HB 1561-S2.E - DIGEST
(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Requires the student achievement council to: (1) Administer the open educational resources grant pilot program for the four-year institutions of higher education; and

(2) Develop an application form for a grant and a process for: Reviewing and selecting grant applicants; awarding grant funding; and the grant awardee to report back to the council on the use of the grant.

Prohibits grant dollars from being used to duplicate open educational resources that are already free and publicly available.

Requires the state institute for public policy to conduct a study on the cost of textbooks and course materials and the use of open educational resources at four-year institutions of higher education.

Provides a June 30, 2022, expiration date for the study.

Removes the June 30, 2018, expiration date for RCW 28A.300.803 (openly licensed courseware--identifying and developing a library for the courseware--the open educational resources account).

 
VETO MESSAGE ON E2SHB 1561

March 27, 2018

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,
The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am returning herewith, without my approval as to Section 3, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1561 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to open educational resources."

Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1561 will help expand the use of Open Educational Resources at public higher education institutions. It also intended to make the Open Educational Resources project at the Office of the Superintendent for [of] Public Instruction permanent. I agree with the intended purpose of the bill to increase access to free educational resources to more students. The final budget provided funding to support some of the goals of this bill, including funding for the Washington Student Achievement Council and Washington State Institute for Public Policy; however, funding to continue the Open Educational Resources project at the Office of the Superintendent for [of] Public Instruction in fiscal year 2019 was unintentionally omitted from the final budget. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is committed to continuing this project and will request the funding for the 2019 supplemental budget. Section 3 is a funding null and void clause that would impact the entire bill.

For these reasons I have vetoed Section 3 of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1561.

With the exception of Section 3, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1561 is approved.

Respectfully submitted,
Jay Inslee
Governor