2018 Legislative Information Updated on 3/12/2018 The 2018 Legislative Session is over, and for the first time in several years, it is actually over, they are not going into a special session. Below is information about bills we monitored this session, including any final outcomes. 2 of the bills we have been working on have passed, and one we were monitoring passed. We appreciate everyone's engagement, and look forward to keeping this great momentum going next year! High Priority Bills HB 1377 – Student Mental Health: Improving students' mental health by enhancing nonacademic professional services. This bill includes language from HB 1900 which we worked hard on in 2015 and 2016, and worked on again under the number 1377 in the 2017 session. This bill defines the roles of the school psychologist, school social worker, and school counselor. The new iteration also includes funding for time to collaborate between these groups at the building or district level. WSASP Position: For Bill Progress: This bill passed, and has been sent to the governor to sign. SB 6162 - Defining dyslexia as a specific learning disability and requiring early screening for dyslexia. (Companion bill with HB 2496) WSASP Position: For after changes made in the House Education Committee. Bill Progress: This bill passed, and has been sent to the governor to sign. SSB 5766 - Preventing harassment, intimidation, and bullying in public schools. WSASP Position: For Bill Progress: Passed Senate Body Vote on 1/19/18; Moved to the House Education committee, where it passed, but then stalled out in the Rules 2 Review committee before coming to a vote. SB 6141 - Strengthening school district plans for recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students. (Companion bill with HB 2496) WSASP Position: For Bill Progress: Passed the Senate and the House Education Committee, but stalled out in the Rules 2 Review committee before coming to a vote. Medium HB 1827 – Educator Workforce Supply: Relating to expanding the current and future educator workforce supply through evidence-based strategies. This bill is meant to improve and incentivize the recruitment and retention of highly effective educators, especially in high-need subject, grade-level, and geographic areas. It is meant to establish a cohesive continuum of high quality professional learning from preparation programs to job embedded induction, mentoring, collaboration, and other professional development opportunities. WSASP Position: For, advocating for the explicit addition of ESA providers Bill Progress: This bill passed the house and senate, but the two houses could not come to an agreement about amendments made, so it did not make it this session.HB 2684 - Defining the process for best interest determinations of students in out-of-home care. WSASP Position: For Bill Progress: This bill passed and has been sent to the governor to sign.The Bills listed here "died" in committees during the session. SB 5639 – Alternative Student Assessments: Allows a student to use an alternative assessment without taking the statewide student assessment at least once if the student: (1) Is enrolled in a school district with which a technical college has a signed interlocal agreement on file with the superintendent of public instruction; (2) Was under twenty-one years of age at the beginning of the school year; (3) Is enrolled tuition-free; (4) Is enrolled in the school district for the purpose of earning a high school diploma or certificate; and (5) Has participated in instructional activity at the technical college during the current school year. WSASP Position: Monitoring ESHB 1046 - Concerning certificates of academic and individual achievement. WSASP Position: Monitoring SSB 5155 - This law would prohibit the suspension or expulsion of any student in Kindergarten through second grade unless they bring a weapon to school WSASP Position: Monitoring SB 6360 - Improving transition planning for students in special education who meet criteria for services from the developmental disabilities administration. WSASP Position: Working on adjustments to this bill with OSPI HB 1621 - Providing funding allocations to promote children's health and social-emotional learning. WSASP Position: For SB 5283 – Educational Staff Associates/Services Years: Concerning the calculation of years of service for educational staff associate positions for salary allocation purposes. WSASP Position: For Bill Progress: This bill has had no new movement since 2017, other than being retained in current status sitting in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. WEA advises the following: When the legislature passed 2242 last year, they removed the staff mix factor effective in 19-20. Our locals will now be bargaining where certs are placed on the salary schedule. We advise all ESAs to set up formal appointments as a group with their local president to make sure they have a spot on the bargaining team and get the same schedule placement as classroom teachers.HB 1643 – Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program: Creating a loan forgiveness program for teachers in high-need schools. WSASP Position: For, advocating for the explicit addition of ESA providers SB 5348 – Special Ed/Certificate of Individual Achievement: Concerning students who receive special education services who earn certificates of individual achievement. This bill would require that they get a regular diploma and still be eligible for transition 18-21 services. WSASP Position: Monitoring SB 6144 - Reducing state assessment requirements to only those required for federal purposes in order to facilitate removal of inequitable barriers to students. WSASP Position: Monitoring HB-2796- Defining dyslexia as a specific learning disability and requiring early screening for dyslexia. (Companion bill with SB 6162) WSASP Position: Against in it's current form HB 2496 - Strengthening school district plans for recognition, screening, and response to emotional or behavioral distress in students. (Companion bill with SB 6141) WSASP Position: For |
