SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6127

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 Reported by Senate Committee On:

Higher Education & Workforce Development, January 23, 2020

Title: An act relating to membership of the student achievement council.

Brief Description: Adding a graduate student to the student achievement council.

Sponsors: Senators Randall, Conway, Hunt, Stanford, Saldaña and Wilson, C.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 1/21/20, 1/23/20 [DPS].

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

  • Adds a graduate student to the membership of the student achievement council.

  • Increases the term of the undergraduate and graduate student members to two years and requires that their terms be staggered.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6127 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Randall, Chair; Stanford, Vice Chair; Holy, Ranking Member; Brown and Liias.

Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)

Background: The Washington Student Achievement Council (Council) was created as a state agency in 2012 legislation. The Council was charged to assume some of the remaining functions of the board, and to propose higher education goals and strategic action planning. The executive director of the Council is appointed by the Governor, who chooses from a list of names provided by the Council.

The council comprises nine voting members as follows:

  1. Five citizen members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate, one of which must be a student. Citizen members must represent the diversity of the state and state's geography. Four citizen members serve four-year terms, and the student serves a one-year term.

  2. A representative of the public baccalaureate institutions selected by the presidents of public baccalaureate institutions.

  3. A representative of the community and technical college system, selected by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC).

  4. A representative of the K-12 system selected by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Department of Early Learning and the State Board of Education. This member must excuse themselves from voting on matters pertaining primarily to institutions of higher education.

  5. A representative of an independent, nonprofit higher education institution selected by an association of independent nonprofit baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. This member must excuse themselves from matters pertaining primarily to public institutions.

Summary of Bill (First Substitute): Membership of the student achievement council is increased from nine members to ten members by increasing the number of citizen members to six. At least one of the citizen members must be an undergraduate student, and at least one of the citizen members must be a graduate student. The terms of the undergraduate and graduate student members are modified from one year to two years. The terms of the undergraduate and graduate student members must be staggered.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (First Substitute): Increases the term of the undergraduate and graduate student members to two years and requires that their terms be staggered.

Appropriation: None.

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: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: We want to make sure that we better represent the voices and needs of all students and adding a graduate student ensures that voice is heard. Having the opportunity to have unique graduate student issues presented to WSAC is important in shaping policy. This will help the Council understand and incorporate graduate student concerns when thinking about the scope of higher education in Washington.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Emily Randall, Prime Sponsor; Matthew Sutherland, Vice-President of Legislative Affairs, Graduate and Professional Student Association at WSU; Maggie Dunham Jordahl, Graduate and Professional Student Senate.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.