| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Higher Education Committee | |
HB 1452
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Creating associate faculty positions for part-time faculty at community and technical colleges.
Sponsors: Representatives Haigh, Jarrett, Kirby, Chase, P. Sullivan, Campbell, Fromhold, Dunshee, Kessler, Quall, Lantz, Wallace, Kenney, Ormsby, Linville, O'Brien, Schual-Berke, Wood, Goodman, Hasegawa, Miloscia and McDermott.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/29/07
Staff: Andrew Colvin (786-7304).
Background:
The community and technical college system in Washington relies heavily on part-time faculty to
meet teaching needs. Over the past ten years, the issue of part-time faculty has been the subject
of a number of legislative actions. In 1996 the Legislature adopted provisions requiring an audit
of part-time faculty compensation and employment practices and the identification of "best
practices" related to part-time faculty employment. This was done, and reports were issued, with
updates in 1997 and 1998.
In 2005 the legislature passed ESB 5087, which directed the State Board for Community and
Technical Colleges to convene a task force to review the 1996 findings and recommendations. In
December 2005 the task force issued its report and recommendations on best employment
practices for part-time faculty.
The associate faculty designation for part-time faculty was proposed in 1997 with HB 2195.
That bill was not passed out of committee. In 2005, HB 2080 and SB 5970 were introduced to
create the associate faculty designation. Neither bill passed out of committee.
Summary of Bill:
Establishes the "associate faculty" status for certain part-time, non-tenure track faculty of
community and technical colleges. Part-time faculty will be eligible for associate faculty status
after teaching for nine quarters (those with more than nine quarters as of 6/30/07 will
automatically receive associate faculty status). As a result of their status, associate faculty will
have a number of rights and privileges related, as follows:
(1) the right of first refusal on available departmental courses up to the equivalent of a full- time teaching load each year for fall, winter, and spring quarters;
(2) the right to bump other non-tenure track faculty in the event the associate faculty member's course is canceled;
(3) the right to be paid 33 percent of their contract by the college in the event there is no one with less seniority to bump and the associate faculty member's class is canceled;
(4) their names and qualifications appearing in the college's biennial catalogs;
(5) the right to receive annual contracts with the equivalent of full-time teaching loads; and
(6) annual contracts presumed to be automatically renewable.
Provisions relating to procedures and rights for reduction in force of community and technical
college faculty are amended to include associate faculty with tenured and probationary faculty.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 28, 2007.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.