SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6699
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 Reported By Senate Committee On:
Higher Education, February 06, 2008
Title: An act relating to establishing a student position on the Bellevue Community College board of trustees.
Brief Description: Establishing a student position on the Bellevue Community College board of trustees.
Sponsors: Senators Shin, Delvin, Murray, Berkey, Weinstein and Tom.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education: 1/30/08, 2/6/08 [DP, DNP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Shin, Chair; Kilmer, Vice Chair; Delvin, Ranking Minority Member; Sheldon.
Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senator Schoesler.
Staff: Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)
Background: The Higher Education Coordinating Board, University of Washington, Washington
State University, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College all have student
members on their Boards of Trustees or Boards of Regents. The are no student members on the
State Board of Community and Technical Colleges or on the boards for any of the community
college districts.
There are no enumerated qualifications for board members at any of the institutions of higher
education. Boards at community and technical colleges have five trustees, and must include at
least one member from business and another from labor.
Bellevue Community College (BCC) is in the 8th community college district. Approximately
20,000 students per year are served by BCC.
Summary of Bill: BCC creates a program to establish a student member on its board of trustees
for a period of two years. The Governor selects the student member from a list of 3-5 candidates
submitted by the governing body of the associated students. The student must be in good
academic standing at the time of appointment. The student member's term is for one year or upon
the appointment of the successor, whichever is later. The student member must excuse him or
herself from matters relating to hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty and personnel.
BCC, in consultation with the governing body of associated students, creates criteria for
evaluating the pilot program and reports the status of the project to the Legislature by December
1, 2009.
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: PRO: Schools belong to students, so they should have representation on boards. Bellevue Community College has a strong student government that is very capable of conducting this pilot project. These are not just students, they are citizens of the state
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Shin, prime sponsor; Brianne Wood, WSL; Jake Stillwell, WSL.