SENATE BILL REPORT

2SSB 6219

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Thorsness, Gaspard, Bailey, Rinehart, Bender, Madsen, Metcalf, Murray, Talmadge, Lee, Craswell, Bluechel, Warnke, Patrick, Bauer and Stratton;by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction)

Providing for the implementation of a state-wide video telecommunications system for public schools.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1990; February 1, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6219 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Gaspard, Metcalf, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  February 6, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 14, 1990; February 15, 1990

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6219 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Bailey, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Niemi, Owen, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Linda Brownell (786-7715)

                  February 26, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1987, the Legislature passed legislation directing the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) and the Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board to develop and recommend to the Legislature by mid-1989 a model plan for a state educational telecommunications network that coordinates programs, projects and activities between the common school and higher education sectors of the state education system.  In the 1987-89 operating budget the Legislature provided funds to the Department of Community Development (DCD) "×××for a study of the uses, structure, and operation of a statewide video telecommunications network" (which became a joint effort between DCD and the Department of Information Services (DIS)).

In January 1989, the Legislature received study results from the SPI, the HEC Board, the State Board for Community College Education, and DCD/DIS, somewhat collectively known as the Triad Report.  Legislation was introduced during the 1989 session to provide for a timely, cost-effective statewide video telecommunications system for state government, public schools, institutions of higher education, local government and the general public.  This legislation did not pass.

SUMMARY:

The intent and purpose sections of the enabling legislation creating the Department of Information Services (DIS) are broadened:  State government should use voice, data, and video telecommunications technologies to transmit and increase access to live interactive classroom instruction and training, provide for interactive public affairs presentations, enhance statewide communications with state agencies, and reduce time lost due to travel to in-state meetings. 

The Information Services Board is the designated state agency responsible for assuring the cost-effective development and implementation of a statewide video telecommunications system.  The board's membership is reconstituted and expanded from 9 to 13 members.

The powers and duties of the Department of Information Services (DIS) are amended to broaden the agencies for which DIS may develop training plans and coordinate training programs.  The DIS will also negotiate with local cable companies and local governments to provide for connection to local cable services to allow access to these public and educational channels in the state.

OSPI, SBCCE, and HECB are given clear responsibility for coordinating the use of video telecommunications within their jurisdictions.

A plan is required of the Information Services Board for the cost-effective incremental implementation of a coordinated statewide video telecommunications system, due to the Legislature December 1, 1990.

A school district board of directors may not enter into a contract or agreement under which students are regularly required to observe, listen to, or read commercial promotional activities, as defined.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: EDUCATION:  PRO:  Senator Gaspard, sponsor; Les Portner, Association of Washington School Principals; Barbara Peterson, Higher Education Coordinating Board; Ron Crossland, State Board for Community College Education; Jim Ford, Skagit Valley College; Ed Dolan, Bellevue Community College; Tim Strege, Council of Vocational-Technical Institutes; Ron Lively, KTPS-TV; Dick Moody, Educational Service District 101 (Spokane); Don Johnson, SPI's office; Cheryl Lemke, SPI's office; Cherie Tessier, People First; Nancy Abraham, Department of Information Services (neutral)

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  PRO:  Don Johnson, OSPI; Dwayne Slate, WSSDA: Ron Crossland, Community College State Board; Walter Ball, AWSP; Ken Minnaert, South Puget Sound Community College