SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5002

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

              Higher Education, January 27, 1997

Title:  An act relating to the governance of the K‑20 educational telecommunications network.

Brief Description:  Creating the cross‑sector network advisory committee to advise on K‑20 educational telecommunications network technical and policy planning.

Sponsors:  Senators Wood, Bauer, Sheldon, Winsley, Kohl, McAuliffe and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  1/23/97, 1/27/97 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5002 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Wood, Chair; Winsley, Vice Chair; Bauer, Hale, Kohl, Patterson, Prince, Sheldon and West.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

Background:  In 1996, the Washington State Legislature created the K-20 Network to link schools, community colleges, technical colleges, universities, and others for the purpose of enhancing student access to quality educational courses through distance education. 

The 1996 legislation directed the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to jointly recommend a network governance structure for the network.  On September 30, 1996, the Telecommunications Oversight and Policy Committee (TOPC) approved, by a 6-2 vote, a jointly recommended governance plan that leaves intact the statutory authority of the HECB and OSPI over educational programs.  The TOPC-approved document also recommended that the Department of Information Services (DIS) handle the technical management and operations of the K-20 Network, and that the Information Services Board (ISB) retain oversight responsibilities for the K-20 Network just as it has for the other information technologies under current statute.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The CNAC begins work on July 1, 1997.

A governance structure reflecting the TOPC recommendation is proposed. Governance is defined as Aresponsibility for network programming, site selection, coordinated budget recommendations, and technology oversight.@  The HECB, in consultation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), OSPI, and the ISB must implement one or more joint operating agreements for the governance of the network.  Agreements are to ensure that academic policy drives the technical development of the network.

The existing statutory responsibilities of the HECB, SBCTC, and OSPI are maintained: program planning and approval, budget recommendations to the Legislature, and dispute resolution.  The ISB is responsible for oversight and approval of major technology projects and purchases.

A Cross-sector Network Advisory Committee (C-NAC) advises the governance partners on technical and policy planning matters that require cross-sector coordination.  The C-NAC includes both technical and academic planning personnel and is composed of two subcommittees.  The technical subcommittee is comprised of equal numbers of K-12 and postsecondary representatives;  four public members with technical expertise, appointed by the chair of ISB; and at least one representative of DIS, appointed by the DIS director.  At least one member is a representative of the independent higher education institutions.  The policy subcommittee is comprised of two provosts from the public baccalaureate institutions appointed by the HECB in consultation with the public institutions of higher education; two members appointed by the SBCTC; four representatives of K-12 appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction; the Washington State Librarian or designee; two representatives of independent higher education institutions appointed by the Governor; and four public members, one of whom is appointed by the leadership of each legislative caucus.  The public members are not legislators.  All members of both subcommittees serve at the pleasure of the appointing authorities.

Staff and office support for the C-NAC are provided through the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Information Services.  C-NAC statutes are repealed, effective June 30, 2002.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  CNAC begins work on July 1, 1997.  The HECB must consult with the public institutions of higher education when appointing two provosts to the policy subcommittee of C-NAC.  Staff support for C-NAC is the responsibility of the HECB, OSPI, and DIS.  The null and void clause is deleted.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 16, 1997.

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

Testimony For:  The fact that Washington has uniquely collaborative education sectors leads to the opportunity for joint operating agreements to govern the K-20 network avoiding the creation of any new layers of bureaucracy.  Users are integrally involved with planning and will be held accountable.  The six baccalaureate institutions support this cooperation among all users including CTCs and K-12.  The SBCTC agrees that the joint operating agreements will maximize state resources.  OSPI recognizes the great potential for improving and expanding student learning opportunities through this statewide network.  DIS will continue providing technical support to the network.

The governance structure uses currently existing statutory responsibilities in a collaborative way allowing higher education institutions and K-12 institutions to bring already operating technology systems to the network.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Jeannette Wood, prime sponsor; Senator Al Bauer; Marc Gaspard, Katrina Meyer, HECB; President Karen Morse, WWU; Terry Teale, COP; Mike Scroggins, SBCTC; Norm Wisener, ESDs, WASA; Karen Davis, WEA; Todd Sander, DIS, for Hunter Simpson, ISB; Jean Ameluxen, OSPI; Susan Patrick, HECB; Superintendent Terry Bergeson.