HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6174

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to duties of the higher education coordinating board.

Brief Description:  Requiring annual budget review, recommendations, and guidelines for the higher education system.

Sponsors:  Senators Bauer and Kohl; by request of Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  2/20/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Carlson, Chairman; Mulliken, Vice Chairman; Jacobsen, Ranking Minority Member; Mason, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Benton; Blanton; Delvin; Goldsmith; Mastin; Scheuerman and Sheahan.

Staff:  Marilee Scarbrough (786-7196).

Background:  Currently, the Higher Education Coordinating Board reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations on the operating and the capital budget requests from four-year institutions and the community and technical college system. The board recommendations must be made by October 15 of each even-numbered year.  The board does not have statutory authority to review supplemental budget requests.

Summary of Bill:  Institutions of higher education and the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges must submit their supplemental budgets to the Higher Education Coordinating Board.  The board must submit its supplemental budget recommendations to the Office of Financial Management by November 1 and to the Legislature by January 1.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is a companion bill to HB 2250.  We support the concept and the bill.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Don Carlson, chair, House Higher Education Committee (pro).