SENATE BILL REPORT

2SSB 5800

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.

As Amended by House, April 12, 2019

Title: An act relating to the helping homeless college students act.

Brief Description: Concerning homeless college students.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Randall, Zeiger, Nguyen, Wilson, C., Saldaña, Carlyle, Keiser, Sheldon, Das, Hasegawa and Kuderer).

Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/07/19, 2/19/19 [DPS-WM, DNP].

Ways & Means: 2/25/19, 2/26/19 [DP2S, w/oRec].

Floor Activity:

Passed Senate: 3/06/19, 30-18.Passed House: 4/12/19, 57-38.

Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

Establishes pilot programs at certain public baccalaureates and college districts to assist students experiencing homelessness and students who were in the foster care system when they graduated high school.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5800 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Palumbo, Chair; Randall, Vice Chair; Liias and Wellman.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Holy, Ranking Member; Brown and Ericksen.

Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5800 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead; Mullet, Capital Budget Cabinet; Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Billig, Carlyle, Conway, Darneille, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Palumbo, Pedersen, Rivers, Van De Wege and Warnick.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Braun, Ranking Member; Brown, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Bailey, Becker, Schoesler, Wagoner and Wilson, L..

Staff: Daniel Masterson (786-7454)

Background: Public Baccalaureate Institutions. There are six public, four-year colleges and universities in Washington State. Of the six four-year institutions, four are regional comprehensive colleges and universities including The Evergreen State College, Western Washington University, Central Washington University, and Eastern Washington University. The other two, University of Washington and Washington State University, are research institutions.

Public and Community Technical Colleges. There are 34 public and community technical college (CTCs) districts in Washington State. Each public college and CTC must maintain an open-door policy, which states admission cannot be denied because of the location of a student's residence, or because of the student's educational background or ability.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill: The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges must select four college districts, two on each side of the crest of the Cascade Mountain range, to participate in a pilot program to assist students experiencing homelessness and students who were in the foster care system when they graduated high school (program-eligible students), subject to appropriations. Similarly, the Washington Student Achievement Council must select two public baccalaureate institutions, one on each side of the crest of the Cascade Mountain range, to participate in a corresponding pilot program, subject to appropriations.

The college districts and public baccalaureate institutions chosen to participate in the pilot program must provide certain accommodations to students including, but not limited to:

access to laundry facilities;
access to storage;
access to locker room and shower facilities;
reduced-price meals or meal plans, and access to food banks;
access to technology;
access to short-term housing or housing assistance, especially during seasonal breaks; and
case management services.

College districts and public baccalaureate institutions participating in the pilot program may also establish and provide plans to develop surplus property for affordable housing to accommodate the needs of program-eligible students.

Institutions not chosen to participate in the pilot program are encouraged to participate and submit data required of the pilot program participants.

The pilot program expires July 1, 2023.

The college districts and public baccalaureate institutions participating in the pilot program must each provide joint reports, one from the CTCs and another from the public baccalaureate institutions, to the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2023. The reports must include:

the total number of program-eligible students attending during the pilot program;
the number of program-eligible students assisted by the pilot program;
strategies for accommodating students experiencing homelessness and former foster care students; and
legislative recommendations for how students experiencing homelessness and former foster care students could be better served.

Appropriation: The bill contains a section or sections to limit implementation to the availability of amounts appropriated for that specific purpose.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Higher Education & Workforce Development): The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: As a state we have committed to finding pathways for all students to get an education. Once students get to college however, they lose the supports they have had access to in K-12. This looks at ways to accommodate the most vulnerable students. Pilot projects help us identify what the issues are, what is working, and what can be improved before a program like this becomes law.

OTHER: Please consider current programs in existence at these institutions when developing these pilot programs.

Persons Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development): PRO: Senator Emily Randall, Prime Sponsor; Arlen Harris, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges; Dr. Timothy Stokes, President, South Sound Community College; Dani Trimble, Lower Columbia Community College; Charles Adkins, Director of Legislative Affairs, Geoduck Student Union. OTHER: Cody Eccles, Council of Presidents.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on First Substitute (Ways & Means): The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This bill will help students graduate and become wage earners in Washington state. We think this is going to reduce a lot of the stress students have and will make it easier for them to get through their degree faster.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Henry Pollet, Legislative Liaison, Associated Students of Western Washington University.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.

EFFECT OF HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

Requires the four-year institutions and CTCs participating in the pilot programs to add data on students experiencing food insecurity in the report to the Legislature.
Requires the institutions participating in the pilot programs to provide students in the pilot program information on existing community resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, including through nonprofit organizations, the local housing authority, and the Department of Commerce's Office of Homeless Youth.
Adds a null and void clause.