Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1962 NO. 118 >

A Board of directors of a school district may not permit the distribution of Gideon Bibles on school premises by either school employees or representatives of the Gideon Society in view of the prohibition found in the constitution and statutes of this state regarding separation of church and state.

AGO 1955 NO. 119 >

Mandatory one‑mill levy for fire district pension fund must be within millage limitations of RCW 52.16.130 and 52.16.140. Additional mill authorized by RCW 41.16.060 for that fund may exceed those limitations. Both such levies must be imposed if necessary to sustain the fund.

AGO 1962 NO. 119 >

A school district in the state of Washington is prohibited by the Washington constitution and applicable state law from participating in any way in the planning, promotion or execution of baccalaureate exercises which are religious in nature.

AGO 1960 NO. 121 >

In procuring a policy of liability insurance covering the operation of its buses, the board of directors of a school district may not pay the cost of any increased premium to provide medical payments for the passenger injured by or through its operation irrespective of liability.  Public funds may only be expended to protect the district from liability.  However, the board of directors may procure medical and accident insurance where the assenting students pay the additional cost.

AGO 1962 NO. 122 >

In order to qualify for funds appropriated by the legislature in 1961 to the office of the state superintendent for distribution to public schools, a school district must certify that all full-time certificated employees, including full-time teachers holding emergency certificates, are being paid not less than $4,200 per year.

AGO 1964 NO. 122 >

RCW 41.04.180 authorizes a school district to contract for and make premium payments (either up to 50% or $5.00, whichever is less) toward the purchase of group disability insurance for its employees, but such authority does not authorize it to make payments under a "franchise plan."

AGO 1962 NO. 123 >

The board of directors of a school district does not have the statutory authority to purchase for certificated employees tax sheltered annuities in lieu of salaries as defined in 26 U.S.C.A. (I.R.C. 1954) § 403 (b) as amended by Public Law 87-370, 75 Stat. 796.

AGO 1966 NO. 123 >

A school district may enter into a conditional sales contract, pursuant to chapter 62, Laws of 1965 (RCW 28.58.550), without approval of the voters of the district so long as the contract price, added to existing debt within that class of debt which, under Article VIII, § 6, and RCW 39.36.020, may be incurred without voter approval does not exceed one and one‑half percent of the assessed value of the taxable property in the district.

AGO 1955 NO. 125 >

A public utility district cannot maintain and service power lines owned by private cooperative which carry the power of the cooperative.

AGO 1962 NO. 126 >

Notice of a public hearing for the purpose of changing the general plans of a port commission need be published but once, at least ten days prior to the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation in the port district.