SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6557

As Passed Senate, February 6, 2002

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:  1/29/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/6/02, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Carlson, Horn, McAuliffe, Parlette and B. Sheldon.

Staff:  Heather Lewis-Lechner (786-7448)

Background:  Under current Washington law, the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) 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 for a term of four years.  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, but the chair and vice chair are elected by the members of the board annually.

Summary of Bill:  The members of the HECB are given the authority to select from their membership a chair and vice-chair who serve a one-year term as chair or vice-chair.  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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The State Board of Community and Technical Colleges operates very well under the current system where the chair and vice‑chair are elected by the members of the Board.  The members are very engaged and each has the opportunity to be elected chair and vice‑chair.  This is not to say that the Higher Education Coordinating Board does not operate very well also.  For consistency between the two boards it would be good to change the way the chair and vice‑chair are elected.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Jeanne Kohl‑Welles, prime sponsor.

House Amendment(s):  The amended bill allows a member to serve more than one term as chair or vice-chair if the board members choose to reselect that member.