FINAL BILL REPORT
SB 5475
PARTIAL VETO
C 228 L 91
SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED
Brief Description: Authorizing honorary degrees.
SPONSORS:Senators Bauer, Saling, Rinehart, Bailey and Murray.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
BACKGROUND:
Some constituents have complained that the instructors in their college or university classrooms do not communicate effectively. This creates a double burden of mastering difficult subject matter while trying to understand the English language as spoken by some of the instructors.
In 1990, legislation was enacted which requires institutions of higher education to maintain complete and accurate records of sick leave for teaching and research faculty. It is argued that faculty and administrative exempt employees should not be granted sick leave in excess of that allowed for other state employees, and that sick leave regulations for faculty and exempt employees should be consistent with those established for other state employees.
The Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment was directed by the 1990 Legislature to convene a task force on students with disabilities in higher education. The task force was charged with making recommendations on the roles of state agencies, colleges, universities, and students in ensuring that students with disabilities have an opportunity to obtain a higher education. Students with disabilities are protected against discrimination at institutions of higher education under state and federal laws.
The American Indian endowed scholarship program was created in 1990. The program is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board. The scholarships may be funded through a variety of sources, including the earnings on an endowment created by matching state funds with an equal amount of private donation.
Washington provides a number of tuition and fee waivers, reduced fees, and residency exemptions for veterans, active duty military personnel, and some members of their families.
SUMMARY:
The Council of Presidents, in consultation with the Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall convene a task force of representatives from the four-year universities and college to provide assurance to students and parents that graduate teaching assistants are able to communicate effectively and understandably with undergraduate students in both the classroom and the laboratory.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges shall study institutional sick leave policies and shall recommend a mandated uniform and consistent policy for all faculty and administrators hired after May 1, 1992, at all public higher education institutions.
The Higher Education Coordinating Board shall establish an advisory committee on access to higher education for students with disabilities. The committee will produce and distribute an inventory list of the resources available for students with disabilities.
Technical changes are made to the American Indian Endowed Scholarship program. The Higher Education Coordinating Board may request the transfer of state funds into the American Indian Scholarship Endowment Fund when $50,000 rather than $500,000 in state funds is equally matched with private donations.
Tuition and fees are frozen until June 30, 1994, at the 1990 rates for veterans of the Persian Gulf combat zone. To be eligible, the veteran would have had to qualify as a Washington resident or been enrolled as a student on August 1, 1990, and his or her adjusted gross family income must not exceed Washington State's median family income.
VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:
Senate 49 0
House 97 0 (House amended)
Senate (Senate refused to concur)
House (House refused to recede)
Conference Committee
House 97 0
Senate 38 4
EFFECTIVE:July 28, 1991
Partial Veto Summary: The study of institutional sick leave policies is eliminated. (See VETO MESSAGE)