Title: An act relating to terms of appointment of student regents and trustees.

Brief Description: Revising terms of appointment of student regents and trustees.

Sponsors: Representatives Kenney, Sells, Cox, Rodne and Kessler.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/09/06, 98-0.

Committee Activity: Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education: 2/17/06, 2/22/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING, K-12 & HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Higher Education; Weinstein, Vice Chair, Early Learning & K-12; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Carrell, Delvin, Eide, Kohl-Welles, Pflug, Rasmussen, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Shin.

Staff: Stephanie Yurcisin (786-7438)

Background: Student regents are appointed at each of the public baccalaureate institutions. They serve a one-year term which begins the first day of June and ends when their successor is appointed and qualified.

Budget conversations and decisions at the public four-year institutions generally occur in the month of June. Student regents, therefore, must participate in planning the budget immediately after they are appointed, and before they have had the chance to familiarize themselves with budget issues.

Summary of Bill: Student regents will hold office from the first day of July until the first day of July the following year, or until their successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: This would allow the incoming student regent to become acquainted with the budgeting issues before having to vote on it. It is a common sense bill to greatly enhance the effectiveness of the student regents.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Daniel Shafar, Washington Student Lobby.