BILL REQ. #:  H-2393.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/10/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to higher education facilities; adding a new section to chapter 43.41 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that there is a significant backlog of preservation projects needed to maintain the usefulness of buildings and protect the health and safety of students, faculty, and the public. The legislature also finds that facility inventory and condition data is independently produced and maintained by each higher education institution. A 2002 legislative study indicates that this independent data can be translated and calibrated to a standard statewide data base while maintaining the individuality of the institutions. Uniform and comprehensive facility inventory and condition data will enable institutions and the legislature to prioritize projects to reduce the preservation backlog and to prevent the backlog from increasing. It will also enable the legislature to use preservation standards along with mission, access, and program considerations when determining capital priorities.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.41 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The office, in consultation with the higher education coordinating board and higher education institutions, shall establish and maintain a system to collect and assemble existing facility data at the various institutions and translate this information into a comparable framework to create a statewide uniform building inventory and condition system. This process must seek to minimize the needed changes to current systems and reporting costs at the individual institutions.
     (2) The office and the higher education coordinating board shall report to the legislature each December of even-numbered years on progress made in establishing the inventory and condition system under subsection (1) of this section, and progress made in addressing the preservation backlog. The office shall add infrastructure to the system and incorporate program suitability in prioritizing preservation projects as soon as feasible.
     (3) The joint legislative audit and review committee and the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee shall, upon request, provide technical and system design assistance.
     (4) The office may allow for possible expansion of this detailed uniform statewide facility inventory and condition system for higher education to other areas of state government.