By Committee on Higher Education

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  "(1) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall conduct a review of the available financial records on higher education costs of instruction at the state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College. In conducting the review, the committee shall consult with the institutions of higher education and the education data center within the office of financial management.

(2)(a) The review must describe the available financial records on higher education costs of instruction for each institution and the available cost of attendance data for students over the most recent twenty-year period, including the cost of:

(i) Research;

(ii) Faculty and staff salaries;

(iii) Administration;

(iv) Health care and benefits;

(v) Capital;

(vi) Student services;

(vii) Textbooks; and

(viii) Student housing.

(b) The review must also compare whether this data is available for institutions and students in the global challenge states.

(c) The review shall use information already available and report where there are gaps in the information sought under this section. The education data center in the office of financial management and the institutions of higher education must provide data to the committee to assist with completing the review.

(3) The joint legislative audit and review committee shall issue a report to the legislature by January 2016.

(4) This section expires July 1, 2016."

Correct the title.

EFFECT: Makes the following changes:

Changes "cost data" to "financial records" for the purpose of reviewing the costs of instruction.

Clarifies that the costs for the institutions are costs of instruction whereas the costs for students is cost of attendance.

Adds that the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee must consult with the institutions of higher education and the Education Research and Data Center (ERDC) within the Office of Financial Management in conducting the review.

Removes the requirement for the ERDC and the institutions of higher education to provide staff support.