BILL REQ. #:  S-2276.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/02/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to a statewide student association; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.76 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.76 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall recognize one nonprofit statewide student association for the state's public four-year institutions. This recognition shall include the annual review and approval of the bylaws of the association.
     (2) Each recognized campus student government association shall be affiliated with the statewide student association. All students enrolled on those campuses with recognized student government organizations shall be members of the statewide student association, unless they voluntarily choose not to be.
     (3)(a) A statewide student association fee may be assessed upon all students of the state's four-year institutions, subject to the approval of the board.
     (b) Students who voluntarily choose not to be members of the statewide student association may not be assessed the fee.
     (c) The assessment of the fee shall be subject to annual review and approval by the board. The amount of the fee may not exceed one-quarter of one percent of resident undergraduate tuition.
     (d) The fee shall be collected by the four-year institutions and directly transferred at least semiannually to the statewide student association. A percentage of fees collected may be retained by the institutions to cover administrative costs, not to exceed five percent.
     (4) The statewide student association shall submit an annual report to the board and to the relevant committees of the legislature by December 31st of each year. The report shall also be furnished to each affiliated student government organization and upon request to any member of the association. The report shall include a list of current officers and employees, a legislative agenda, and a current budget. The report shall also include the results of an annual audit conducted by a certified public accountant or accounting firm. The report shall be informational in nature and is not subject to approval.
     (5) The statewide student association shall operate at the direction of a board of directors. Officers of the board shall represent the diversity of the four-year institutions, including underrepresented groups and shall be elected from the membership of the association. The process for election of members to the board of directors and the duties encompassed in their roles shall be defined in the bylaws of the association.
     (6) The statewide student association shall carry out educational, issue advocacy, and awareness activities in the interest of its members.
     (7) The fee shall not be used or authorized to be used for any activity associated with local, state, or federal elections or the election process, including but not limited to, activities associated with the promotion or opposition to a candidate, an election related issue with the intention of influencing an election, or a ballot proposition.
     (8) The statewide student association shall not be prevented from lobbying government institutions in the interest of its members, including but not limited to: The legislature, the governor and the governor's staff, and other executive branch agencies, boards, and commissions.
     (9) The board shall adopt rules as may be necessary or appropriate to implement this section.