AN ACT Relating to the
joint center for higher education; amending RCW 28B.25.020, 28B.25.030,
28B.10.029, and 28B.25.033; adding new sections to chapter 28B.25 RCW; and
repealing RCW 28B.25.080.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 28B.25.020 and 1991
c 205 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The joint center
shall have authority over all fiscal activities related to the land and
facilities known as the ((Spokane)) Riverpoint higher education
park subject to the approval of the higher education coordinating board
pursuant to RCW 28B.80.330 through 28B.80.350.
(2) The joint center
for higher education shall coordinate all baccalaureate and graduate degree
programs, and all other courses and programs offered in the Spokane area by
Washington State University and by Eastern Washington University outside of its
Cheney campus. The joint center for higher education shall not coordinate the
intercollegiate center for nursing. The joint center for higher education
may mediate disagreements among institutions about degree programs or courses.
(3) The joint center
for higher education shall coordinate the following higher education activities
in the Spokane area outside of the Eastern Washington University Cheney campus:
(a) Articulation
between lower division and upper division programs;
(b) The participation
of Washington State University and Eastern Washington University in joint academic
degree programs with Gonzaga University and Whitworth College and in joint academic
degree programs with each other;
(c) All contractual
negotiations between public and independent colleges and universities; and
(d) Programs offered
through the intercollegiate research and technology institute created by RCW
28B.10.060.
(4) The participating
institutions in the joint center for higher education shall maintain
jurisdiction over the content of the course offerings and the entitlement to
degrees. However, before any degree program is authorized under this
section, it shall be subject to review and approval of the higher
education coordinating board.
(5) The joint center
shall develop a master plan for the ((Spokane)) Riverpoint higher
education park. The plan shall be developed in cooperation with the
participating institutions and submitted to the higher education coordinating
board, legislature, and office of financial management.
(6) The joint center
shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter.
(7) Title to or all
interest in real estate and other assets, including but not limited to
assignable contracts, cash, equipment, buildings, facilities, and appurtenances
thereto held as of July 1, 1991, shall vest in the joint center for higher
education.
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.25.030 and 1991
c 205 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The joint center
for higher education shall be governed by a board consisting of the following
((twelve)) fourteen voting members:
(a) One member of the
Eastern Washington University board of trustees;
(b) One member of the
Washington State University board of regents;
(c) One member of the
board of trustees of the Spokane community college district;
(d) Six citizens
residing in Spokane county. Of the six citizen members, no more than two may
be regents or trustees of Eastern Washington University, Washington State
University, or the Spokane community college district; ((and))
(e) One member from
an independent nonprofit university located in the Spokane area and one member
from a separate independent, nonprofit, baccalaureate degree-granting
institution of higher education located in the Spokane area; and
(f) The
presidents of Washington State University and Eastern Washington University,
and the chief executive officer of the Spokane community college district shall
serve as ex officio members of the board. Either the provost or the
vice-president for research and dean of the graduate school may act as designee
for the president of Washington State University.
(2) The executive
director of the higher education coordinating board((, the president of
Gonzaga University, and the president of Whitworth College)) shall serve as
a nonvoting ex officio member((s)) of the board. Pending
appointment of the two members under subsection (1)(e) of this section, the
president or chancellor of Gonzaga University and the president of Whitworth
College shall continue to serve as nonvoting ex officio members of the board.
(3) Each of the ((twelve))
fourteen voting members shall have one vote. The voting members shall
select a chairperson from among the ((nine)) eleven appointed
members. A majority of the ((twelve)) fourteen voting members
shall constitute a quorum for conducting business.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
3. The board of the joint
center for higher education may hire a director of the institute who may hire
other staff under chapter 41.06 RCW as necessary to carry out the institute's
duties. The director shall exercise such additional powers, other than rule
making, as may be delegated by the board by resolution.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
4. The joint center for
higher education established under this chapter shall provide central administration
services for the institute, including, but not limited to, accounting,
budgeting, financial reporting, facilities management, personnel, and
purchasing services.
Sec. 5. RCW 28B.10.029 and 1993
c 379 s 101 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) An institution of
higher education may exercise independently those powers otherwise granted to
the director of general administration in chapter 43.19 RCW in connection with
the purchase and disposition of all material, supplies, services, and equipment
needed for the support, maintenance, and use of the respective institution of
higher education. Property disposition policies followed by institutions of
higher education shall be consistent with policies followed by the department
of general administration. Purchasing policies and procedures followed by
institutions of higher education shall be in compliance with chapters 39.19,
39.29, and 43.03 RCW, and RCW 43.19.1901, 43.19.1906, 43.19.1911, 43.19.1917,
43.19.1937, 43.19.534, 43.19.685, 43.19.700 through 43.19.704, and 43.19.550
through 43.19.637. The community and technical colleges shall comply with RCW
43.19.450. Except for the University of Washington, institutions of higher
education shall comply with RCW 43.19.1935, 43.19.19363, and 43.19.19368. If
an institution of higher education can satisfactorily demonstrate to the
director of the office of financial management that the cost of compliance is
greater than the value of benefits from any of the following statutes, then it
shall be exempt from them: RCW 43.19.685; 43.19.534; and 43.19.637. Any
institution of higher education that chooses to exercise independent purchasing
authority for a commodity or group of commodities shall notify the director of
general administration. Thereafter the director of general administration
shall not be required to provide those services for that institution for the
duration of the general administration contract term for that commodity or
group of commodities.
(2) An institution of
higher education may exercise independently those powers otherwise granted to
the public printer in chapter 43.78 RCW in connection with the production or
purchase of any printing and binding needed by the respective institution of
higher education. Purchasing policies and procedures followed by institutions
of higher education shall be in compliance with chapter 39.19 RCW. Any
institution of higher education that chooses to exercise independent printing
production or purchasing authority shall notify the public printer. Thereafter
the public printer shall not be required to provide those services for that
institution.
(3) For the
purposes of this section, an "institution of higher education" shall
include the joint center for higher education created in chapter 28B.25 RCW
when the joint center for higher education is contracting with another
institution of higher education that is acting as the sole agent for purchasing
and disposing of material, supplies, services, and equipment, and for procuring
printing or binding services.
Sec. 6. RCW 28B.25.033 and 1991
c 205 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
((Nine)) Eleven
members of the board shall be appointed by the governor and approved by the
senate. The appointed members of the board shall serve for terms of four
years, the terms expiring on September 30th of the fourth year except that, in
the case of initial members, three shall be appointed to two-year terms, three
shall be appointed to three-year terms, and three shall be appointed to
four-year terms. The term of any board member who is a trustee or regent shall
automatically expire when the member's term as trustee or regent expires.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
7. RCW 28B.25.080 and 1991 c 205 s 10 are
each repealed.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 3 and 4 of this
act are each added to chapter 28B.25 RCW.
