H-4461 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1490
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State of Washington 50th Legislature 1988 Regular Session
By House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Heavey, Barnes, Jacobsen, Silver, Unsoeld, Jesernig, Fox, Miller, Prince, K. Wilson, Wineberry, Crane, J. Williams, Basich, P. King, May, Nealey, Rasmussen and Hine)
Read first time 1/29/88 and passed to Committee on Rules.
AN ACT Relating to donated equipment for institutions of higher education; adding new sections to chapter 28B.10 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A shortage of high-quality equipment in Washington's institutions of higher education hinders the ability of those institutions to provide the advanced instruction needed to maintain industrial competitiveness and spur economic development in the state. This problem can be at least partially solved by encouraging donations of modern equipment.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this section and section 3 of this act:
(1) "Modern equipment" means equipment that is useful in the course of postsecondary and graduate instruction or research and is comparable to state-of-the-art equipment or equipment widely used currently in private industry, not-for-profit organizations, or government laboratories. This definition only applies to equipment that retains at least one-half its useful life at the time of donation.
(2) "Institutions of higher education" means those institutions of higher education defined in RCW 28B.10.016.
(3) "Donation" means a transfer to an institution of higher education of modern equipment that is not encumbered in any manner.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) After issuing a need statement and accepting a donation of modern equipment, an institution of higher education shall promptly have the fair market value of such equipment assessed by a qualified, independent expert. However, when the price of the donated modern equipment is listed in current catalogs or price lists available to the general public, an independent expert need not be used. The assessed fair market value of such equipment or the listed value shall then be reported to the higher education coordinating board, along with such other information as the board deems necessary.
(2) Upon receipt of a report under subsection (1) of this section, the board may distribute to the recipient institution of higher education, if funds are available, an amount up to the fair market value of the donated equipment. These funds, and the proceeds of the funds, shall be used for the initial installation, operation, and maintenance of and training in the use of the donated equipment and the purchase of software or new equipment that will optimize the use of the donated equipment. If funding is requested under this section, the institution shall provide the board with a report detailing why funding is needed. If funding requested under this section is unavailable, the institution may, at its discretion, cancel and return the donation.
(3) In consultation with institutions of higher education, the board shall adopt rules and guidelines for the program. These rules and guidelines may include an allocation system based on factors including but not limited to: The amount of funding available for the program and the needs of special programs which have been designated as priority programs by the legislature, the governor, or the institutions.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 2 and 3 of this act are each added to chapter 28B.10 RCW.