WSR 24-16-073

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

COLUMBIA BASIN COLLEGE

[Filed July 31, 2024, 2:17 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Columbia Basin College's (college) student code of conduct, under chapter 132S-100 WAC, and other related rules as necessary.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 34.05 RCW; RCW 28B.50.140(13).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: On April 19, 2024, the United States Department of Education released its final rule under Title IX. This rule requires institutions of higher education to adopt student disciplinary procedures addressing sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment.

In addition to complying with the new final rule, the college is updating its Title IX hearing procedure for students to address jurisdiction and prohibited conduct changes. These new definitions of prohibited behavior and updated procedures are necessary to address conduct that may pose a threat to the general welfare of the college community and/or college operations and to protect the constitutional and procedural rights of individual students.

Process for Developing New Rule: Normal rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Lindsey Carpenter, 2600 North 20th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301, phone 509-543-1481, fax 509-544-2029, email lcarpenter@columbiabasin.edu, website www.columbiabasin.edu; or Corey Osborn, 2600 North 20th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301, phone 509-542-5548, fax 509-544-2029, email cosborn@columbiabasin.edu, website www.columbiabasin.edu.

July 29, 2024

Corey Osborn, Vice President

Human Resources and Legal Affairs