HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2161

BYRepresentatives Jacobsen, Prince, Rayburn, Grant, Doty, Heavey, P. King, Miller, Jesernig and Van Luven 

Amending the distinguished professorship trust program.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Inslee, Jesernig, Miller, H. Myers, Prince, Rector and Wood.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 14, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Distinguished Professorship Trust Fund Program was created to match public and private funds in support of outstanding faculty at the state four-year institutions of higher education. When appropriated funds are available, the state will match $250,000 of state funds with an equal amount of private donations. Once the private donations are received by the participating institution, the state matching funds will be transferred to a local endowment fund established by the institution for the professorship.  The professorship then becomes the property of that institution.

The total $500,000 will be invested in the local endowment fund, with the proceeds of that fund used to support the holder of the distinguished professorship.  The proceeds may be used to supplement the salary of the holder of the professorship, to pay the salaries of the holder's assistants, and to pay expenses associated with the holder's scholarly work.  The institution may augment the fund with other private donations.

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers would like to explore the possibility of having their commodity commission support either an endowed chair, or, as an interim step, an augmented distinguished professorship in wheat, at Washington State University.  Although commission funds are collected from wheat growers through an assessment procedure that was voluntarily adopted by the industry, the funds, once collected, are no longer considered to be private.  Members of the association have requested amendments to the Distinguished Professorship Program that will permit them to donate commodity commission funds for a professorship.  They would also like to donate $500,000 to the program, and have the state match their donation with an equal amount.

SUMMARY:

The definition of "private donation" in the Washington Distinguished Professorship Trust Fund Program includes assessments by commodity commissions authorized to conduct research activities.

Once state matching funds are released to a local endowment fund, an institution may combine two professorships to support one professorship holder.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Bill Schwerin, Washington Association of Wheat Growers; and Larry Ganders, Washington State University.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Passage of this legislation will permit commodity commissions to provide a lasting contribution to state higher education institutions.  This legislation may also help raise non-state funds for agricultural research.  Washington wheat growers would like to support the efforts of higher education through donating $500,000 of commission funds to support a professorship in honor of Dr. Vogel, a Washington State University scientist who helped revolutionize the production of wheat.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.