AN ACT Relating to the Spokane intercollegiate research and technology institute; amending RCW 28B.25.020; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; and making appropriations.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The Spokane intercollegiate research and technology institute is hereby created.

(2) The institute shall be operated and administered as a multi-institutional education and research center, housing appropriate programs conducted in Spokane under the authority of Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, and the community colleges of Spokane. Gonzaga University and Whitworth College may participate as full partners in any activities of the institute. Washington State University shall act as administrative and fiscal agent for the institute.

(3) The institute shall be operated and administered through a cooperative arrangement of the institutions of higher education participating in the institute.

(4) The institute shall house education and research programs specifically designed to meet the needs of the greater Spokane area, with particular emphasis upon engineering, computer science, technical research, and business resource and support activities that promote the economic development of the Spokane area.

(5) The coordination of programs and activities at the institute shall be subject to the authority of the Spokane joint center for higher education under RCW 28B.25.020.

(6) The establishment of any education or research programs at the institute and the lease, purchase, or construction of any site or facility for the institute shall be subject to the approval of the higher education coordinating board pursuant to RCW 28B.80.340.

Sec. 2. Section 98, chapter 370, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28B.25.020 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The joint center for higher education shall coordinate all undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and all other seminars, courses, and programs of any type offered in the Spokane area by Washington State University and by Eastern Washington University outside of its Cheney campus. The joint center for higher education shall not coordinate the intercollegiate center for nursing.

(2) The joint center for higher education shall coordinate the following higher education activities in the Spokane area outside of the Eastern Washington University Cheney campus:

(a) Articulation between lower division and upper division programs;

(b) The participation of Washington State University in its joint engineering program with Gonzaga University and in its joint engineering management program with Eastern Washington University and Gonzaga University; ((~~and~~))

(d) Programs offered through the intercollegiate research and technology institute created by section 1 of this act.

(3) The participating institutions in the joint center for higher education shall maintain jurisdiction over the content of the course offerings and the entitlement to degrees.

(4) Disputes regarding which programs are to be coordinated by the joint center for higher education shall be arbitrated by the ((~~council for postsecondary education~~)) higher education coordinating board or its successor agency. The decision of the arbitrating agency shall be binding.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The sum of two hundred three thousand three hundred forty dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to Washington State University for the biennium ending June 30, 1991 for the purpose of carrying out its administrative duties pursuant to section 1 of this act and providing for the participation of the university in the Spokane intercollegiate research and technology institute.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The sum of four hundred thirty-six thousand eight hundred dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to Eastern Washington University for the biennium ending June 30, 1991 for the purpose of providing for the participation of the university in the Spokane intercollegiate research and technology institute.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated from the general fund to the state board for community college education for the biennium ending June 30, 1991 for the purpose of providing for the participation of the community colleges of Spokane in the Spokane intercollegiate research and technology institute.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.