BILL REQ. #:  S-0473.1 

Read first time 01/08/2007.   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development.

     AN ACT Relating to higher education; adding new sections to chapter 28B.50 RCW; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) The state community and technical colleges offer quality, cost-effective instructional programs to the citizens of our state;
     (2) An experienced, educated faculty is essential to the quality of community and technical colleges;
     (3) The colleges benefit from a stable faculty work force with little turnover, which is best ensured by equitable compensation practices that encourage both recruitment and retention of high quality faculty;
     (4) In order to continue to develop and grow in their profession, college faculty need salaries commensurate with their education and training;
     (5) In order to retain quality faculty, the colleges need to compensate experienced faculty for their knowledge and their skills; and
     (6) Good business practice and faculty morale is best served by the principle of equal pay for equal work.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Each community and technical college shall have only one salary schedule for all faculty.
     (2) Each community and technical college shall have only one increment or step increase schedule for all faculty.
     (3) Upon hiring, faculty must be placed on the appropriate step in the salary schedule, based upon degree, experience, and other pertinent factors.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Upon hiring, part-time faculty must be placed on the appropriate step in the salary schedule, based upon degree, experience, and other pertinent factors, comparable to full-time faculty with comparable qualifications and experience.
     (2) Part-time faculty must be paid on a pro rata basis, based upon the percentage of a full-time faculty teaching load. For example, part-time faculty who work fifty percent of a full-time teaching load must be paid fifty percent of the full-time salary.
     (3) Part-time faculty must move up on the increment salary schedule on a pro rata basis, based upon the percentage of a full-time faculty teaching load. For example, part-time faculty who work fifty percent of a full-time faculty teaching load must move up fifty percent of the regular annual step increment.
     (4) Part-time faculty will be allowed to teach up to a full-time load in fall, winter, and spring quarters at each campus.
     (5) Part-time faculty who teach at more than one institution of higher education will have all of their experience counted at each institution. A part-time faculty member who teaches fifty percent at one community college, and fifty percent at another community college, must move up one annual salary increment at each college.
     (6) Part-time faculty may be assigned nonteaching duties by their hiring department on a pro rata basis, based upon the percentage of a full-time teaching load. For example, if full-time faculty work nine hours a week in nonteaching duties, a part-time faculty who teaches a fifty percent load may be asked to work four and one-half hours a week in nonteaching assignments.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) Each community and technical college must implement sections 2 and 3 of this act by July 1, 2007.
     (2) The legislature intends to provide the necessary funds to the community and technical colleges for the implementation of sections 2 and 3 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.