SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 6675
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.
As Passed Senate, February 15, 2008
Title: An act relating to allowing public technical colleges to offer associate transfer degrees.
Brief Description: Allowing public technical colleges to offer associate transfer degrees.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Shin, Pflug, Berkey, Fairley and Tom).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education: 1/28/08 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 2/15/08, 49-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6675 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: Thirty community and technical college districts exist in Washington. Each college district has its own board of trustees. Each board must create comprehensive programs of community and technical college education and training. Technical colleges and college districts containing only technical colleges are restricted from offering programs other than for occupational education, basic skills, and literary purposes. Technical colleges offer only technical degrees and may not offer transfer degrees.
Summary of Substitute Bill: In addition to offering technical degrees, technical colleges are allowed to offer transfer degrees that prepare students for professional bachelor's degrees. The State Board of Community and Technical Colleges adopts rules creating consistency between community and technical colleges offering associate degrees that prepare students for these degrees.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
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 need to make sure that all of the pathways to a higher education are as widely distributed as possible. This proposal was studied by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (Board) and is supported by the Board. The proposal also fits in well with the statewide strategic master plan for higher education and the WTECB plan for workforce development. There is an unmet need for these associate transfer degrees. The demands of employers and the abilities of the technical colleges have evolved since the technical colleges were first formed in 1991.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator McAuliffe, prime sponsor; John Walstrum, Clover Park Technical College; Madeline Thompson, WTECB; Jan Yoshiwara, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.