SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6216

BYSenators Saling, Gaspard, Bauer, Patterson, Patrick, Conner and Rinehart; by request of State Board for Community College Education

Creating the Washington community college exceptional faculty awards program.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 9, 1990; January 24, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6216 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  January 26, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 5, 1990; February 6, 1990

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 6216 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill 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, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Linda Brownell (786-7913)

                  February 7, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1985 the Legislature created the Washington distinguished professors' program to help four-year colleges and universities create endowments for distinguished scholars who occupy chairs within the institutions.  The program allows institutions to apply for $250,000 from trust funds when they can match state funds with an equal amount of pledged or contributed private donations.  Interest income from the endowments may be used to supplement the salary of the holder of the professorship, pay salaries of his or her assistants, and pay expenses associated with the holder's scholarly work.  With the exception of two guaranteed but unpledged professorships, all available trust funds were reserved or released as of July, 1988.  In 1987 the State Board for Community College Education first requested a program similar to the distinguished professors' program.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Community College Exceptional Faculty Awards Program is established to help community colleges create endowments for funding awards granted to exceptional faculty members.  The program is administered by the State Board for Community College Education, which, in consultation with eligible community colleges, sets priorities and evaluates requests for matching funds.

All community colleges shall be eligible for matching trust funds and may apply to the State Board for Community College Education for grants when they can match the state funds with equal cash donations from private sources.  All moneys deposited in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer.  A community college shall not receive more than four faculty grants in $25,000 increments, with a maximum total of $100,000 per campus in any biennium.  There is a three year time limit for each college to raise the matching funds; if a college cannot raise the matching private funds, the funds will be disbursed through SBCCE guidelines to other eligible colleges.

The awards shall be used to pay the expenses for faculty development activities associated with the holder's program area.  More than one faculty member may share an award.  Once a college has matched the state funds, the college faculty and administration may establish a process in which several faculty awards may be funded from the endowment money released to the college by the state treasurer.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The community colleges will be required to have in hand the cash donations prior to asking for a state match from the endowment funds.  An appropriation which provides for a $75,000 average for each of the 27 community college campuses is requested.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

The appropriation of $2,025,000 is removed.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: HIGHER EDUCATION:  Earl Hale, SBCCE; Bob Fisher, WEA; Evelyn Reider, AFT; Barbara Peterson, HECB

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  Earl Hale, SBCCE