H-1245              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1822

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Van Luven, Rector, Miller, H. Myers, Wood, Jesernig, Ebersole, Wineberry, Appelwick, R. Fisher, Betrozoff, Cole, Prince, Nelson, H. Sommers, Peery, Rasmussen, Wang, Dellwo, Ferguson, Gallagher, May, P. King, Walker, Hankins, Sprenkle, Cantwell, Day, Nutley, D. Sommers, Moyer, Anderson, Silver, Nealey, Dorn, Todd, Holland, Brooks, G. Fisher, Heavey, Walk, Grant, Pruitt, Winsley, Valle, K. Wilson, Schoon, Morris, Hine, Horn, R. Meyers, Scott, Brekke, Tate, Bristow, Wolfe, Patrick and Brumsickle

Read first time 2/6/89 and referred to Committee on Higher Education.

AN ACT Relating to upper division and graduate level higher education programs; adding new sections to Title 28B RCW; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 28B.30.510.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the benefits of higher education should be available to all the citizens of the state of Washington.  The legislature also finds that access to educational opportunity should not be a function of an individual's race, sex, disability, wealth, or place of residence.

          Because most of the state-supported baccalaureate universities are located in areas far removed from major metropolitan areas, the legislature finds that many of the state's citizens, especially those citizens residing in the central Puget Sound area, the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Vancouver, and Yakima, have insufficient and inequitable access to upper-division baccalaureate and graduate education.

         This lack of educational opportunities in urban areas makes it difficult or impossible for place-bound individuals, who are unable to relocate, to complete a baccalaureate or graduate degree.  It also exacerbates the difficulty financially needy students have in attending school, since many of those students need to work, and work is not always readily available in the isolated communities where some of the baccalaureate institutions of higher education are located.

          The lack of educational opportunities in metropolitan areas also affects the economy of the underserved communities.  Businesses benefit from access to the research and teaching capabilities of institutions of higher education.  The absence of these institutions from some of the state's major urban centers prevents beneficial interaction between businesses in these communities and the state's universities.

          The Washington state master plan for higher education, adopted by the higher education coordinating board, recognizes the need to expand upper-division and graduate educational opportunities in the state's large urban centers.  The board has also attempted to provide a means for helping to meet future educational demand through a system of branch campuses in the state's major metropolitan areas.

          The legislature endorses the assignment of responsibility to serve these urban centers that the board has made to various institutions of higher education.  The legislature also endorses the creation of branch campuses for the University of Washington and Washington State University.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The University of Washington is responsible for ensuring the expansion of upper-division and graduate educational programs in the central Puget Sound area under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board.  The University of Washington shall meet that responsibility through the operation of at least two branch campuses.  One branch campus shall be located in the Tacoma area. Another branch campus shall be located in the Bothell-Woodinville area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Washington State University is responsible for providing upper-division and graduate level higher education programs to the citizens of the Tri-Cities area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board.  Washington State University shall meet that responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the Tri-Cities area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Washington State University is responsible for providing upper-division and graduate level higher education programs to the citizens of the Vancouver area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board.  Washington State University shall meet that responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the Vancouver area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Washington State University and Eastern Washington University are responsible for providing upper- division and graduate level programs to the citizens of the Spokane area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board.  Washington State University shall meet its responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the Spokane area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Central Washington University is responsible for providing upper-division and graduate level higher education programs to the citizens of the Yakima area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     Sections 2 through 6 of this act are each added to Title 28B RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.  Section 13, chapter 72, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess., section 1, chapter 408, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28B.30.510 are each repealed.