SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5268

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Higher Education & Workforce Development, February 16, 2011

Title: An act relating to efficiencies and savings in higher education.

Brief Description: Enacting the college efficiency and savings act.

Sponsors: Senator Pridemore.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/08/11, 2/16/11 [DP-WM, w/oRec].

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Tom, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Hill, Ranking Minority Member; Ericksen, Kastama, Kilmer and White.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Baumgartner and Becker.

Staff: Kimberly Cushing (786-7421)

Background: There are five group classifications for the purposes of determining the compensation of part-time board and commission members.

• Class One: any part-time board, commission, council, committee, or other similar group which is established by the executive, legislative, or judicial branch to participate in state government and which functions primarily in an advisory, coordinating, or planning capacity.

• Class Two: any agricultural commodity board or commission.

• Class Three: any part-time, statutory board, commission, council, committee, or other similar group which has rulemaking authority, performs quasi-judicial functions, has responsibility for the administration or policy direction of a state agency or program, or performs regulatory or licensing functions with respect to a specific profession, occupation, business, or industry.

• Class Four: a part-time, statutory board, commission, council, committee, or other similar group.

• Class Five: any part-time commission that has rulemaking authority, performs quasi-judicial functions, has responsibility for the policy direction of a health profession credentialing program, and performs regulatory and licensing functions with respect to a health care profession.

Beginning July 2010 and ending on June 30, 2011, class one, two, three, and five members do not receive allowances for subsistence, lodging, or travel expenses if the cost is funded by the state General Fund. Members of all classes, when feasible, must use alternative means of conducting meetings. Meetings in private facilities must be approved by the Director of the Office of Financial Management (OFM).

Until July 1, 2011, state agencies of the legislative, executive, or judicial branch are restricted from entering into personal services contracts, agreements for the acquisition of equipment exceeding $5,000 in value, or expenditures for out-of-state travel or training if they are not related to an emergency or event that requires governmental action. Also until July 1, 2011, state agencies of the legislative, executive, or judicial branch must not establish new staff positions or fill vacant existing staff positions. There are exemptions to each of these rules for specific agencies or circumstances.

Summary of Bill: Meetings of members in any of the five classification groups affiliated with institutions of higher education do not require approval by the Director of OFM. Institutions of higher education are exempt from the restrictions on personal service contracts, equipment acquisition, travel, and employment.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Colleges are already accountable to their governing boards. The OFM has not rejected any exemptions, so this process is a needless step. Some training is not available in-state, so we need the flexibility to travel. Meeting space is at a premium on our campuses because we are holding classes wherever we can. We sometimes have no choice but to move off-campus.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Denise Yochum, President, Pierce College-Fort Steilacom; Bob Knight, President, Clark College.