Washington Business Fall 2017 | Legislative Review & Vote Record | Page 12

2017 legislative review 1978 Seattle School District and others sue the state over school funding, winning a case before the state Supreme Court now called Doran I 2009 2012 2015 House Bill 2261, defining the program of “basic education” signed into law January — the Supreme Court upholds King County Superior Court ruling in McCleary lawsuit and uses House bills 2261 and 2776 as roadmap for school funding and timeline for the funding. July — the court orders the Legislature to report back with progress on education funding, sets 2018 deadline to comply with ruling. Lawmakers receive an extension from the court as they negotiate the two-year budget in special session. August — the court orders sanctions of $100,000 per day until the state can demonstrate its full plan to comply with McCleary. The state budget allocates nearly $3 billion more to K-12 education. 1983 2010 2013 2016 Aug 2017 July 2017 The state files its progress report to the state Supreme Court, citing its belief that the state is now in full compliance with McCleary. Sept 2017 For more information on K-12 education issues, contact AWB Government Affairs Director Amy Anderson at [email protected]. For tax and fiscal issues, contact AWB Vice President Government Affairs, Gary Chandler at [email protected]. Both can be reached at 360.943.1600. 10 association of washington business Doran II state Supreme Court ruling: State is not living up to constitutional mandate to fully fund K-12 education House Bill 2776, outlining the timeline to reach funding goals of House Bill 2261, signed into law. That same year, King County Superior Court rules for McCleary plaintiffs. McCleary family files suit in King County Superior Court along with several school districts over inadequate funding 2007 2011 2014 Legislature begins its first major investment to comply with McCleary, adding $1.5 billion to school funding. Arguing in front of the court, former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn argues that the court should close all public schools until lawmakers get a plan in place to fully fund schools. July — Dorn and several school districts file a lawsuit against the state based on their reliance of local levies to pay for the state’s basic education funding obligations. September — the court upholds the $100,000 per day fines, reiterates September 2018 deadline to comply with McCleary. June 2017 McCleary plaintiffs respond to the state’s progress report. The state Supreme Court sets a hearing date for oral arguments from plaintiffs and the state. Joint Committee on Article IX Litigation Report July 27, 2017: bit.ly/JCT9LJuly2017 Nov 2017 State Supreme Court hears oral arguments on McCleary v. State of Washington. January — Citing inadequate progress reports, the court gives lawmakers until April 2014 to report on a full plan and timeline to comply with its McCleary ruling. September — the court ruled the state in contempt. On June 30, lawmakers pass and the governor signs a two-year state budget that increases K-12 by $1.7 billion, and $7.6 billion over four years, and restructures state property taxes to ensure the state pays for the entire program of basic education and getting away from the use of local levies for those purposes. With this investment and levy reform, K-12 education makes up more than 50 percent of the state’s Near General Fund expenditures. On Nov. 15, the Supreme Court issued an order saying the Legislature’s plan was sufficient to meet the requirements of the McCleary decision, but the timeline for implementing it is not.