA, and the Alliance of Education Associations.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Inslee sworn in, puts jobs at top of list
In Gov. Jay Inslee's inaugural address before a joint session of the House and Senate today, job growth was at the top of the list.
The new governor shared his vision for a Washington of tomorrow, which he said would focus on a clean energy economy, research and development, innovation, Lean Management in state agencies, and much more.
Regarding education, Inslee said a balanced budget and funding for education runs directly through health care reform, emphasizing that prevention will lead us from a "sick care" approach to one that makes huge savings to the state.
Inslee also said that during the campaign he was inspired by the pockets of innovation at schools across the state. He recognized the hard work of school teachers, and referenced the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Turning to the system, Inslee said education must be aligned from early learning to K-12 to our universities.
He also said that while the state is required to make more investments in education, it can't afford to allocate funding that masks existing problems. More than just funding, "We need systemic, sustainable reform of our schools," said Inslee.
Inslee's speech will be available for viewing on TVW; text of the speech is expected to be available on the governor's web site once it is up and posted.
Inslee was sworn in at 10:40 a.m. by Chief Justice Barbara Madsen in the Rotunda of the capitol building. The bigger stage allowed more people to participate and watch in person than the crowded chamber galleries would, said Inslee.
As his oath concluded, the crowd erupted in applause and shouts similar to what you'd hear at a sports event when your team scores. As he left for the joint session, Inslee said, "Let's go build a working Washington!"
Prior to the inaugural address, statewide elected officers were sworn in by members of the Supreme Court.
In November, voters elected a new attorney general, new state auditor, and new secretary of state.
The new governor shared his vision for a Washington of tomorrow, which he said would focus on a clean energy economy, research and development, innovation, Lean Management in state agencies, and much more.
Regarding education, Inslee said a balanced budget and funding for education runs directly through health care reform, emphasizing that prevention will lead us from a "sick care" approach to one that makes huge savings to the state.
Inslee also said that during the campaign he was inspired by the pockets of innovation at schools across the state. He recognized the hard work of school teachers, and referenced the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Turning to the system, Inslee said education must be aligned from early learning to K-12 to our universities.
He also said that while the state is required to make more investments in education, it can't afford to allocate funding that masks existing problems. More than just funding, "We need systemic, sustainable reform of our schools," said Inslee.
Inslee's speech will be available for viewing on TVW; text of the speech is expected to be available on the governor's web site once it is up and posted.
Inslee was sworn in at 10:40 a.m. by Chief Justice Barbara Madsen in the Rotunda of the capitol building. The bigger stage allowed more people to participate and watch in person than the crowded chamber galleries would, said Inslee.
As his oath concluded, the crowd erupted in applause and shouts similar to what you'd hear at a sports event when your team scores. As he left for the joint session, Inslee said, "Let's go build a working Washington!"
Prior to the inaugural address, statewide elected officers were sworn in by members of the Supreme Court.
In November, voters elected a new attorney general, new state auditor, and new secretary of state.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Gregoire addresses joint session
Governor Christine O. Gregoire gave her final State of the State address to a joint session of the 63rd Legislature today.
In her look back at accomplishments, Gregoire said that even in tough times they made the best decisions for students and schools. Specifically, she pointed to:
She challenged legislators to fully fund a seamless education system, from early learning through post-secondary education.
In her address, Gregoire said the challenges of the last few years were unprecedented. But together they didn't let the opportunity pass them by - ticking off agency consolidations, closed institutions, a smaller state work force, no change to UI premiums, and other successes as examples of how state government managed the economic crisis.
She closed with two recommendations on the need for solid investments in good schools and transportation.
Now is the time, Gregoire challenged, for the state to invest in our children and our future. With a nod to the McCleary decision, Gregoire said the legislature has a moral and constitutional obligation to fund the state's public schools.
We cannot cut or save our way out of this obligation, said Gregoire, restating the need for a down payment of at least an additional $1 billion in this biennium and at least $3 billion in the future.
The full speech will be available on the governor's web site - www.governor.wa.gov.
In her look back at accomplishments, Gregoire said that even in tough times they made the best decisions for students and schools. Specifically, she pointed to:
- the creation of an early learning department;
- investments in STEM courses and schools;
- a model evaluation system;
- innovative schools across the state;
- a launch year for high school seniors; and
- college-bound scholarships for students to attend college.
She challenged legislators to fully fund a seamless education system, from early learning through post-secondary education.
In her address, Gregoire said the challenges of the last few years were unprecedented. But together they didn't let the opportunity pass them by - ticking off agency consolidations, closed institutions, a smaller state work force, no change to UI premiums, and other successes as examples of how state government managed the economic crisis.
She closed with two recommendations on the need for solid investments in good schools and transportation.
Now is the time, Gregoire challenged, for the state to invest in our children and our future. With a nod to the McCleary decision, Gregoire said the legislature has a moral and constitutional obligation to fund the state's public schools.
We cannot cut or save our way out of this obligation, said Gregoire, restating the need for a down payment of at least an additional $1 billion in this biennium and at least $3 billion in the future.
The full speech will be available on the governor's web site - www.governor.wa.gov.
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