BILL REQ. #:  H-1459.1 

Read first time 02/03/09.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to appointing student members on the board of trustees for community colleges; amending RCW 28B.50.100; creating a new section; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 28B.50.100 and 1991 c 238 s 37 are each amended to read as follows:
     There is hereby created a board of trustees for each college district as set forth in this chapter. Each board of trustees shall be composed of five trustees, except as provided in section 2 of this act, who shall be appointed by the governor for terms commencing October 1st of the year in which appointed. In making such appointments the governor shall give consideration to geographical diversity, and representing labor, business, women, and racial and ethnic minorities, in the membership of the boards of trustees. The boards of trustees for districts containing technical colleges shall include at least one member from business and one member from labor.
     The successors of the trustees initially appointed shall be appointed by the governor to serve for a term of five years except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of any term shall be appointed only for the remainder of the term. Each member shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.
     Every trustee shall be a resident and qualified elector of the college district. No trustee may be an employee of the community and technical college system, a member of the board of directors of any school district, or a member of the governing board of any public or private educational institution.
     Each board of trustees shall organize itself by electing a chairman from its members. The board shall adopt a seal and may adopt such bylaws, rules and regulations as it deems necessary for its own government. Three members of the board shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner as prescribed in its bylaws, rules, or regulations. The district president, or if there be none, the president of the college, shall serve as, or may designate another person to serve as, the secretary of the board, who shall not be deemed to be a member of the board.
     Members of the boards of trustees may be removed for misconduct or malfeasance in office in the manner provided by RCW 28B.10.500.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) A pilot program is established for the purposes of appointing a student member to the board of trustees at Bellevue Community College, Clark College, South Seattle Community College, Spokane Community College, and Yakima Valley Community College for the period of two years beginning July 1, 2009, until June 30, 2011. Each board of trustees shall be composed of six trustees, one of whom shall be a student. The governor shall select each student member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the governing body of the associated students. The student member shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. The student member shall hold his or her office for a term of one year, beginning July 1st and ending June 30th, or until the student member's successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later. The student member shall be a full-time student in good standing at the community college at the time of appointment.
     (2) A student appointed under this section shall excuse himself or herself from participation or voting on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.
     (3) Each community college in subsection (1) of this section and governing body of the associated students shall create a criteria by which the pilot program shall be evaluated. The community college and the governing body of the associated students shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2011, on the success of the pilot program based on the criteria established. The report shall include recommendations on whether the student member trustee shall be made permanent.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Sections 1 and 2 of this act expire July 1, 2011.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.