SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 2999

BYHouse Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen, Locke, H. Sommers, Ebersole, Miller, Prince, S. Wilson, Holland, Rector, Winsley, Crane, Basich, Wineberry, Ferguson, Bennett, Spanel and O'Brien; by request of State Board for Community College Education)

Revising provisions for compensation for community college officers and employees.

House Committe on Higher Education

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 15, 1990; February 22, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Cantu, Smitherman, Stratton, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Scott Huntley (786-7421)

                  February 22, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Niemi, Saling, Smith, Warnke, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Linda Brownell (786-7715)

                  February 27, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 26, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Each community college board of trustees is directed to employ a district president, members of the faculty, administrative officers, and other employees.  In multicampus districts, the board also hires a president for each campus.  The board determines the duties of each employee, and fixes his or her salary.  By law, salary increases are limited to the amount or percentage established in the appropriations act.

The 1989 appropriations act directed the State Board for Community College Education to "establish compensation guidelines for salary levels of the top administrative position at community colleges."  The state board convened a task force to develop those guidelines.

The task force identified two problems associated with compensation for presidents.  First, the task force found that unlike presidents of the four-year institutions, public school superintendents, and community college presidents in other states, Washington community college presidents can not receive compensation in forms other than salary.  Second, the task force found that salary restriction language in the appropriations act limits the flexibility of governing boards to give competitive salary increases to presidents without reducing increases for other administrative employees.  They also found that trustees have flexibility in setting salaries for newly hired presidents, so those new presidents frequently receive higher salaries than experienced incumbents.

The task force recommended that trustees be given the authority to provide presidents and administrative employees with compensation rather than salaries.  The task force also recommended that salary appropriations for administrators should be based on salary surveys in peer states.  Finally, it recommended maintaining a reasonable promotional salary alignment between faculty and administrators.

SUMMARY:

Community college trustees will fix the duties and compensation of community college presidents.  Compensation may include elements other than salary.  Compensation provided by a college may supplement retirement, health care, and other benefits received by presidents as state employees. Compensation increases must not exceed the amount or percentage established in the state appropriations act.

Archaic language in the statute is removed.  The legislation takes effect immediately.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Senate Committee - Testified: HIGHER EDUCATION:  Dr. Max Snyder, State Board for Community College Education (pro); Earl Hale, State Board for Community College Education (pro)

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  Karyn Clarke, Tacoma Community College (pro)