SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5605

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, February 28, 1995

Title:  An act relating to prohibiting alcohol and drug use in state‑owned college or university residences.

Brief Description:  Prohibiting drug and alcohol use in state‑owned college and university residences.

Sponsors:  Senators Owen, Bauer, Sheldon, Wood, McAuliffe, Prince, Heavey, Drew, Winsley, Palmer, Deccio, Oke, Prentice and Schow.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/9/95, 2/28/95 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5605 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Bauer, Chair; Kohl, Vice Chair; Drew, Prince, Sheldon, West and Wood.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background:  In December 1994, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health published a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association documenting the prevalence of undergraduate drinking, and the effect that drinkers have on other students.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Alcohol and drug use are prohibited in state-owned college or university housing where a predominant number of residents are minors, even for those residents who are twenty-one years of age or older.  The prohibition is a part of the rental agreement signed by students or their parents or guardians. 

In addition to other penalties provided by law, for the first violation, a student cited by a law officer or college or university housing official is warned and referred to the student council.  As the consequence of a second violation, the student is expelled. 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Prohibition applies only in student housing where a predominant number of residents are minors.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 30, 1995

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

Testimony For:  Attending college is expensive and the state is responsible to provide a quality learning environment including a safe living space for students.  Dormitories are part of the learning environment.  We can no longer tolerate a "boys will be boys" attitude.  Students who choose  to be non-drinkers deserve an alcohol free living environment.  Ninety percent of students living in dormitories are under 21 years of age.  Research demonstrates that the only effective policy requires a dry campus.  Alcohol is behind 90 percent of the rapes and violence on campus.  We need to protect non-abusers from the abusers.  Currently, alcohol policies do exist on Washington campuses; however, denial is rampant.

Testimony Against:  The comprehensive plans required by earlier legislation have been instrumental in expanding the education programs on our campuses.  Substance abuse is taken very seriously; counseling and rehabilitative services are provided.  The bill conflicts with privacy laws.  The legislation is too broad and attempts to find the nonexistent easy answer.  Prohibition will drive activity off-campus.  While we support the concept, we cannot support an unenforceable measure.

Testified:  Senator Brad Owen (pro); Dan Nicklaus, CWU student (con); George Durrie, Director of Gov't. Relations, EWU (con); Sherry Burkey, Gov't. Relations, UW (con); Larry Ganders, Gov't. Relations, WSU (con).