This Week in Olympia

Feb 29 – March 4

With less than a week to go, we are seeing more shenanigans and consternation as lawmakers race against the clock to get their work done. Friday was policy cut-off, meaning if a bill didn’t make it through both chambers, it’s dead. The exception is those that are necessary to implement the budget. We have some of those, so even though a bill may look dead, it could just be playing possum.

Budget

When it comes to the budget, Rep. Dunshee, D, Everett, House Appropriations Chair said that because the House and Senate are so far apart, they could do one of three things: leave without a supplemental budget, find a compromise solution or go home and come back in a special session.

As a reminder, the House has proposed about $200 million in new spending, including a package of modest pay increases for educators. The Senate has proposed about $200 million in cuts to the general fund.

Charter Schools

Senate Republicans are still trying to maneuver for charters, by passing a “title only bill” which, as its name implies only has a title, no actual content, designed to give them wiggle room at the end. Rep. Magendanz, R, East King County, and Rep. Larry Springer, D, Kirkland, have introduced a title only bill on the House side.

Teacher shortage

In addition to the modest raises proposed by the House, the legislature is considering additional policy changes and limited investments to make a dent in the teacher shortage.

As of cut-off, only one of the three bills remained in play. E2SSB 6455 passed the House. It will either need Senate concurrence or to go to a conference committee next week.  The bill:

• Allows 2008 early retirees to return as substitutes for 867 hours in a year.
• Maintains certification requirements.
• And includes many other issues designed to attract and retain teachers, such as additional scholarships and conditional loans if you stay and teach in Washington.

Paraeducators

SB 6408, the effort to impose unfunded PD and certification requirements on paraeducators appears to be dead. We opposed the Senate version because we thought it would lead to job losses for paras who couldn’t afford the credentialing. The House’s version would have created and funded a professional development system for paras. We expect this bill will die because Sen. Hill, R, Kirkland, Chair of Ways and Means, is unwilling to accept the amendments approved by the House.

Higher Education

SHB 2615, creating a strategic plan to convert a limited number of part time to full time faculty positions in our community and technical colleges is officially dead, but could still squeeze through as necessary to implement the budget.

LEOFF/TERS retirement fund  

SB 6668, the Senate Republicans have proposed to merge funds for the law enforcement and firefighters Plan 1 pensions with the Teachers Retirement System Plan 1. LEOFF Plan 1 is currently over-funded and TERS Plan 1 is underfunded. Benefits for individuals would not be changed, nor would employee contribution rates. The thinking is that it would pool resources and save the state and school districts money. As markets change, the funded and unfunded status will change, so this move would increase risks to the LEOFF system. WEA opposes making such a large change in the pension system that has not been thoroughly reviewed in the Select Committee for Pension Policies, and one that is yet again using pensions to balance the state budget.

Look ahead

The last week of session will be spent concurring and conferencing on bills that passed, approving bills that are necessary to implement the budget and settling the budget.