Z-693                 _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 362

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State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Basich, K. Wilson, Jacobsen, Nelson, Prince, Heavey, Allen, Unsoeld, Jesernig, Miller, Grant, R. King, Wang, P. King, Todd and Wineberry

Read first time 1/26/87 and referred to Committee on Higher Education.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means 1/30/87.

AN ACT Relating to the community college instructional improvement program; and adding new sections to chapter 28B.50 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature recognizes that quality in the state's community colleges would be strengthened by additional partnerships between citizens and the institutions.  The legislature intends to foster these partnerships by creating a matching grant program to assist public community colleges in creating endowments for funding distinguished professorships.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1) The Washington community college instructional improvement program is established.  The program shall be administered by the state board for community college education.  The instructional improvement trust fund shall be administered by the state treasurer.

          (2) Funds appropriated by the legislature for the community college instructional improvement program shall be deposited in the instructional improvement trust fund.  All moneys deposited in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer.  Notwithstanding RCW 43.84.090, all earnings of investments of balances in the fund shall be credited to the fund.  At the request of the state board for community college education, the treasurer shall release the state matching funds to the designated institution's local endowment fund.  No appropriation is necessary for the expenditure of moneys from the fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) In consultation with eligible community colleges, the state board for community college education shall set priorities and guidelines for the program.

          (2) A community college shall not receive more than two professorships under section 3 of this act in any biennium.

          (3) All community colleges shall be eligible for matching trust funds.  Institutions may apply to the state board for community college education for fifty thousand to one hundred thousand dollars from the fund when they can match the state funds with equal cash donations from private sources.  These donations shall be made specifically to the instructional improvement program and deposited by the institution in a local endowment fund.  Otherwise unrestricted gifts may be deposited in the endowment fund by the institution.

          (4) Once the private donation is received by the institution, the institution shall inform the state board for community college education and request state matching funds.  The state board for community college education shall evaluate the request for state matching funds based on program priorities and guidelines.  The state board for community college education may ask the state treasurer to release the state matching funds to a local endowment fund established by the institution for each professorship created.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     (1) The professorship is the property of the institution and may be named in honor of a donor, benefactor, or honoree of the institution, at the option of the institution.  The institution shall designate the recipient of the professorship.  The designation shall be made or renewed annually.

          (2) The institution is responsible for soliciting private donations, investing and maintaining all endowment funds, administering the professorship, and reporting on the program to the governor, the state board for community college education, and the legislature upon request.  The institution may augment the endowment fund with additional unrestricted private donations.  The principal of the invested endowment fund shall not be invaded.

          (3) The proceeds from the endowment fund may be used to:

          (a) Supplement the salary of the holder of the professorship, to pay salaries for his or her assistants, and to pay expenses associated with the holder's program area; or

          (b) Enable a person awarded the professorship to be relieved of teaching duties for one year or part of one year to pursue scholarly work or interests which will enhance his or her instructional skills.  This shall be in addition to and distinct from those leaves authorized under RCW 28B.10.650.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Any private or public moneys deposited in the Washington instructional improvement trust fund or any local endowment for professorship programs shall not be subject to negotiations authorized under chapter 28B.52 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 5 of this act are each added to chapter 28B.50 RCW.