H-1673              _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 995

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Wineberry, Niemi and Miller

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Higher Education.

AN ACT Relating to research at the state institutions of higher education; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes the difficulty many young or previously unpublished researchers have in obtaining reasonable sums of money to allow for research in the areas of the arts, humanities, and social sciences.  Research and contract money from federal and other sources goes to a small percentage of faculty who are mainly in the areas of medicine, engineering, and the physical sciences.  Research in the arts, humanities, and social sciences often requires little or no equipment but does require time, material, and clerical support.  Without such support it is difficult for promising young faculty members to do the research, write, and publish their results all of which is necessary to receive tenure and maintain their teaching positions.

          It is the intent of the legislature to enhance the development of all eligible faculty, increase the opportunity of eligible faculty to pursue new research possibilities, and increase the opportunity to complete research and finish manuscripts.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College shall, through the administrative body at each institution responsible for approving research projects and distributing funding, distribute funds as available to full time faculty in the arts, humanities, or social sciences to help support their research projects.  Each administrative body shall establish standards for approving projects and awarding funds.

          (2) Each administrative body shall develop an application process for funds under this section.  Eligibility shall not be based solely on number of publications or lack of previously funded research projects.

          (3) Recipients of funds under this section shall submit written reports of their research activities and periodic reports on their progress towards completion, as required by the applicable administrative body.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of two million dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated from the general fund to the council for postsecondary education or its successor agency for the 1985-87 biennium to distribute to The Evergreen State College, the regional universities, and the state universities an amount proportional to the number of eligible faculty at each institution.