Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Higher Education Committee |
SSB 5217
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: Allowing appointment of student members on the boards of trustees of community colleges.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Shin, White, Nelson, Sheldon, Murray, Delvin, Rockefeller, Harper, Kline, Keiser, Conway, Chase, Eide and Fraser).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/16/12
Staff: Madeleine Thompson (786-7304).
Background:
Washington is divided into 30 community and technical college districts. Each district has a board of trustees (board) composed of five trustees appointed by the Governor. In making appointments, the Governor must give consideration to geographical diversity, and representing business, labor, women, and racial and ethnic minorities.
Each board for a district containing a technical college must include at least one member from business and one member from labor. Within Washington there are five technical colleges: Bates Technical College, Bellingham Technical College, Clover Park Technical College, Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and Renton Technical College.
Each board member must be a resident and qualified elector of the district. A board member may not be an employee of the community and technical college system, a board member of another school district, or a board member of another public or private educational institution.
Summary of Bill:
By a majority vote, the boards of trustees of a college district may establish a sixth trustee position to be filled by a student. The student trustee is selected, by the Governor, from a list of three to five candidates submitted by the student government of that college district and serves a one-year term or until the student member's successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later. The student must be a full-time student and in good standing at a college within the district throughout the student's term. The student trustee is disqualified if he or she fails to be enrolled at the college full-time or forfeits his or her academic standing. A new member must be appointed to replace the disqualified member. The student must excuse himself or herself from participation or voting on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel, or any other matters pertaining to collective bargaining agreements.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 15, 2012.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.