State Board for Community and Technical College
Bills of Significance
As of May 12, 2011
Bills on the way to or signed by the Governor
E2SHB 1795 (Carlyle) Passed both Chambers Beginning in 2013-15 and ending in 2018-19, provides tuition-setting authority for 4-year
colleges and universities. If tuition is raised more than 11% at UW, WSU and WWU, or more than
Enacting the Higher 9% at CWU, EWU and Evergreen, the institutions must provide financial aid to students with
Education Opportunity Act family incomes up to 125% of median family income. Requires 4-year institutions to report on
various measures, including course and degree completion. Establishes a legislative taskforce to
review the funding formula for baccalaureate institutions.
Permits the SBCTC to pilot or institute differential tuition models. The board may define scale,
scope, and rationale for the models. Allows SBCTC and 4-year institutions to charge Running
Start students a fee that equals 10% of tuition and fees. Establishes a work group to define
issues related to creating a single set of common course numbers and common course
description for all common lower division courses at all public institutes of higher education.
Establishes a work group to increase the number of students who receive credit for prior
learning and to increase the types of credits awarded for prior learning.
SHB 1822 (Kenney) Signed by Governor – Recognizes a regionally accredited non-profit online institution (Western Governor’s University)
April 22nd as a self-supporting baccalaureate degree granting institution in Washington, which will not
Establishing the First receive state support.
Nonprofit Online University
2SHB 1909 (Reykdal) Signed by Governor – Creates the community and technical college innovation account. Up to 3% of operating fees
May 5th could be transfer to the account to fund and secure a bond for the CTC strategic technology plan.
Innovation at CTCs
2SSB 5636 (Haugen) Signed by Governor – Transfers management and leadership for the University Center from Everett Community College
May 12th (EvCC) to WSU after WSU develops a plan for meeting the academic needs of the region and
University Center of North establishes an engineering program. The plan must be developed in collaboration with EvCC and
Puget Sound other university partners that offer degrees at the Center. The plan must build on degrees
offered at the University Center; address demand for degrees by students and employers and a
variety STEM disciplines; and include a multi-biennium budget that addresses both operating and
capital expenses required to effectively implement the plan.
A Coordinating and Planning Council (Council) is established for long-range planning, inter-
institutional collaboration, collaboration with local communities, and dispute resolution for the
University Center. The Council is comprised of the WSU president or designee; WSU provost;
EvCC president; two representatives of two other schools offering degree programs at the
Center; council’s director, as the non-voting chair; one student from the center; a community
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leader appointed by EvCC president; and a community leader appointed by the mayor of Everett.
The bill will only take effect after the HECB determines whether a needs assessment and analysis
is required, and if so, conducts a needs assessment and viability determination and recommends
that this should move forward. OFM, the legislature and the code reviser shall be notified of the
HECB's recommendations by July 1, 2012.
The plan developed by WSU must be completed by December 1, 2012, and submitted to the
legislature for review. The plan shall be considered approved if the legislature does not take
further action during the 2013 legislative session. The transfer of the University Center to WSU
must take place by July 1, 2014.
SSB 5664 (McAuliffe) Signed by Governor – Changes Lake Washington Technical College’s name to Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
April 18th
Lake Washington Institute
Bills still in play
E2SHB 1371 (Darneille - 1371: Senate Ways & Means Eliminates various boards and commissions. Makes permanent the current travel restrictions for
Governor’s Request) Public Hearing 5/4 Class 1-5 Boards, eliminates restriction to use state-only facilities, and encourages "travel
reductions" and costs associated with travel for Board business and meetings (also to include the
Boards and Commissions encouragement to use alternative non-travel means for meetings) for all Class 1-5 boards paid by
non-state funds. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2011.
ESHB 1981 (Bailey) 1981: Senate Rules For Higher Education Retirement Plans: eliminates supplemental benefit for future participants;
2nd Reading requires employers to offer PERS3 or TRS3 to newly eligible employees; requires contracting with
Addressing higher the Office of the State Actuary to study plans; for employees who retire after 9/1/2011 limits
education employees’ post-retirement employment to 867 hours per year; retains current fund-as-you-go funding of
annuities and retirement supplemental benefits liability until a study is done to determine the rate for pre-funding of
income plans supplemental benefits liability for each higher education institution and board. (No longer limits
participation to Senior Academic Administrators.)
HB 2074 (Sullivan) 2074: House Ways & Means Removes the following statutory requirements of the Higher Education Coordinating Board
(HECB) conducting an ongoing needs assessment or evaluating proposed major expansions or
Changing functions of the mission changes of institutions by amending a statute; assessing needs for teacher preparation
Higher Education courses; reviewing, evaluating, and making recommendations on operating and capital budget
Coordinating Board requests from the public 4-year institutions and the CTC system; conducting a cost study
measuring costs of instruction, costs to provide degrees in specific fields, and costs for precollege
remediation; determining and transmitting approved undergraduate and graduate educational
costs to the boards of regents and trustees of the public institutions of higher education every
even-number year; convening a course equivalency work group; establishing minimum college
admission standards by amending the related statute; and developing information annually on
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the approximate amount of state support that students receive.
The HECB retains administration of the state's financial aid programs, strategic planning for the
state's higher education system, some functions for collecting and collating data from higher
education institutions on their accountability measures, and evaluating the need for various
programs based on employer demand, and some other programmatic functions.
E2SSB 5182 (White) 5182: House Rules Eliminates the HECB as of July 1, 2012 and creates the Council for Higher Education (Council).
2nd Reading Council membership includes the UW president, the WSU president, one other president from a
Establishing the Office of regional university or the Evergreen State College, one president of a private 4-year school, the
Student Financial SBCTC executive director, the SPI, and five public representatives to be appointed by the
Assistance by Eliminating governor, including one student.
the Higher Education
Coordinating Board (HECB) Creates an interim legislative task force made up of four legislators to decide what the duties of
and Transferring its the new Council will be.
Functions to Various
Entities Moves the financial aid functions of the HECB to a newly created agency (Office of Student
Financial Assistant) with a separate executive director appointed by the Governor.
SSB 5639 (McAuliffe - 5639: Senate Ways & Means The Department of Education (DOE) is created as an executive branch agency to focus on P-12
Governor’s Request) education policy development and promoting student achievement. The SPI remains a
separately elected official. The head of the DOE is the Secretary of Education who is appointed
ESHB 1849 (Haigh) 1849: House Rules by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. A P-12 Education Council is created
3rd Reading to advise the Secretary.
Education Governance
System The Department of Early Learning, State Board of Education, and Professional Educators
Standards Board are abolished and their powers, duties, and employees are transferred to the
DOE. The SBCTC and the HECB were removed from the bill.
A governor-appointed transition team must complete a transition plan by January 1, 2012, to
phase-in the DOE. Phase-in begins by July 1, 2012, and must be completed by January 16, 2013.
Once the transition is completed, the Governor is encouraged to assemble a transition team to
consider, and if appropriate, coordinate the inclusion of state-level higher education agencies
into the DOE.
SB 5860 (Murray) 5860: Senate Ways & Means Language reduces salaries of all employees by 3%. Higher education employees (other than
classified) are exempt, but the bill makes it permissive and the cut is taken in the Senate budget.
State Employee The bill specifies that colleges will apply the 3% salary reduction to "classified" employees
Compensation through temporary layoffs, furloughs, work hour reductions etc., but prohibits permanent
layoffs. Maintains current statute language providing for collective bargaining of increases
related to promotion and retention. All increases must be reported to the legislature in each
fiscal year. Language that is in the Senate budget proposal requiring furloughs based on salary
levels is not included in this version.
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SB 5868 (Tom) 5868: Senate Ways & Means Requires students with a bachelor’s degree who attend a community or technical college to pay
the full cost of instruction, unless the student is a dislocated worker or engaged in a job-training
Tuition fees for students program.
with excess credits or prior
degrees Undergraduate students who have in excess of 125% of the number of credits needed to
complete their bachelor’s degree must pay the full cost of instruction, unless the student is a
dislocated worker in a job training program, participates in the Border County Higher Education
Opportunity Project, or is completing their teachers certifications.
Students experiencing extraordinary or unforeseen academic and personal circumstances can
petition their institution for a waiver to be excluded from paying the higher tuition. The
institution must create a process for student petition to be heard and determined.
SB 5915 (Kilmer) 5915: Senate Ways & Means Beginning in 2013-15 and ending in 2018-19, provides tuition-setting authority for 4-year
colleges and universities. If tuition is raised more than 11% at UW, WSU and WWU, or more than
Regarding higher 9% at CWU, EWU and Evergreen, the institutions must provide financial aid to students with
education funding and family incomes up to 125% of median family income. Sets degree completion goals for 4-year
performance institutions and requires 4-year institutions to report on various measures, including course and
degree completion. Permits the SBCTC to pilot or institute differential tuition models. The board
may define scale, scope, and rationale for the models.
SSB 5924 (Zarelli) 5924: House Ways & Means Higher education institutions must charge Running Start student a maximum of 10% tuition.
Running Start tuition rates will be established by SBCTC and the governing boards of the public 4-
Regarding the running year institutions. A waiver to low-income students, determined by participation in the free or
start program reduced lunch program, must be available. Use of tuition and fee waivers for qualified low-
income students is not included in determining total state tuition waiver authority for
institutions of higher education. OSPI, in consultation with SBCTC and 4-year institutions, must
report on the impact to enrollment of the new tuition, particularly among students with family
incomes up to 125% median family income.
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Bills that did not survive cut-off,
but may be viewed as “Necessary to Implement Budget”
SHB 1568 (Sells) By a majority vote, each college board may establish a 6th trustee position to be held by a student. The student will be appointed
by the governor and selected from a list of 3-5 students put forth by the student body. Each student will serve a one-year term
Students on the Board of from July through June. The student must be in good academic standing. In addition, the SBCTC shall have a 10th board member
Trustees position to be held by a student and appointed by the Governor.
SHB 1631 (Reykdal) Provides in statute for Legislative funding of increments at an amount that, when combined with turnover savings, is sufficient to
pay faculty increments. State Board is required to include an amount (8/10s of a percent of the faculty salary base) in its biennial
Faculty Increments budget request.
SHB 1666 (Seaguist – Implements higher education funding task force recommendations relating to goals, funding, performance, and accountability.
Governor’s Request) Provides tuition setting authority for resident undergraduates at public four-year colleges and universities, within parameters set
in the act (based on state funding levels and funding levels at peer institutions in the global challenge states). Existing default
Higher Education Funding tuition increases at CTCs remain limited to 7% (note: this was amended in the current biennium to allow for tuition increases
higher than 7% and could be amended in the 11-13 budget as needed). Creates the Washington pledge scholarship program to
establish an endowed scholarship program that will help low income and middle-income residents earn an undergraduate college
education at the state's 2-year (academic transfer students only) and 4-year higher education institutions. Provides a tax credit for
contributions to the Washington pledge endowment fund.
E2SHB 1792 (Sells) Direct WSU to convene a coordinating and planning council (Council) to develop a strategic plan for establishing a University
Center partner in Everett. The Council includes: Presidents of WSU and EvCC; a WSU Provost; Director of University Center at EvCC
University Center of North (Center); two reps of university partners at the Center; three community reps, one each appointed by WSU President, EvCC
Puget Sound President, Mayor of Everett. The Council must consult with the HECB to ensure that the strategic plan is in alignment with the
System Design Plan. The plan would have to come back for legislature approval. WSU is directed to establish at least one high
demand program at the Center by December, 2012.
SHB 2035 (Hudgins) With the exception of the printing requirements for the Legislature, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and material with
sensitive or personally identifiable information, state agencies are no longer required to use the Public Printer. However, the
Effectuating financial Public Printer must be included in the solicitation process. State agencies, boards, commissions, and institutions of higher
stability for the public education that have in-house print shops are required to consolidate printing equipment and staff with the Public Printer. The
printer Office of Financial Management (OFM) must determine which agencies have print shops and prepare proposed legislation by
November 15, 2011, to transfer all print shop equipment and personnel to the Public Printer. OFM also must establish rules and
guidelines for all agencies to use in managing their printing operations, including both agency-based printing and those jobs that
require the services of a print shop.
SSB 5462 (Kilmer) The SBCTC must create an efficient, streamlined, and simple financial aid process for colleges and students. The new process must
include, but is not limited to, standardized application forms, eligibility criteria, deadlines, award verification, and published
Financial Aid informational materials. A detailed implementation plan of the new process must be approved by the SBCTC by September 2011
Administration with full implementation of the process no later than January 2012.
SB 5474 (Murray – Governor's proposal to bring "equity" to the state's retirement plans through bringing higher education retirement plans in line
Governor’s Request) with other plans managed by DRS. Bill eliminates supplemental benefits for future participants and requires they be offered PERS
3 or TRS 3, prohibits the participation of retirees in the plans, limits use of state funds to 6% to make employer contributions and
HE Retirement Income requires use of the state actuaries office to estimate liability associated with supplemental benefits.
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