SB 6655-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Declares an intent that the Spokane branch campus of Washington State University, offering upper-division and graduate programs, be located at the Riverpoint Higher Education Park and that Washington State University be the administrative and fiscal agent for the Riverpoint Higher Education Park.  In addition, those programs offered by Eastern Washington University that meet the rules and guidelines established by the higher education coordinating board's program approval process may serve students at the Riverpoint Higher Education Park.

     Declares an intent to streamline the program planning and approval process in Spokane by eliminating the joint center for higher education; thereby treating the Spokane higher education community like other public higher education communities in Washington that receive program approval from the higher education coordinating board.

     Encourages partnerships, collaboration, and avoidance of program duplication through regular communication among the presidents of Spokane's public and private institutions of higher education.

     Declares an intent that the residential mission of Eastern Washington University in Cheney be strengthened and that Eastern Washington University focus on the excellence of its primary campus in Cheney.

     Finds that the Spokane intercollegiate research and technology institute is a vital and necessary element in the academic and economic future of eastern Washington.

     Declares an intent that institutions of higher education and the department of community, trade, and economic development work cooperatively with the private sector in the development and implementation of a technology transfer and integration program to promote the economic development and enhance the quality of life in eastern Washington.

     Declares that housing or a housing allowance may only be provided for the president of a public four-year institution of higher education who resides in the location where the institution is designated under RCW 28B.20.010, 28B.30.010, 28B.35.010, and 28B.40.010.

     Provides that, on July 1, 1998, title to or all interest in real estate and other assets, including but not limited to assignable contracts, cash, equipment, buildings, facilities, and appurtenances related to Riverpoint park, except for the area of real property defined as the approximate two and one-half acres bounded by the Spokane river, Trent Avenue, and Riverpoint Boulevard that is reserved for the Spokane intercollegiate research and technology institute and its expansion, shall be transferred from the joint center for higher education to Washington State University.

     Provides that all interest in real estate and other assets, including but not limited to assignable contracts, cash, equipment, buildings, facilities, and appurtenances related to the Spokane intercollegiate research and technology institute held as of July 1, 1998, shall vest in the Spokane intercollegiate institute of technology.  The area of the real property related to the Spokane intercollegiate institute of technology is defined as the approximate two and one-half acres bounded by the Spokane river, Trent Avenue, and Riverpoint Boulevard.

     Repeals RCW 28B.25.010, 28B.25.020, 28B.25.030, 28B.25.033, 28B.25.037, 28B.25.040, 28B.25.050, 28B.25.070, 28B.25.075, 28B.25.090, 28B.25.100, 28B.25.900, and 28B.10.060.

VETO MESSAGE ON SB 6655-S

                   April 3, 1998

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to sections 6 and 19, Substitute Senate Bill No. 6655 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to institutions of higher education;"

     Substitute Senate Bill No. 6655 makes several important changes to statutes regarding higher education in the Spokane area.  Many of its provisions enact recommendations developed by the Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board at my request.  I commend the HEC Board for its comprehensive assessment performed on short notice, and I commend the Legislature for its enactment of many of the HEC Board's recommendations.

     SSB 6655 dissolves the Spokane Joint Center for Higher Education (the "Joint Center") and transfers the majority of its duties and real estate and other assets to Washington State University (WSU).  WSU is required to develop a plan for the management of the Joint Center's Riverpoint Park facility, and a new mission statement and operations plan for its Spokane branch campus.

     Under SSB 6655, the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute (SIRTI) will no longer be under the authority of the Joint Center.  It will be separately established with its own board of directors and more clearly affiliated with the economic development efforts of the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

     The bill also requires the HEC Board to manage an assessment of current and future higher education capital and programmatic needs in Spokane, and also an economic assessment of the Spokane area addressing job expansion, technology-based high wage job development, and basic and applied research needs.

     SSB 6655 requires Eastern Washington University (EWU) to develop a new mission statement and operations plan for comprehensive higher education based in Cheney.  In addition, the value and role of EWU in Spokane is recognized along with the overriding values of collaboration and coordination among the various public and private higher education institutions in the Spokane area.

     Section 6 of SSB 6655 would replicate ambiguous language in other sections of law regarding service delivery control and responsibility for branch campuses.  It would not recognize the unique situation in Spokane where two public universities each have a major presence.  Section 6 would confuse the roles, opportunity and value offered by EWU and other institutions in the Spokane area.  It would leave open an interpretation that these institutions would be excluded from participating in higher education offered at Spokane, which was not the intent of the HEC Board's recommendations.  Section 19 establishes an effective date for section 6, and is unnecessary after my veto of section 6.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed sections 6 and 19 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 6655.

     With the exception of sections 6 and 19, Substitute Senate Bill No. 6655 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor