REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 28
 

On Wednesday evening, the Senate held an additional public hearing and executive session. The Committee first completed taking testimony on a few bills that were heard yesterday morning. Then Committee members moved to executive session and adopted ten bills:

• HB 2811 – Creating the healthy student grant program.

• HB 2523 – Creating the position of world language supervisor in OSPI.

• HB 2137 – Allowing school employees’ children with disabilities to enroll in special services programs in the district where the employee is assigned.

• HB 2775 – Regarding bonuses for instructional staff certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

• HB 2870 – Providing opportunities for professional development for instructional assistants.

• HB 3103 – Expanding the list of crimes that require dismissal or certificate revocation for school employees.

• HB 1283 – Authorizing high school diplomas to be issued to persons who left high school before graduation to serve in the United States armed forces.

• HB 2516 – Eliminating requirements for scoliosis screening in schools.

• HB 3317 – Regarding math standards.

• HB 2884 – Requiring policies on and limiting the use of mechanical, chemical and physical restraint of students.

The Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee returned this morning to hear additional bills and adopt a series of additional bills. They took public testimony on four bills (HB 2597, HB 2781, HB 3269 and HB 2026) and then adopted those bills along with an additional six bills:

• HB 2597 – Requiring the department of early learning and the office of the superintendent of public instruction to develop a kindergarten entry assessment.

• HB 2781 – Enhancing Washington state history and government course requirements for high school graduation.

• HB 3269 – Creating a roving early intervention specialist pilot program.

• HB 2026 – Regarding recruiter access to student records.

• HB 3291 – Enacting the community schools act of 2008.

• HB 3166 – Concerning the design of the state assessment system and the WASL.

• HB 1806 – Developing a model integrated pest management program. (Adopted amendments would make IPM certification an option, rather than a requirement, to school districts.)

• HB 2869 – Extending the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards bonus to certificated principals.

• HB 2635 – Regarding school district boundaries and organization.

• HB 2809 – Regarding mathematics and science teachers.

Last night the Senate Ways and Means Committee passed out the Senate version of the 2008 Supplemental Operating Budget. One very minor K-12 amendment was adopted by the Committee: $125,000 was added to OSPI’s budget for non-violence leadership training. This afternoon, the full Senate took action on the budget, adopting the bill with a near party-line vote of 31-17. 30 majority Democrats voted in favor of the budget, while 16 minority Republicans were joined by one Democrat voting against the budget (one additional Republican senator was excused).  Prior to the Senate’s adoption of the budget, one additional K-12 amendment was made, providing funding to allow a review of OSPI’s new math standards.

This afternoon, the full Senate also adopted the Senate version of the 2008 Supplemental Capital Construction Budget. The Capital Budget was adopted with no dissenting votes. Negotiations on a final, compromise Operating Budget and a compromise Capital Budget are expected to begin at any time. It is unclear when, or if, a formal “Conference Committee” will be appointed to negotiate the budgets; however, it is likely that House and Senate majority Democrats (along with the Governor) will meet privately until a budget is agreed to. Conference Committees are required to provide notice of their meetings and they are open to the public, so in recent years, with one party in control of both houses, Conference Committees have not been established on the budgets until a final agreement among the majority members has been reached.

Tomorrow, Feb. 29, is the last day for opposite house bills to be adopted by their opposite house policy committees — meaning many more bills will automatically die because of lack of action tomorrow evening. This will further narrow the focus of legislators as they work to complete their business by March 13, the last allowed day for the 2008 Regular Legislative Session.

Return to Legislative Report Index

Legislative Reports are prepared by WSSDA's Governmental Relations staff team: Dan Steele (360/252-3010) and Sheila Chard (360/252-3011). If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us.