H-0706.1/91       _______________________________________________

 

                                  HOUSE BILL 1235

                  _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Jacobsen, R. Fisher, Belcher, Brekke, R. King and Spanel.

 

Read first time January 23, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education.Reimbursing the libraries at state institutions of higher education for use by students at private colleges.


     AN ACT Relating to library services provided by the state institutions of higher education; adding a new section to chapter 28B.85 RCW; and creating a new section.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.      The legislature finds that accessible and comprehensive library resources are essential to quality postsecondary education programs.  The legislature further finds that not all private degree-granting institutions of higher education have sufficient library space and resources for their students and, therefore, the students rely on public university libraries for research and study materials.  The legislature further finds that students from these private degree-granting institutions place a financial burden on the libraries of public institutions of higher education and are obligated to reimburse these libraries for their services.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.85 RCW to read as follows:

     (1) Each degree-granting institution that relied upon the library facilities at a public institution of higher education for purposes of authorization under this chapter shall collect a one hundred dollar annual library fee from each student enrolled.  The fee shall be collected once a year and remitted to the board for deposit into the library resources account.  This section does not apply to accredited institutions exempt from this chapter under RCW 28B.85.040(2)(b).

     (2) The library resources account is established in the custody of the state treasurer.  The board shall administer the fund and distribute moneys in the library resources account to public institutions of higher education under RCW 28B.10.016, according to guidelines established by the board, to compensate the institutional libraries for the impact of the use of the facilities by students from private degree-granting institutions.  No appropriation is necessary for the expenditure of funds from the library resources account.  The account is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW.

     (3) The board shall establish rules including but not limited to:  The timing for remittance of the library fee, guidelines for application and disbursement of the moneys from the account, and eligibility for moneys from the account.

     (4) The board may revoke the authorization of any degree-granting institution that fails to comply with this section.