Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

College & Workforce Development Committee

HB 2574

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: Reducing administrative staffing at institutions of higher education.

Sponsors: Representatives Stokesbary, Gildon and Van Werven.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires the public institutions of higher education (institutions) to reduce nonfaculty exempt employees to match the 2008 ratio of full-time equivalent (FTE) nonfaculty exempt employees to FTE enrollments.

  • Makes reductions in fiscal year 2021 appropriations to the institutions based on the nonfaculty exempt employee reduction.

Hearing Date: 1/28/20

Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).

Background:

Public institutions of higher education (institutions) employees generally fall into three categories of staff per state accounting processes: faculty, nonfaculty exempt staff, and classified staff. Nonfaculty exempt employees may include staff in student support services, financial aid offices, advising, enrollment management, campus life, facilities, human resources, capitol planning, data security, institutional research, and compliance areas, such as Title IX and ADA.

The following chart displays the full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments to FTE nonfaculty exempt staff for fiscal year (FY) 2008 compared to FY 2018.

FTE Enrollments per FTE Nonfaculty Exempt Staff

FY 2008

FY 2018

University of Washington

6.4

5.8

Washington State University

16.4

16.3

Central Washington University

48.7

28.7

Western Washington University

33.4

33.1

The Evergreen State College

26.6

19.6

Eastern Washington University

28.2

29.2

State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

38.9

34.7

Summary of Bill:

By June 30, 2020, each institution must reduce the number of nonfaculty exempt employees to a number that is no greater than the amount reflected by the ratio of FTE nonfaculty exempt employees in FY 2008 to FTE enrollments in FY 2008, multiplied by the number of FTE enrollments in FY 2019.

For General Fund (GF) appropriations to each institution, the Office of Financial Management must adjust allotments by an amount that conforms with the funding adjustments. Any allotment reductions must be placed in reserve status and remain unexpended. Each institution must make at least the following reductions in FTE nonfaculty exempt employment as follows:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.