HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6304

BYSenators Saling, Bauer, McDonald, Stratton, Bailey, von Reichbauer, Lee, Johnson, McCaslin, Benitz, Thorsness and Amondson

Requiring that sick leave records be kept for teaching and research faculty at state and regional universities.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (13)

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

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

During 1989, the Legislative Budget Committee completed a study of higher education sick leave policies.  The committee found that policies for faculty members of the four- year institutions are different from those mandated by law for most state employees and community college instructors.  This has occurred, in part, because faculty members are not included in the definition of eligible employee under statutes governing sick leave policies for state agencies.  As a result, each of the state-funded universities and college has developed its own faculty sick leave policy.

Five institutions permit faculty members to take between 90 to 210 calendar days per year of sick leave.  At these institutions, faculty members are not permitted to accrue sick leave over subsequent years.  One institution permits faculty to accrue 12 days per year.  Under this system, accrued leave is carried over to subsequent years.

The staff of the Legislative Budget Committee found that the use of sick leave at four-year institutions appeared to be similar with that of comparable institutions.  The staff also found that institutions have different record-keeping practices for keeping track of utilized sick leave. At most institutions, records are maintained at the departmental or college level.  Five of the six institutions do not keep track of short-term sick leave.  As a result of these diverse practices, staff was unable to make conclusive recommendations about changing existing sick leave policies.  Staff did recommend that institutions of higher education should be required to maintain complete, accurate sick leave records for all faculty members.

SUMMARY:

The state and regional universities and The Evergreen State College are required to maintain complete and accurate sick leave records for faculty members.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.