Title: An act relating to campus safety and security.

Brief Description: Enhancing campus safety and security.

Sponsors: Senators Kohl-Welles, Shin, Schoesler, Kilmer, Delvin, McAuliffe and Rasmussen; by request of Governor Gregoire.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 1/24/08, 2/6/08 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6328 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Shin, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair; Delvin, Ranking Minority Member; Berkey, Schoesler and Sheldon.

Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

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 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 of Bill (Recommended Substitute): Each institution makes available to students, faculty, and staff a campus safety plan (plan). Other interested people may obtain the plan upon request. At a minimum, the plan includes: (1) data regarding campus enrollments, campus non-student workforce profiles, and the number of campus security personnel; (2) policies, procedures, and programs for preventing and responding to violence and campus emergencies, setting the weapons policy on campus, applying to controlled substances, and governing student privacy; (3) information about where to view campus policies on complaints and contact information for the individual to whom complaints may be directed in cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment; and (4) mutual assistance agreements, access methods and options to programs for persons with disabilities, available mental health and counseling services, and emergency management plans.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 outlines 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 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.

By October 30, 2008, each institution submits 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. and plans to address unmet safety needs of each campus must also be submitted. In October of each even-numbered year, each institution also submits updated safety plans. 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.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE (Recommended Substitute): Security plans and procedures are not disclosed. Institutions are given the flexibility to make the information available in a variety of ways. The original bill provided for the self study due in September 2008 and the plans to address unmet needs due in November 2008. These studies were combined and are due in October 2008. The self-study must additionally include an evaluation of the institution's ability to provide an appropriate level of mental health services.

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.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill: PRO: We must do all we can to provide for the safety of students on our college campuses. We can't prevent all incidents, but we must have institutionalized plans that students, faculty, and staff know about. The colleges have been working on campus safety issues without prodding, but this provides a good framework within which they can work. Without this bill, the words "campus security" does not appear in the RCW. The focus is on prevention of campus security incidents. Some colleges will need increased financial resources to comply with this bill. A strong mental health component and other preventative measures are just as important as responses to campus events. The Washington Student Lobby supports the bill, but believes that increased mental health information and services are needed. Combining the self-study reports may lessen the financial impact to the colleges.

OTHER: There is concern that this may give colleges the authority to regulate firearms.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Kohl-Welles, prime sponsor; Deb Merle, Governor's Office; Tom Henderson, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Michele Johnson, Pierce College; Sarah Shmael, Sara Reyneveld, Washington Student Lobby; Ann Anderson, Central Washington University; Randy Hodgins, University of Washington.

OTHER: Mark Taff, Citizen's Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.