SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2250

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, February 15, 1996

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:  Representatives Carlson, Mastin, Mulliken, Sheahan, Jacobsen, Mason, Blanton, Goldsmith and Scheuerman; by request of Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/15/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Bauer, Chair; Kohl, Vice Chair; Hale, McAuliffe, Prince, Wood and Zarelli.

Staff:  Jennifer Hanlon (786-7784)

Background:  The Higher Education Coordinating Board must review, evaluate, and make recommendations on operating and capital budget requests from four-year institutions and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.  Those recommendations must be made by October 15 of each even-numbered year.  Currently, the board does not have the authority to review supplemental budget requests. 

Summary of Bill:  The Higher Education Coordinating Board reviews the supplemental budget requests of four-year institutions and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.  The board submits recommendations on the supplemental budget requests to the Office of Financial Management by November 1 of each even-numbered year.  The board also submits recommendations to the Legislature.  

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  As supplemental budgets become more important, it is also important to review those budgets.  This is the appropriate role of the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Susan Patrick, Higher Education Coordinating Board; Martha Lindley, Central Washington University.