Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Higher Education Committee

SB 6557

Brief Description:  Providing for the higher education coordinating board to select its chair and vice‑chair.

Sponsors:  Senators Kohl‑Welles, Horn, Carlson, Shin, Jacobsen, Sheahan, McAuliffe, Parlette and B. Sheldon.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Members of the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) have the authority to select from their membership the chair and vice-chair who serve a one-year term as chair or vice-chair.

Hearing Date:  2/22/02

Staff:  Antonio Sanchez (786‑7383).

Background:

Under current Washington law, the Higher Education Coordinating Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate.  The chair of the HECB is appointed by the Governor and serves at the Governor's pleasure.  The members of the HECB, other than the chair, serve four-year terms.  The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, like the HECB, consists of nine members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate.  However, the chair and vice chair are elected by the members of the board annually.

Summary of Bill:

The members of the HECB are given the authority to select from their membership a chair and vice-chair.--  The term as the chair or vice-chair is one year.  This new process for selecting a chair and vice-chair does not take effect until the term of the current chair is over.  All members of the HECB serve four-year terms with no exception for the chair.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.