SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5228

BYSenators Saling, Moore, Bauer, Smitherman, Stratton, Smith, Anderson, Pullen, Talmadge and Rinehart

Modifying guidelines regarding student services and activities fees.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 13, 1989; February 21, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5228 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Saling, Chairman; Bauer, Smitherman, Stratton.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Vice Chairman; Cantu, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Scott Huntley (786-7421)

                  February 21, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 21, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Services and activities fees are statutorily defined to mean fees which are charged to all students and are used to fund student activities and programs.  These fees are also dedicated to repaying bonds and other indebtedness for facilities such as dormitories, hospitals, infirmaries, dining halls, parking facilities, and student, faculty, and employee housing.

In 1980 legislation was enacted which gave students an assured role in proposing budgetary recommendations for the expenditure of services and activities fees to their college or university administration.  The legislation required the creation of a services and activities fees committee, with the majority of members to be students chosen by the school's student government.

In 1986 the Legislature revised the services and activities fee budget process so that the students were given the responsibility for proposing initial budget recommendations to both the school administration and the governing board.  Under these revised procedures, the services and activities fee committee submits its budget recommendations to the administration with informational copies provided to the governing board.  If the administration responds with different recommendations, that response, together with supporting documentation, must be given to the committee and the board.

If the committee and the administration do not agree, they are to make a good faith effort to resolve disputes before submitting final recommendations to the governing board.  The governing board makes the final decision on the adoption of the services and activities fee budget.

Representatives of the students of the state institutions of higher education maintain that since the funds for the services and activities fees budgets are provided by the mandatory student fee that the students should have greater control over the budget process for these funds.

SUMMARY:

The services and activities fee committee has the responsibility for proposing program priorities and budget levels directly to the governing board.  The committee shall also submit its recommendations to the college or university administration.

The college or university administration shall make budget and program recommendations to the committee for consideration 30 days before the services and activities fee committee recommendations are due to the governing board.

The governing board shall consider the program priorities and budget levels proposed by the committee and can decrease but not increase the committee's proposed dollar amount per budget item without the written agreement of the committee.  The governing board cannot fund any items not contained in the original committee proposals without the written agreement of the committee, except for funding required for bond covenant obligations.

Transfers of funds budgeted for associated student or departmentally related categories which occur after the budget is established cannot result in an increase from the original budget allocation for any item without the written agreement of the governing board and the committee.

The student membership on the services and activities fee committee shall represent a broad spectrum of student interests and student organizations, including nontraditional students, and minority and women students.  Not more than 20 percent of the student members of the services and activities fee committee may be participants in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program. 

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The provision that not more than 20 percent of the student members of the services and activities fee committee may be participants in the institution's intercollegiate athletics program is eliminated.

Student members of the services and activities fee committee shall be selected by the student government association.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Ernest R. Morris, University of Washington (against); Mark Kuest, South Puget Sound Community College (against); Christopher Yates, South Puget Sound Community College (against); Sun Yang, ASUW (for); Bob Ferguson, ASUW President (for); Terry Teale, Council of Presidents (against); Laurie McGlothlin, Washington Association of Community College Students (against); Dick Barrett, Eastern Washington University (against); Jan Yoskiwara, State Board for Community College Education (against); Bruce Ellis, ASEWU (for); Keith Watenpaugh, Washington Student Lobby (for)