Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Capital Budget Committee |
HB 2132
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning architectural plans for school construction.
Sponsors: Representatives Manweller, Haler, Buys and Magendanz.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/30/14
Staff: Susan Howson (786-7142).
Background:
Most public works construction in Washington is performed by private firms. State agencies, local governments, and special districts including school districts, contract with private architectural companies for the design of facilities using specific procedures designated in statute. Architects are selected based on qualifications.
Architects must be certified to practice architecture in the state of Washington. To be certified, an applicant must pass an examination and have the required experience. The State Board for Architects may impose actions to suspend or limit a license of an architect under certain grounds, including signing or affixing a seal to any drawings that were not prepared or reviewed by the architect, or under the architect’s supervision.
Washington provides financial assistance to school districts for the construction of new schools and modernization of existing facilities through the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Appropriations for the SCAP are provided in the state capital budget. A school district must first secure local funding before it becomes eligible for state financial assistance. Local funds may include voter-approved capital levies and bonds, impact fees, mitigation payments, interest income from a school district’s capital projects fund, or transfers from a school district’s general fund with OSPI approval. Once the local share is secured, the state allocates funding to districts based on a set of space and cost standards adopted by the OSPI and a statutory funding assistance percentage based on the relative wealth of the district.
Summary of Bill:
Contracts entered into by school districts for constructing or renovating schools are required to contain a clause that the architectural plans are public property and that they may be used by the state or any school district within the state. This applies to school districts that use voter-approved levies and bond funds, or receive state matching funds, for school construction or renovation. Architectural plans must be filed with the OSPI, and the OSPI must maintain the plans and make them available to all school districts.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.