SENATE BILL REPORT

ESB 5953

BYSenator Gaspard

Providing reduced work load options for certain tenured community college faculty members.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 3, 1987; January 21, 1988; January 28, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Hansen, McMullen, Smitherman, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  January 28, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Current law defining tenure at community colleges applies only to faculty appointments for fulltime teachers, counselors, librarians or other positions which require comparable training, experience and responsibilities as determined by the appointing authority.  Generally, administrative appointments are excluded. 

Tenured faculty who want to work less than full time have been advised they can do so legally only at the risk of losing their tenure, although some local community college agreements have permitted tenured faculty to carry reduced work loads and retain tenure.  Faculty have requested a statutory change which makes clear that appointing authorities and faculty are empowered to develop reduced work load options without affecting tenure.

SUMMARY:

Appointing authorities are permitted to allow tenured faculty members to retain tenure and carry reduced work loads.  The appointing authority and the faculty member must execute a written agreement that specifies assignment terms and conditions including the conditions, if any, under which the faculty member may return to fulltime employment.

References to gender are deleted.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 14, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: Fred Romero, SBCCE; Gil Carbone, SBCCE