FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5172

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.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Shin, Hobbs, Kastama, McAuliffe, Jarrett, Pridemore, Brown, Keiser, Jacobsen, Kohl-Welles and Kline).

Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development

House Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Ways & Means

Background: At least ten universities in the United States have centers for human rights, including the University of Iowa, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of California, Berkeley. Each center has a slightly different focus, but generally the centers provide an interdisciplinary location for research, policy analysis, and dialogue on human rights. Some of the centers have an internship or advocacy component. Most of the centers are located in a law school or a public policy school, but a few are located in other areas, such as international programs.

The University of Washington (UW) has a human rights program that allows students at the Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell campuses to obtain a minor in human rights. Students can choose from a selection of courses taught across the university's three campuses.

Summary: The UW Center for Human Rights is created. The mission of the center is to expand opportunities for Washington residents to receive a world-class education in human rights, generate research data and expert knowledge to enhance public and private policymaking, and become an academic center for human rights teaching and research in the nation. Key substantive issues for the center include the rights of all persons to security against violence; the rights of immigrants, Native Americans, and ethnic or religious minorities; human rights and the environment; health as a human right; human rights and trade; the human rights of working people; and women's rights as human rights. State funds may not be used to support the Center for Human Rights. The center must report to the Legislature by December 1, 2010.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	28	15
House	75	21	(House amended)
Senate	28	18	(Senate concurred)