Brief Description: Enhancing campus security.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl-Welles, Shin, Schoesler, Kilmer, Delvin, McAuliffe and Rasmussen; by request of Governor Gregoire).

Senate Committee on Higher Education
House Committee on Higher Education
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: Recent national and local events on college campuses have caused institutions of higher education (institutions) to refocus on campus security and safety. The Governor has identified the need for each state college and university to update its campus plans for emergency preparedness and response procedures and provide this information to students, faculty, and staff.

Currently, each institution annually updates and distributes a report that includes crime statistics for the prior three-year period. In addition, each institution provides every student and new employee with information regarding enrollments, campus non-student workforce profiles, the number of campus security personnel, and the arrangements with state and local police.

Summary: Each institution makes available to students, faculty, and staff a campus safety plan (plan). Other interested people may obtain the plan upon request. Information that must be included in the plan is specified. For the most recent academic year, the plan must include: (1) a description of programs and services offered by the institution and student organizations providing crime prevention and counseling; and (2) security policies and programs at student housing facilities.

Each institution enters into memoranda of understanding that outline institutional and local jurisdiction responsibilities during campus emergencies. Institutions also enter into mutual aid agreements with local jurisdictions regarding equipment and technology sharing in the case of campus emergencies. Institutions already have task forces to annually examine campus safety issues. These task forces must now also annually review the campus safety plans and make suggestions for improvement. A specific individual must be designated for monitoring and coordinating the institution's compliance with the campus safety laws. Information that must be included in the plan is specified.

By October 30, 2008, each institution must submit a self-study, assessing its ability to ensure campus safety and an evaluation of its ability to provide an appropriate level of mental health services, to its respective state governing board; plans to address unmet safety needs of each campus must also be included. In October of each even-numbered year, each institution must also submit an updated safety plan. The Higher Education Coordinating Board and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges report to the Governor and higher education committees biennially on compliance and recommendations on measures to ensure campus safety and security.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      48   0
House      96   0   (House amended)
Senate      41   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 12, 2008