HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6557

As Reported by House Committee On:

Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to the selection of the chair of the higher education coordinating board.

Brief Description:  Providing for the higher education coordinating board to select its chair and vice‑chair.

Sponsors:  Senators Kohl‑Welles, Horn, Carlson, Shin, Jacobsen, Sheahan, McAuliffe, Parlette and B. Sheldon.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Higher Education:  2/22/02, 2/26/02 [DPA].

Brief Summary of Bill

(As Amended by House Committee)

$Members of the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) have the authority to select and reselect from their membership the chair and vice-chair who serve a one-year term as chair or vice-chair.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Kenney, Chair; Cox, Ranking Minority Member; Chase, Gombosky, Jarrett, Lantz and Skinner.

Staff:  Antonio Sanchez (786‑7383).

Background:

Under current Washington law, the Higher Education Coordinating Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate.  The chair of the HECB is appointed by the Governor and serves at the Governor's pleasure.  The members of the HECB, other than the chair, serve four-year terms.  The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, like the HECB, consists of nine members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate.  However, the chair and vice chair are elected by the members of the board annually.

Summary of Amended Bill:

The members of the HECB are given the authority to select from their membership a chair and vice-chair.  The term as the chair or vice-chair is set at one year.  After their one-year term, they can be reselected by the board if the board so chooses.  This new process for selecting a chair and vice-chair does not take effect until the term of the current chair is over.  All members of the HECB serve four-year terms with no exception for the chair.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The amended bill allows the board to also reselect the chair or vice-chair after serving a one-year term.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Other boards with similar responsibilities are allowed to select their chair and vice-chair, such as the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.  The SBCTC functions well under this arrangement.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Kohl-Welles, prime sponsor; and Senator Betti Sheldon.