SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1472
As of March 15, 2021
Title: An act relating to membership of the student achievement council.
Brief Description: Adding a graduate student to the student achievement council.
Sponsors: House Committee on College & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Slatter, Ortiz-Self, Sutherland, Goodman, Ormsby, Valdez, Eslick, Harris-Talley, Lekanoff, Pollet and Chopp).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/6/21, 77-21.
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 3/16/21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Adds a graduate student to the membership of the Washington Student Achievement Council.
  • Increases the term of the undergraduate and graduate student members to two years and requires that their terms be staggered.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)
Background:

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) was created as a state agency in 2012.  WSAC was charged to assume some of the remaining functions of its predecessor, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and to propose higher education goals and strategic action planning.  The executive director of WSAC is appointed by the Governor, who chooses from a list of names provided by WSAC.

 

WSAC is comprised of the following nine voting members:

  • five citizen members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate, one of which must be a student.
    1. Citizen members must represent the diversity of the state and state's geography. Four citizen members serve four-year terms, and the student serves a one-year term;
  • a representative of the public baccalaureate institutions selected by the presidents of public baccalaureate institutions;
  • a representative of the community and technical college system, selected by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges;
  • a representative of the K-12 system selected by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Department of Early Learning and the State Board of Education.
    1. This member must excuse themselves from voting on matters pertaining primarily to institutions of higher education; and
  • a representative of an independent, nonprofit higher education institution selected by an association of independent nonprofit baccalaureate degree-granting institutions.
    1. This member must excuse themselves from matters pertaining primarily to public institutions.
Summary of Bill:

Membership of WSAC is increased from nine members to ten members by increasing the number of citizen members to six.  At least one of the citizen members must be an undergraduate student, and at least one of the citizen members must be a graduate student.  The terms of the undergraduate and graduate student members are modified from one year to two years.  The terms of the undergraduate and graduate student members must be staggered.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.