BILL REQ. #:  S-1729.2 

READ FIRST TIME 03/04/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to higher education in high-demand fields and programs; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.80 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A program to contract for undergraduate and graduate placements in high-demand fields and programs is created. For purposes of this program, high-demand fields and programs are programs where enrollment access is limited and fields where employers are experiencing difficulty finding enough qualified graduates to fill job openings. The higher education coordinating board shall administer the program, subject to appropriation.
     (2) Washington public community and technical colleges, public baccalaureate institutions, and private nonprofit colleges and universities are eligible to apply for high demand enrollment funds. The board may accept applications for an enrollment contract from an in-state or border-state, private nonprofit institution but only where such entities have agreed to partner with one or more public, Washington state colleges or universities to deliver the educational program in high demand. The board may also accept applications for an enrollment contract from a public institution or a private nonprofit institution located in a county participating in the border county higher education opportunity project under RCW 28B.80.806, but only where such entities have agreed to partner with an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 to deliver the educational program in high demand. In all cases, an institution of higher education must be the fiscal agent, grant-recipient-of-record, and an active partner in the instruction of participating Washington students.
     (3) To review and select among competing proposals for these new enrollments, the board shall establish an advisory committee consisting of representatives of the board, the office of financial management, out-of-state higher education institutions or associations, industry and labor associations, and economic development and labor market analysts. The advisory committee shall consult with the board to develop the request for proposals, including criteria for awarding grants, and shall recommend projects for funding by the board. The advisory committee and board shall consider the present and near-term outlook for in-state employment of graduating students for whom it will contract to expand access opportunities. In reviewing proposals from applicants, the board and its advisory committee shall consider proposals that (a) create opportunities for underrepresented students in the field of study, (b) respond to unique regional economic opportunities and promote economic growth in depressed regions of the state, (c) address health and education professional shortages, (d) spread the benefit of the state's high-technology economy geographically, (e) provide employment in a business or economic sector with significant growth potential supported by data, or (f) include an articulation agreement to ease the transfer of applicable, lower division credit earned by participating Washington students. Priority shall be given to proposals that foster collaboration across educational sectors.
     (4) Participating institutions shall cooperate with the board to collect the data necessary to report to the governor and the legislature on the impact of the program in this section, particularly the degree of improved access to high-demand fields and programs for students and successful job placements for graduates. The board shall profile enrollment contracts let to date and review impacts as part of the reports. Reports shall be made by December 1st of even-numbered years to the fiscal and higher education committees of the legislature and to the office of financial management.