State of Washington | 62nd Legislature | 2012 Regular Session |
READ FIRST TIME 03/05/12.
AN ACT Relating to higher education coordination; amending RCW 28B.77.005, 28B.76.110, 28B.76.210, 28B.76.230, 28B.76.235, 28B.76.240, 28B.76.270, 28B.76.325, 28B.76.510, 28B.76.695, 44.04.260, 43.88.230, 28B.76.280, 28B.76.310, 28B.76.090, 28B.118.010, 9A.60.070, 18.260.110, 28A.175.130, 28A.600.280, 28A.600.390, 28A.660.050, 28B.07.040, 28B.10.020, 28B.10.053, 28B.10.118, 28B.10.400, 28B.10.405, 28B.10.410, 28B.10.415, 28B.10.423, 28B.10.784, 28B.10.790, 28B.12.030, 28B.12.040, 28B.15.012, 28B.15.013, 28B.15.015, 28B.15.068, 28B.15.068, 28B.15.102, 28B.15.460, 28B.15.762, 28B.30.515, 28B.45.014, 28B.45.020, 28B.45.030, 28B.45.040, 28B.45.080, 28B.50.140, 28B.50.820, 28B.65.040, 28B.65.050, 28B.76.250, 28B.85.010, 28B.85.020, 28B.85.030, 28B.85.040, 28B.85.050, 28B.85.060, 28B.85.070, 28B.85.080, 28B.85.090, 28B.85.100, 28B.85.130, 28B.85.170, 28B.90.010, 28B.90.020, 28B.90.030, 28B.92.030, 28B.92.070, 28B.92.082, 28B.97.020, 28B.102.030, 28B.108.040, 28B.109.010, 28B.110.030, 28B.110.040, 28B.116.030, 28B.117.020, 28B.120.010, 28B.120.020, 28B.120.025, 28B.120.030, 28B.120.040, 28C.10.030, 28C.10.040, 28C.18.030, 28C.18.060, 35.104.020, 35.104.040, 42.17A.705, 43.06.115, 43.19.797, 43.41.400, 43.41A.100, 43.88.090, 43.105.825, 43.215.090, 43.330.310, 43.330.375, 47.80.090, 70.180.110, 74.13.570, 28A.175.135, 28B.12.070, 28B.15.764, 28B.76.505, 28B.92.080, 28B.95.020, 28B.103.030, 28B.108.020, 28B.117.030, 28B.15.069, 28A.600.310, 28B.15.380, 28B.15.730, 28B.15.734, 28B.15.750, 28B.15.756, 28A.600.290, 28A.700.020, 28A.700.060, 28B.20.130, 28B.30.150, 28B.20.308, 28B.20.478, 28B.30.530, 28B.35.120, 28B.35.202, 28B.35.205, 28B.35.215, 28B.40.120, 28B.40.206, 28B.45.060, 28B.50.810, 43.09.440, 43.43.934, 43.43.938, 43.60A.151, and 43.88D.010; amending 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 244 (uncodified); reenacting and amending RCW 28B.76.2401, 28A.230.100, 28B.15.760, 28B.50.030, 28B.92.060, 28B.102.020, 28B.116.010, and 43.330.280; adding new sections to chapter 28B.77 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 44.04 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 43.41 RCW; creating new sections; recodifying RCW 28B.76.110, 28B.76.210, 28B.76.230, 28B.76.235, 28B.76.240, 28B.76.2401, 28B.76.250, 28B.76.270, 28B.76.280, 28B.76.325, 28B.76.510, 28B.76.695, and 28B.76.310; decodifying RCW 28B.10.125; repealing RCW 28B.76.290, 28B.10.682, 28B.15.732, 28B.15.752, 28B.15.796, 28B.20.280, 28B.30.500, and 43.88D.005; providing an effective date; and providing expiration dates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 28B.77 RCW
to read as follows:
The legislature recognizes that increasing educational attainment
is critical to the social and economic well-being of Washington. It is
the intent of the legislature to create the student achievement council
to provide the focus and propose the goals for increasing educational
attainment including improving student transitions from secondary to
postsecondary education and training and between and among
postsecondary institutions.
The legislature finds that increasing educational attainment is
essential for maintaining the health of a democratic society and the
competitiveness of the state in the global economy. By increasing
educational attainment, students will develop into citizens who are
more capable of critical thinking, more aware of their world and its
diversity, more creative in their problem-solving, and more successful
in addressing social and economic challenges of the future in an
informed and thoughtful way.
The legislature finds that educational attainment is a powerful
predictor of well-being. Students who have completed higher levels of
education or training are more likely to achieve success in work or
life and less likely to require taxpayer support. Education is perhaps
the most important engine of economic growth and individual and
financial health. Success in growing a stronger economy and democracy
and lifting incomes and well-being depends upon increasing educational
attainment.
The legislature recognizes that reaching the overall objective of
increased educational attainment means that Washington's education
systems must enable many more students to gain meaningful high school
diplomas, postsecondary certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's
degrees, and graduate degrees.
The legislature recognizes that the requirement for academic
attainment is increasing. According to various academic studies,
Washington's economy is becoming even more highly dependent on workers
with postsecondary education. Other studies indicate that rates of
successful participation in higher education by Washington residents,
especially among lower-income and disadvantaged persons, are among the
lowest in the nation.
Due to the large and growing gap between education requirements and
achievement, it is the intent of the legislature to focus on increased
educational attainment as a key priority and to closely track progress
towards meeting this statewide objective.
Sec. 101 RCW 28B.77.005 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 301 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) On July 1, 2012, the higher education coordinating board is
abolished and the student achievement council ((for higher education))
is created ((subject to the recommendations of the higher education
steering committee established in section 302, chapter 11, Laws of 2011
1st sp. sess. and implementing legislation enacted by the 2012
legislature)).
(2) The council is composed of ten voting members as provided in
this subsection.
(a) Five citizen members shall be appointed by the governor with
the consent of the senate. One of the citizen members shall be a
student. The citizen members shall be selected based on their
knowledge of or experience in higher education. In making appointments
to the council, the governor shall give consideration to citizens
representing labor, business, women, and racial and ethnic minorities,
as well as geographic representation, to ensure that the council's
membership reflects the state's diverse population. The citizen
members shall serve for four-year terms except for the student member,
who shall serve for one year; however, the terms of the initial members
shall be staggered.
(b) A representative of an independent nonprofit higher education
institution as defined in RCW 28B.07.020(4), selected by an association
of independent nonprofit baccalaureate degree-granting institutions.
The representative appointed under this section shall excuse himself or
herself from voting on matters relating primarily to public
institutions of higher education.
(c) Chosen for their recognized ability and innovative leadership
experience in broad education policy and system design, a
representative of each of the following shall be selected by the
respective organizations, who shall serve at the pleasure of the
appointing organizations:
(i) A representative of the four-year institutions of higher
education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, selected by the presidents of
those institutions;
(ii) A representative of the state's community and technical
college system, selected by the state board for community and technical
colleges;
(iii) A representative of the state's K-12 education system,
selected by the superintendent of public instruction in consultation
with the department of early learning and the state board of education;
and
(iv) A representative of workforce training who is especially
knowledgeable in training for innovative advanced technology and other
growing sectors of the economy, selected by the workforce training and
education coordinating board.
(3) The chair shall be selected by the council from among the
citizen members appointed to the council. The chair shall serve a one-year term but may serve more than one term if selected to do so by the
membership.
(4) The council may create advisory committees on an ad hoc basis
for the purpose of obtaining input from students, faculty, and higher
education experts and practitioners, citizens, business and industry,
and labor, and for the purpose of informing their research, policy, and
programmatic functions. Ad hoc advisory committees addressing
secondary to postsecondary transitions and university and college
admissions requirements must include K-12 sector representatives
including teachers, school directors, principals, administrators, and
others as the council may direct, in addition to higher education
representatives. The council shall maintain a contact list of K-12 and
higher education stakeholder organizations to provide notices to
stakeholders regarding the purposes of ad hoc advisory committees,
timelines for planned work, means for participation, and a statement of
desired outcomes.
(5) Any vacancies on the council shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointments. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be
only for such terms as remain unexpired. Any vacancies among council
members appointed by the governor shall be filled by the governor
subject to confirmation by the senate and shall have full authority to
act before the time the senate acts on their confirmation.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 102 The definitions in this section apply
throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Committee" means the joint higher education committee.
(2) "Council" means the student achievement council.
(3) "Education data center" means the education data center
established in the office of financial management as provided under RCW
43.41.400.
(4) "Four-year institutions of higher education" means the
University of Washington, Washington State University, Central
Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western
Washington University, and The Evergreen State College.
(5) "Major expansion" means expansion of the higher education
system that requires significant new capital investment, including
building new institutions, campuses, branches, or centers or conversion
of existing campuses, branches, or centers that would result in a
mission change.
(6) "Mission change" means a change in the level of degree awarded
or institutional type not currently authorized in statute.
(7) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance
created in RCW 28B.76.090.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 103 (1) Guided by the state's overarching
objective of substantially increasing educational attainment for the
purposes outlined in section 1 of this act, the council has a dual
mission:
(a) To propose to the governor and the legislature goals for
increasing educational attainment in Washington, recommend the
resources necessary to achieve the goals, and monitor progress toward
meeting the goals;
(b) To propose to the governor, the legislature, and the state's
educational institutions, improvements and innovations needed to
continually adapt the state's educational institutions to evolving
educational attainment needs; and
(c) To advocate for higher education through various means, with
the goal of educating the general public on the economic, social, and
civic benefits of postsecondary education, and the consequent need for
increased financial support and civic commitment in the state.
(2) In the pursuit of the missions the council links the work of
educational programs, schools, and institutions from secondary through
postsecondary education and training and through careers. The council
must connect the work of the superintendent of public instruction, the
state board of education, the professional educator standards board,
the state board for community and technical colleges, the workforce
training and education coordinating board, and the four-year
institutions of higher education, as well as the independent schools
and colleges.
(3) Drawing on the staff expertise of the council and other state,
national, and international analysis and research assets, the council
must also take a leading role in facilitating educational attainment
analysis and research leading to increased educational attainment and
education system development.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 104 (1) Aligned with the state's biennial
budget and policy cycles, the council shall propose educational
attainment goals and priorities to meet the state's evolving needs.
The council shall identify strategies for meeting the goals and
priorities by means of a short-term strategic action plan and a ten-year plan that serves as a roadmap.
(a) The goals must address the needs of Washington residents to
reach higher levels of educational attainment and Washington's
workforce needs for certificates and degrees in particular fields of
study.
(b) The council shall identify the resources it deems appropriate
to meet statewide goals and also recognize current state economic
conditions and state resources.
(c) In proposing goals, the council shall collaborate with the
superintendent of public instruction, the professional educator
standards board, the state board of education, the state board for
community and technical colleges, the four-year institutions of higher
education, independent colleges and degree-granting institutions,
certificate-granting institutions, and the workforce training and
education coordinating board.
(2) The council shall update the strategic action plan every two
years with the first strategic action plan to be submitted to the
governor and the legislature by December 1, 2012. The ten-year roadmap
must be updated every two years with the first roadmap to be submitted
to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2013. The council
must provide regular updates to the joint higher education committee
created in section 201 of this act as needed.
(3) In order to develop the ten-year roadmap, the council shall
conduct strategic planning in collaboration with agencies and
stakeholders and include input from the legislature. The roadmap must
encompass all sectors of higher education, including secondary to
postsecondary transitions. The roadmap must outline strategies that
address:
(a) Strategic planning, which includes setting benchmarks and goals
for long-term degree production generally and in particular fields of
study;
(b) Expanding access, affordability, quality, efficiency, and
accountability among the various institutions of higher education;
(c) Higher education finance planning and strategic investments
including budget recommendations necessary to meet statewide goals;
(d) System design and coordination;
(e) Improving student transitions;
(f) Higher education data and analysis, in collaboration with the
education data center, which includes outcomes for recruitment,
retention, and success of students;
(g) College and career access preparedness, in collaboration with
the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the state
board of education;
(h) Expanding participation and success for racial and ethnic
minorities in higher education;
(i) Development and expansion of innovations in higher education
including innovations to increase attainment of postsecondary
certificates, and associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and professional
degrees; and innovations to improve precollege education in terms of
cost-effectiveness and transitions to college-level education; and
(j) Relevant policy research.
(4) As needed, the council must conduct system reviews consistent
with RCW 28B.76.230 (as recodified by this act).
(5) The council shall facilitate the development and expansion of
innovative practices within, between, and among the sectors to increase
educational attainment and assess the effectiveness of the innovations.
(6) The council shall use the data and analysis produced by, and in
consultation with, the education data center created in RCW 43.41.400
in developing policy recommendations and proposing goals. In
conducting research and analysis the council at a minimum must:
(a) Identify barriers to increasing educational attainment,
evaluate effectiveness of various educational models, identify best
practices, and recommend methods to overcome barriers;
(b) Analyze data from multiple sources including data from academic
research and from areas and agencies outside of education including but
not limited to data from the department of health, the department of
corrections, and the department of social and health services to
determine best practices to remove barriers and to improve educational
attainment;
(c) Assess educational achievement disaggregated by income level,
age, gender, race and ethnicity, country of origin, and other relevant
demographic groups working with data from the education data center;
(d) Track progress toward meeting the state's goals;
(e) Communicate results and provide access to data analysis to
policymakers, the superintendent of public instruction, institutions of
higher education, students, and the public; and
(f) Use data from the education data center wherever appropriate to
conduct duties in (a) through (e) of this subsection.
(7) The council shall collaborate with the appropriate state
agencies and stakeholders, including the state board of education, the
office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for
community and technical colleges, the workforce training and education
coordinating board, and the four-year institutions of higher education
to improve student transitions and success including but not limited
to:
(a) Setting minimum college admission standards for four-year
institutions of higher education, including a requirement that
coursework in American sign language or an American Indian language
satisfies any requirement for instruction in a language other than
English that the council or the institutions may establish as a general
undergraduate admissions requirement;
(b) Proposing comprehensive policies and programs to encourage
students to prepare for, understand how to access, and pursue
postsecondary college and career programs, including specific policies
and programs for students with disabilities;
(c) Recommending policies that require coordination between or
among sectors such as dual high school-college programs, awarding
college credit for advanced high school work, and transfer between two
and four-year institutions of higher education or between different
four-year institutions of higher education; and
(d) Identifying transitions issues and solutions for students, from
high school to postsecondary education including community and
technical colleges, four-year institutions of higher education,
apprenticeships, training, or workplace education; between two-year and
four-year institutions of higher education; and from postsecondary
education to career. In addressing these issues the council must
recognize that these transitions may occur multiple times as students
continue their education.
(8) The council directs the work of the office, which includes
administration of student financial aid programs under RCW 28B.76.090,
including the state need grant and other scholarships, the Washington
advanced college tuition payment program, and work-study programs.
(9) The council may administer state and federal grants and
programs including but not limited to those programs that provide
incentives for improvements related to increased access and success in
postsecondary education.
(10) The council shall protect higher education consumers
including:
(a) Approving degree-granting postsecondary institutions consistent
with existing statutory criteria;
(b) Establishing minimum criteria to assess whether students who
attend proprietary institutions of higher education shall be eligible
for the state need grant and other forms of state financial aid.
(i) The criteria shall include retention rates, completion rates,
loan default rates, and annual tuition increases, among other criteria
for students who receive state need grant as in chapter 28B.92 RCW and
any other state financial aid.
(ii) The council may remove proprietary institutions of higher
education from eligibility for the state need grant or other form of
state financial aid if it finds that the institution or college does
not meet minimum criteria.
(iii) The council shall report by December 1, 2014, to the joint
higher education committee in section 201 of this act on the outcomes
of students receiving state need grants, impacts on meeting the state's
higher education goals for educational attainment, and options for
prioritization of the state need grant and possible consequences of
implementing each option. When examining options for prioritizing the
state need grant the council shall consider awarding grants based on
need rather than date of application and making awards based on other
criteria selected by the council.
(11) The council shall adopt residency requirements by rule.
(12) The council shall arbitrate disputes between and among four-year institutions of higher education and the state board for community
and technical colleges at the request of one or more of the
institutions involved, or at the request of the governor, or from a
resolution adopted by the legislature. The decision of the council
shall be binding on the participants in the dispute.
(13) The council may solicit, accept, receive, and administer
federal funds or private funds, in trust, or otherwise, and contract
with foundations or with for-profit or nonprofit organizations to
support the purposes and functions of the council.
(14) The council shall represent the broad public interest above
the interests of the individual institutions of higher education.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 105 (1) The council shall adopt bylaws and
shall meet at least four times each year and at such other times as
determined by the chair who shall give reasonable prior notice to the
members.
(2) Councilmembers are expected to consistently attend meetings.
The chair of the council may remove any member who misses more than two
meetings in any calendar year without cause. Any member so removed
must be replaced as provided under RCW 28B.77.005.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 106 Councilmembers shall be compensated in
accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and reimbursed for travel expenses
incurred in carrying out the duties of the council in accordance with
RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 107 (1) The council shall employ an executive
director. The executive director shall be appointed by the governor
from a list of three names submitted by the council. However, the
governor may request, and the council shall provide, an additional list
or lists from which the governor shall select the executive director.
The governor may dismiss the executive director only with the approval
of a majority vote of the council. The council, by a majority vote,
may dismiss the executive director.
(2) The executive director may employ necessary deputy and
assistant directors and other exempt staff under chapter 41.06 RCW, who
shall serve at the executive director's pleasure on such terms and
conditions as he or she determines. Subject to the provisions of
chapter 41.06 RCW, the executive director may appoint and employ such
other employees as may be required for the proper discharge of the
functions of the council.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 108 The council has the authority to adopt
rules as necessary to implement this chapter.
Sec. 109 RCW 28B.76.110 and 2004 c 275 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((higher education coordinating board)) council is designated
as the state commission as provided for in Section 1202 of the
education amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-318), as now or hereafter
amended; and shall perform such functions as is necessary to comply
with federal directives pertaining to the provisions of such law.
Sec. 110 RCW 28B.76.210 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 104 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The ((board)) council shall ((collaborate with the four-year
institutions including the council of presidents, the community and
technical college system, and when appropriate the workforce training
and education coordinating board, the superintendent of public
instruction, and the independent higher educational institutions to))
identify budget priorities and levels of funding for higher education,
including the two and four-year institutions of higher education and
state financial aid programs. It is the intent of the legislature for
the council to make budget recommendations for allocations for major
policy changes in accordance with priorities set forth in the ten-year
plan, but the legislature does not intend for the council to review and
make recommendations on individual institutional budgets. It is the
intent of the legislature that recommendations from the ((board reflect
not merely the sum of budget requests from multiple institutions, but
prioritized)) council prioritize funding needs for the overall system
of higher education in accordance with priorities set forth in the ten-year plan. It is also the intent of the legislature that the council's
recommendations take into consideration the total per-student funding
at similar public institutions of higher education in the global
challenge states.
(2) By December of each odd-numbered year, the ((board)) council
shall ((distribute guidelines which)) outline the ((board's)) council's
fiscal priorities under the ten-year plan that it must distribute to
the institutions ((and)), the state board for community and technical
colleges, the office of financial management, and the joint higher
education committee.
(a) ((The institutions and the state board for community and
technical colleges shall submit an outline of their proposed operating
budgets to the board no later than July 1st of each even-numbered year.
Pursuant to guidelines developed by the board, operating budget
outlines submitted by the institutions and the state board for
community and technical colleges after January 1, 2007, shall include
all policy changes and enhancements that will be requested by the
institutions and the state board for community and technical colleges
in their respective biennial budget requests. Operating budget
outlines shall include a description of each policy enhancement, the
dollar amount requested, and the fund source being requested.)) Capital budget outlines for the two-year institutions shall
be submitted by August 15th of each even-numbered year, and shall
include the prioritized ranking of the capital projects being
requested, a description of each capital project, and the amount and
fund source being requested.
(b)
(((c))) (b) Capital budget outlines for the four-year institutions
must be submitted by August 15th of each even-numbered year, and must
include: The institutions' priority ranking of the project; the
capital budget category within which the project will be submitted to
the office of financial management in accordance with RCW 43.88D.010;
a description of each capital project; and the amount and fund source
being requested.
(((d))) (c) The office of financial management shall reference
these reporting requirements in its budget instructions.
(3) The council shall submit recommendations on the operating
budget priorities to support the ten-year plan to the office of
financial management by October 1st each year, and to the legislature
by January 1st each year.
(4) The ((board)) council shall review and evaluate the operating
and capital budget requests from four-year institutions and the
community and technical college system based on how the requests align
with the board's budget priorities((, the missions of the institutions,
and the statewide strategic master plan for higher education under RCW
28B.76.200.)).
(4) The board shall submit recommendations on the proposed
operating budget and priorities to the office of financial management
by October 1st of each even-numbered year, and to the legislature by
January 1st of each odd-numbered year
(5)(a) The ((board's)) council's capital budget recommendations for
the community and technical college system and the four-year
institutions must be submitted to the office of financial management
and to the legislature by November 15th of each even-numbered year.
(b) The ((board)) council shall develop one prioritized list of
capital projects for the legislature to consider that includes all of
the projects requested by the four-year institutions of higher
education that were scored by the office of financial management
pursuant to chapter 43.88D RCW, including projects that were previously
scored but not funded. The prioritized list of capital projects shall
be based on the following priorities in the following order:
(i) Office of financial management scores pursuant to chapter
43.88D RCW;
(ii) Preserving assets;
(iii) Degree production; and
(iv) Maximizing efficient use of instructional space.
(c) The ((board)) council shall include all of the capital projects
requested by the four-year institutions of higher education, except for
the minor works projects, in the prioritized list of capital projects
provided to the legislature.
(d) The form of the prioritized list for capital projects requested
by the four-year institutions of higher education shall be provided as
one list, ranked in priority order with the highest priority project
ranked number "1" through the lowest priority project numbered last.
The ranking for the prioritized list of capital projects may not:
(i) Include subpriorities;
(ii) Be organized by category;
(iii) Assume any state bond or building account biennial funding
level to prioritize the list; or
(iv) Assume any specific share of projects by institution in the
priority list.
(6) Institutions and the state board for community and technical
colleges shall submit any supplemental capital budget requests and
revisions to the ((board)) council at the same time they are submitted
to the office of financial management. The ((board)) council shall
submit recommendations on the proposed supplemental capital budget
requests to the office of financial management by November 1st and to
the legislature by January 1st.
Sec. 111 RCW 28B.76.230 and 2010 c 245 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The ((board)) council shall develop a comprehensive and ongoing
assessment process to analyze the need for additional degrees and
programs, additional off-campus centers and locations for degree
programs, and consolidation or elimination of programs by the four-year
institutions of higher education. ((Board)) Council recommendations
regarding proposed major expansion shall be limited to determinations
of whether the major expansion is within the scope indicated in the
most recent ((strategic master)) ten-year plan for higher education or
most recent system design plan. Recommendations regarding existing
capital prioritization processes are not within the scope of the
evaluation of major expansion. Major expansion and proposed mission
changes may be proposed by the ((board)) council, any public
institution of higher education, or by a state or local government.
(2) As part of the needs assessment process, the ((board)) council
shall examine:
(a) Projections of student, employer, and community demand for
education and degrees, including liberal arts degrees, on a regional
and statewide basis;
(b) Current and projected degree programs and enrollment at public
and private institutions of higher education, by location and mode of
service delivery;
(c) Data from the workforce training and education coordinating
board and the state board for community and technical colleges on the
supply and demand for workforce education and certificates and
associate degrees; and
(d) Recommendations from the technology transformation task force
created in chapter 407, Laws of 2009, and institutions of higher
education relative to the strategic and operational use of technology
in higher education. These and other reports, reviews, and audits
shall allow for: The development of enterprise-wide digital
information technology across educational sectors, systems, and
delivery methods; the integration and streamlining of administrative
tools including but not limited to student information management,
financial management, payroll, human resources, data collection,
reporting, and analysis; and a determination of the costs of multiple
technology platforms, systems, and models.
(3) Every two years the ((board)) council shall produce, jointly
with the state board for community and technical colleges and the
workforce training and education coordinating board, an assessment of
the number and type of higher education and training credentials
required to match employer demand for a skilled and educated workforce.
The assessment shall include the number of forecasted net job openings
at each level of higher education and training and the number of
credentials needed to match the forecast of net job openings.
(4) The ((board)) council shall determine whether certain major
lines of study or types of degrees, including applied degrees or
research-oriented degrees, shall be assigned uniquely to some
institutions or institutional sectors in order to create centers of
excellence that focus resources and expertise.
(5) The following activities are subject to approval by the
((board)) council:
(a) ((New degree programs by a four-year institution;)) Creation of higher education centers and consortia; and
(b) Creation of any off-campus program by a four-year institution;
(c) Purchase or lease of major off-campus facilities by a four-year
institution or a community or technical college;
(d)
(((e))) (b) New degree programs and creation of off-campus programs
by an independent college or university in collaboration with a
community or technical college((; and)).
(f) Applied baccalaureate degree programs developed by colleges
under RCW 28B.50.810
(6) Institutions seeking ((board)) council approval under this
section must demonstrate that the proposal is justified by the needs
assessment developed under this section. Institutions must also
demonstrate how the proposals align with or implement the ten-year
((statewide strategic master)) plan for higher education ((under RCW
28B.76.200)).
(7) The ((board)) council shall develop clear guidelines and
objective decision-making criteria regarding approval of proposals
under this section, which must include review and consultation with the
institution and other interested agencies and individuals.
(8) The ((board)) council shall periodically recommend
consolidation or elimination of programs at the four-year institutions
of higher education, based on the needs assessment analysis.
(9) In the case of a proposed major expansion or mission change,
the needs assessment process under subsection (2) of this section
constitutes a threshold inquiry. If the ((board)) council determines
that the need for the proposed major expansion or mission change has
not been justified, the inquiry is concluded. If the ((board)) council
determines that the need for the proposed major expansion or mission
change has been sufficiently established, the ((board)) council, in
consultation with any directly involved institutions and other
interested agencies and individuals, shall proceed to examine the
viability of the proposal using criteria including, but not limited to:
(a) The specific scope of the project including the capital
investment requirements, the number of full-time equivalent students
anticipated, and the number of academic programs planned;
(b) The existence of an efficient and sustainable financial plan;
(c) The extent to which existing resources can be leveraged;
(d) The current and five-year projected student population,
faculty, and staff to support the proposed programs, institution, or
innovation;
(e) The plans to accommodate expected growth over a twenty-year
time frame;
(f) The extent to which new or existing partnerships and
collaborations are a part of the proposal; and
(g) The feasibility of any proposed innovations to accelerate
degree production.
(10) After the ((board)) council completes its evaluation of the
proposed major expansion or mission change using the needs assessment
under subsection (2) of this section and viability determination under
subsection (9) of this section, the ((board)) council shall make a
recommendation to either proceed, modify, or not proceed with the
proposed major expansion or mission change. The ((board's)) council's
recommendation shall be presented to the governor and the legislature.
Sec. 112 RCW 28B.76.235 and 2011 c 77 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((higher education coordinating board)) council shall annually
publish on its web site the agreed-upon list of high school courses
qualifying for postsecondary credit under RCW 28B.10.053 and qualifying
examination ((qualifying)) scores and demonstrated competencies meeting
the postsecondary requirements for a certificate or technical degree,
a two-year academic transfer degree, or the lower division requirements
for a baccalaureate degree.
Sec. 113 RCW 28B.76.240 and 2004 c 275 s 10 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((board)) council shall adopt statewide transfer and
articulation policies that ensure efficient transfer of credits and
courses across public two and four-year institutions of higher
education. The intent of the policies is to create a statewide system
of articulation and alignment between two and four-year institutions of
higher education. Policies may address but are not limited to creation
of a statewide system of course equivalency, creation of transfer
associate degrees, statewide articulation agreements, applicability of
technical courses toward baccalaureate degrees, and other issues. The
institutions of higher education and the state board for community and
technical colleges shall cooperate with the ((board)) council in
developing the statewide policies and shall provide support and staff
resources as necessary to assist in maintaining the policies. ((The
board shall submit a progress report to the higher education committees
of the senate and house of representatives by December 1, 2006, by
which time the legislature expects measurable improvement in alignment
and transfer efficiency.))
Sec. 114 RCW 28B.76.2401 and 2004 c 55 s 5 are each reenacted and
amended to read as follows:
The statewide transfer of credit policy and agreement must be
designed to facilitate the transfer of students and the evaluation of
transcripts, to better serve persons seeking information about courses
and programs, to aid in academic planning, and to improve the review
and evaluation of academic programs in the state institutions of higher
education. The statewide transfer of credit policy and agreement must
not require or encourage the standardization of course content or
prescribe course content or the credit value assigned by any
institution to the course. Policies adopted by public four-year
institutions of higher education concerning the transfer of lower
division credit must treat students transferring from public community
colleges the same as students transferring from public four-year
institutions of higher education.
Sec. 115 RCW 28B.76.270 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 10 s 8 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) ((The board shall establish)) An accountability monitoring and
reporting system is established as part of a continuing effort to make
meaningful and substantial progress towards the achievement of long-term performance goals in higher education.
(2) To provide consistent, easily understood data among the public
four-year institutions of higher education within Washington and in
other states, the following data must be reported to the education data
center annually by December 1st, and at a minimum include data
recommended by a national organization representing state chief
executives. The ((board)) education data center in consultation with
the council may change the data requirements to be consistent with best
practices across the country. This data must, to the maximum extent
possible, be disaggregated by race and ethnicity, gender, state and
county of origin, age, and socioeconomic status, and include the
following for the four-year institutions of higher education:
(a) Bachelor's degrees awarded;
(b) Graduate and professional degrees awarded;
(c) Graduation rates: The number and percentage of students who
graduate within four years for bachelor's degrees and within the
extended time, which is six years for bachelor's degrees;
(d) Transfer rates: The annual number and percentage of students
who transfer from a two-year to a four-year institution of higher
education;
(e) Time and credits to degree: The average length of time in
years and average number of credits that graduating students took to
earn a bachelor's degree;
(f) Enrollment in remedial education: The number and percentage of
entering first-time undergraduate students who place into and enroll in
remedial mathematics, English, or both;
(g) Success beyond remedial education: The number and percentage
of entering first-time undergraduate students who complete entry
college-level math and English courses within the first two consecutive
academic years;
(h) Credit accumulation: The number and percentage of first-time
undergraduate students completing two quarters or one semester worth of
credit during their first academic year;
(i) Retention rates: The number and percentage of entering
undergraduate students who enroll consecutively from fall-to-spring and
fall-to-fall at an institution of higher education;
(j) Course completion: The percentage of credit hours completed
out of those attempted during an academic year;
(k) Program participation and degree completion rates in bachelor
and advanced degree programs in the sciences, which includes
agriculture and natural resources, biology and biomedical sciences,
computer and information sciences, engineering and engineering
technologies, health professions and clinical sciences, mathematics and
statistics, and physical sciences and science technologies, including
participation and degree completion rates for students from
traditionally underrepresented populations;
(l) Annual enrollment: Annual unduplicated number of students
enrolled over a twelve-month period at institutions of higher education
including by student level;
(m) Annual first-time enrollment: Total first-time students
enrolled in a four-year institution of higher education;
(n) Completion ratio: Annual ratio of undergraduate and graduate
degrees and certificates, of at least one year in expected length,
awarded per one hundred full-time equivalent undergraduate students at
the state level;
(o) Market penetration: Annual ratio of undergraduate and graduate
degrees and certificates, of at least one year in program length,
awarded relative to the state's population age eighteen to twenty-four
years old with a high school diploma;
(p) Student debt load: Median three-year distribution of debt
load, excluding private loans or debts incurred before coming to the
institution;
(q) Data related to enrollment, completion rates, participation
rates, and debt load shall be disaggregated for students in the
following income brackets to the maximum extent possible:
(i) Up to seventy percent of the median family income;
(ii) Between seventy-one percent and one hundred twenty-five
percent of the median family income; and
(iii) Above one hundred twenty-five percent of the median family
income; and
(r) Yearly percentage increases in the average cost of
undergraduate instruction.
(3) Four-year institutions of higher education must count all
students when collecting data, not only first-time, full-time freshmen.
(4) ((Based on guidelines prepared by the board, each four-year
institution and the state board for community and technical colleges
shall submit a biennial plan to achieve measurable and specific
improvements each academic year on statewide and institution-specific
performance measures. Plans shall be submitted to the board along with
the biennial budget requests from the institutions and the state board
for community and technical colleges. Performance measures established
for the community and technical colleges shall reflect the role and
mission of the colleges.)) In conjunction with the office of financial management, all
four-year institutions of higher education must display the data
described in subsection (2) of this section in a uniform dashboard
format on the office of financial management's web site no later than
December 1, 2011, and updated thereafter annually by December 1st. To
the maximum extent possible, the information must be viewable by race
and ethnicity, gender, state and county of origin, age, and
socioeconomic status. The information may be tailored to meet the
needs of various target audiences such as students, researchers, and
the general public.
(5) The board shall approve biennial performance targets for each
four-year institution and for the community and technical college
system and shall review actual achievements annually. The state board
for community and technical colleges shall set biennial performance
targets for each college or district, where appropriate.
(6) The board shall submit a report on progress towards the
statewide goals, with recommendations for the ensuing biennium, to the
fiscal and higher education committees of the legislature along with
the board's biennial budget recommendations.
(7) The board, in collaboration with the four-year institutions and
the state board for community and technical colleges, shall
periodically review and update the accountability monitoring and
reporting system.
(8) The board shall develop measurable indicators and benchmarks
for its own performance regarding cost, quantity, quality, and
timeliness and including the performance of committees and advisory
groups convened under this chapter to accomplish such tasks as
improving transfer and articulation, improving articulation with the K-12 education system, measuring educational costs, or developing data
protocols. The board shall submit its accountability plan to the
legislature concurrently with the biennial report on institution
progress.
(9)
(5) The council shall use performance data from the education data
center for the purposes of strategic planning, to report on progress
toward achieving statewide goals, and to develop priorities proposed in
the ten-year plan for higher education.
Sec. 116 RCW 28B.76.325 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 10 s 28 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The ((board)) council, the state board for community and
technical colleges, the council of presidents, the four-year
institutions of higher education, the private independent higher
education institutions, and the private career schools shall
collaborate to carry out the following goals:
(a) Increase the number of students who receive academic credit for
prior learning and the number of students who receive credit for prior
learning that counts towards their major or towards earning their
degree, certificate, or credential, while ensuring that credit is
awarded only for high quality, course-level competencies;
(b) Increase the number and type of academic credits accepted for
prior learning in institutions of higher education, while ensuring that
credit is awarded only for high quality, course-level competencies;
(c) Develop transparent policies and practices in awarding academic
credit for prior learning;
(d) Improve prior learning assessment practices across the
institutions of higher education;
(e) Create tools to develop faculty and staff knowledge and
expertise in awarding credit for prior learning and to share exemplary
policies and practices among institutions of higher education;
(f) Develop articulation agreements when patterns of credit for
prior learning are identified for particular programs and pathways; and
(g) Develop outcome measures to track progress on the goals
outlined in this section.
(2) The ((board)) council shall convene the academic credit for
prior learning work group.
(a) The work group must include the following members:
(i) One representative from the ((higher education coordinating
board)) council;
(ii) One representative from the state board for community and
technical colleges;
(iii) One representative from the council of presidents;
(iv) Two representatives each from faculty from two and four-year
institutions of higher education;
(v) Two representatives from private career schools;
(vi) Two representatives from business; and
(vii) Two representatives from labor.
(b) The purpose of the work group is to coordinate and implement
the goals in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The ((board)) council shall report progress on the goals and
outcome measures annually by December 31st.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "prior learning" means the
knowledge and skills gained through work and life experience; through
military training and experience; and through formal and informal
education and training from in-state and out-of-state institutions
including foreign institutions.
Sec. 117 RCW 28B.76.510 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 108 are each
amended to read as follows:
The ((office shall)) council may administer any federal act
pertaining to higher education which is not administered by another
state agency.
Sec. 118 RCW 28B.76.695 and 2011 c 146 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The ((board)) council may:
(a) Recognize and endorse online, competency-based education as an
important component of Washington's higher education system;
(b) Work to eliminate unnecessary barriers to the delivery of
online competency-based education by Western Governors University -Washington; and
(c) Work with Western Governors University - Washington, as
appropriate, to integrate its academic programs and services into
Washington higher education policy and strategy.
(2) The ((board)) council shall work with Western Governors
University - Washington to create data-sharing processes to assess the
institution's performance and determine the extent to which it helps
the state achieve the goals of the current ((statewide strategic
master)) ten-year plan for higher education.
(3) The ((board)) council shall adopt rules and policies to
implement this section and that require ((board)) council consultation
and approval before:
(a) Modifications of contractual terms or relationships between the
state and the institution of higher education; or
(b) Changes or modifications in the nonprofit status of the
institution of higher education.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 119 (1) The state board for community and
technical colleges, in consultation with the student achievement
council, shall regularly review higher education accountability
measures, assess whether any of the measures for four-year institutions
of higher education in RCW 28B.76.270(2) (as recodified by this act)
should be applied as performance measures for community and technical
colleges, and whether performance indicators for the community and
technical colleges should be added to the data dashboard in RCW
28B.76.270(4) (as recodified by this act). The board shall report
recommendations regarding appropriate changes to required community and
technical college accountability measures to the governor and the
legislature by December 1, 2012.
(2) This section expires August 1, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 120 RCW 28B.76.290 (Coordination of activities
with segments of higher education) and 1993 c 77 s 2, 1992 c 60 s 3,
1988 c 172 s 4, & 1985 c 370 s 6 are each repealed.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 121 A new section is added to chapter 28B.77
RCW to read as follows:
(1) All powers, duties, and functions of the higher education
coordinating board are transferred to the student achievement council.
All references to the executive director or the higher education
coordinating board in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed
to mean the executive director or the student achievement council when
referring to the functions transferred in this section.
(2)(a) All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files,
papers, or written material in the possession of the higher education
coordinating board pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties
transferred shall be delivered to the custody of the student
achievement council. All cabinets, furniture, office equipment, motor
vehicles, and other tangible property employed by the higher education
coordinating board in carrying out the powers, functions, and duties
transferred shall be made available to the student achievement council.
All funds, credits, or other assets held in connection with the powers,
functions, and duties transferred shall be assigned to the student
achievement council.
(b) Any appropriations made to the higher education coordinating
board for carrying out the powers, functions, and duties transferred
shall, on the effective date of this section, be transferred and
credited to the student achievement council.
(c) Whenever any question arises as to the transfer of any
personnel, funds, books, documents, records, papers, files, equipment,
or other tangible property used or held in the exercise of the powers
and the performance of the duties and functions transferred, the
director of financial management shall make a determination as to the
proper allocation and certify the same to the state agencies concerned.
(3) All employees of the higher education coordinating board
necessary to the assigned functions of the student achievement council
are transferred to the jurisdiction of the student achievement council
subject to review by the executive director of the student achievement
council. All employees classified under chapter 41.06 RCW, the state
civil service law, are assigned to the student achievement council to
perform their usual duties upon the same terms as formerly, without any
loss of rights, subject to any action that may be appropriate
thereafter in accordance with the laws and rules governing state civil
service.
(4) All rules and all pending business before the higher education
coordinating board pertaining to the powers, functions, and duties
transferred shall be continued and acted upon by the student
achievement council. All existing contracts and obligations shall
remain in full force and shall be performed by the student achievement
council.
(5) The transfer of the powers, duties, and functions of the higher
education coordinating board shall not affect the validity of any act
performed before the effective date of this section.
(6) If apportionments of budgeted funds are required because of the
transfers directed by this section, the director of financial
management shall certify the apportionments to the agencies affected,
the state auditor, and the state treasurer. Each of these shall make
the appropriate transfer and adjustments in funds and appropriation
accounts and equipment records in accordance with the certification.
(7) All classified employees of the higher education coordinating
board assigned to the student achievement council under this section
whose positions are within an existing bargaining unit description at
the student achievement council shall become a part of the existing
bargaining unit at the student achievement council and shall be
considered an appropriate inclusion or modification of the existing
bargaining unit under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 201 A new section is added to chapter 44.04
RCW to read as follows:
(1) A joint higher education committee is created.
(2) The purpose of the joint higher education committee is to:
(a) By December 1, 2012, and annually thereafter, review the work
of the student achievement council and provide legislative feedback;
(b) Engage with the student achievement council and the higher
education community to create greater communication, coordination, and
alignment between the higher education system and the expectations of
the legislature; and
(c) Provide recommendations for higher education policy, including
proposed legislation, to the higher education and fiscal committees of
the legislature.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 202 A new section is added to chapter 44.04
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The joint higher education committee shall consist of the
following members:
(a) Four members of the house of representatives, two each
appointed by the leadership of the two largest caucuses, with at least
one member from each caucus who is a member of the house of
representatives ways and means committee and at least one member from
each caucus who is a member of the house of representatives higher
education committee; and
(b) Four members of the senate, two each appointed by the
leadership of the two largest caucuses, with at least one member from
each caucus who is a member of the senate ways and means committee and
at least one member from each caucus who is a member of the senate
higher education and workforce development committee.
(2) All members must be appointed by July 1, 2012, and must serve
a term of no less than two years.
(3) Vacancies on the joint higher education committee shall be
filled by appointment by either the president of the senate or the
speaker of the house of representatives. All such vacancies shall be
filled from the same political party and from the same house as the
member whose seat was vacated.
(4) The joint higher education committee shall appoint its own
cochairs, representing two different parties and the two chambers of
the legislature.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 203 A new section is added to chapter 44.04
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The joint higher education committee shall meet at least twice
annually after the conclusion of the legislative session.
(2) The members of the joint higher education committee shall serve
without additional compensation, but shall be reimbursed in accordance
with RCW 44.04.120 while attending meetings of the joint higher
education committee.
(3) The joint higher education committee shall adopt rules and
procedures for its operations.
(4) Staff support for the joint higher education committee must be
provided by the senate committee services and the house of
representatives office of program research.
Sec. 204 RCW 44.04.260 and 2005 c 319 s 112 are each amended to
read as follows:
The joint legislative audit and review committee, the joint
transportation committee, the select committee on pension policy, the
legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, the joint
higher education committee, and the joint legislative systems committee
are subject to such operational policies, procedures, and oversight as
are deemed necessary by the facilities and operations committee of the
senate and the executive rules committee of the house of
representatives to ensure operational adequacy of the agencies of the
legislative branch. As used in this section, "operational policies,
procedures, and oversight" includes the development process of biennial
budgets, contracting procedures, personnel policies, and compensation
plans, selection of a chief administrator, facilities, and
expenditures. This section does not grant oversight authority to the
facilities and operations committee of the senate over any standing
committee of the house of representatives or oversight authority to the
executive rules committee of the house of representatives over any
standing committee of the senate.
Sec. 205 RCW 43.88.230 and 2005 c 319 s 109 are each amended to
read as follows:
For the purposes of this chapter, the statute law committee, the
joint legislative audit and review committee, the joint transportation
committee, the legislative evaluation and accountability program
committee, the joint higher education committee, the office of state
actuary, and all legislative standing committees of both houses shall
be deemed a part of the legislative branch of state government.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 301 A new section is added to chapter 43.41
RCW to read as follows:
The education data center in consultation with institutions of
higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 shall annually develop
information on the approximate amount of state support that students
receive. For students at state-supported colleges and universities,
the information must include the approximate level of support received
by students in each tuition category. That information may include
consideration of the following: Expenditures included in the
educational cost formula; revenue forgiven from waived tuition and
fees; state-funded financial aid awarded to students at public
institutions; and all or a portion of appropriated amounts not
reflected in the educational cost formula for institutional programs
and services that may affect or enhance the educational experience of
students at a particular institution. For students attending a private
college, university, or proprietary school, the information shall
include the amount of state-funded financial aid awarded to students
attending the institution.
Sec. 302 RCW 28B.76.280 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 58 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1)(a) In consultation with the education data center, institutions
of higher education, and state education agencies, the ((board))
council shall identify the data needed to carry out its
responsibilities for policy analysis((, accountability, program
improvements,)) and public information. The primary goals of the
((board's)) council's data collection and research are to describe how
students and other beneficiaries of higher education are being served;
((to support higher education accountability)) to compare and contrast
the state of Washington's higher education system with the rest of the
nation; and to assist state policymakers and institutions in making
policy decisions.
(b) For the council, assistance to state policymakers and
institutions of higher education in making policy decisions includes
but is not limited to annual reporting of a national comparison of
tuition and fees.
(2) ((The board shall identify the most cost-effective manner for
the board to collect data or access existing data. The board shall
develop research priorities, policies, and common definitions to
maximize the reliability and consistency of data across institutions.)) One of
the goals of the education data center's data collection and research
for higher education is to support higher education accountability.
For the education data center, assistance to state policymakers and
institutions of higher education in making policy decisions includes
but is not limited to regular completion of:
(3) Specific protocols shall be developed by the board to protect
the privacy of individual student records while ensuring the
availability of student data for legitimate research purposes.
(a) Educational cost study reports as provided in RCW 28B.76.310
(as recodified by this act) and information on state support received
by students as provided in section 301 of this act; and
(b) Per-student funding at similar public institutions of higher
education in the global challenge states.
Sec. 303 RCW 28B.76.310 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 105 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The ((board)) education data center, in consultation with the
house of representatives and senate committees responsible for higher
education, the respective fiscal committees of the house of
representatives and senate, the office of financial management, the
state board for community and technical colleges, and the state
institutions of higher education, shall develop standardized methods
and protocols for measuring the undergraduate and graduate educational
costs for the state universities, regional universities, and community
colleges, including but not limited to the costs of instruction, costs
to provide degrees in specific fields, and costs for precollege
remediation.
(2) The institutions of higher education shall participate in the
development of cost study methods and shall provide all necessary data
in a timely fashion consistent with the protocols developed.
(3) Beginning December 1, 2012, and each December 1st thereafter,
the center must provide cost study reports intended to meet the
information needs of the governor's office and the legislature and the
requirements of section 301 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 304 A new section is added to chapter 43.41
RCW to read as follows:
The education data center must determine and report on amounts
constituting undergraduate and graduate educational costs to the
several boards of regents and trustees for the state institutions of
higher education by November 10th of each even-numbered year.
Sec. 401 RCW 28B.76.090 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 102 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The office of student financial assistance is created within
and under the direction of the student achievement council.
(2) The purpose of the office is to administer state and federal
financial aid and other education services programs, including the
advanced college tuition payment program in chapter 28B.95 RCW, in a
cost-effective manner.
(((3) The office shall employ a director who shall serve at the
pleasure of the governor and shall administer the provisions of this
chapter. The director shall: (a) Employ necessary deputy and
assistant directors and other exempt staff under chapter 41.06 RCW who
shall serve at his or her pleasure on such terms and conditions as he
or she determines and (b) subject to the provisions of chapter 41.06
RCW, appoint and employ such other employees as may be required for the
proper discharge of the functions of the office.))
Sec. 402 RCW 28B.118.010 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 226 are each
amended to read as follows:
The office of student financial assistance shall design the
Washington college bound scholarship program in accordance with this
section and in alignment with the state need grant program in chapter
28B.92 RCW unless otherwise provided in this section.
(1) "Eligible students" are those students who qualify for free or
reduced-price lunches. If a student qualifies in the seventh grade,
the student remains eligible even if the student does not receive free
or reduced-price lunches thereafter.
(2) Eligible students shall be notified of their eligibility for
the Washington college bound scholarship program beginning in their
seventh grade year. Students shall also be notified of the
requirements for award of the scholarship.
(3) To be eligible for a Washington college bound scholarship, a
student must sign a pledge during seventh or eighth grade that includes
a commitment to graduate from high school with at least a C average and
with no felony convictions. Students who were in the eighth grade
during the 2007-08 school year may sign the pledge during the 2008-09
school year. The pledge must be witnessed by a parent or guardian and
forwarded to the office of student financial assistance by mail or
electronically, as indicated on the pledge form.
(4)(a) Scholarships shall be awarded to eligible students
graduating from public high schools, approved private high schools
under chapter 28A.195 RCW, or who received home-based instruction under
chapter 28A.200 RCW.
(b) To receive the Washington college bound scholarship, a student
must graduate with at least a "C" average from a public high school or
an approved private high school under chapter 28A.195 RCW in Washington
or have received home-based instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW, must
have no felony convictions, and must be a resident student as defined
in RCW 28B.15.012(2) (a) through (d).
(5) A student's family income will be assessed upon graduation
before awarding the scholarship.
(6) If at graduation from high school the student's family income
does not exceed sixty-five percent of the state median family income,
scholarship award amounts shall be as provided in this section.
(a) For students attending two or four-year institutions of higher
education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, the value of the award shall be
(i) the difference between the student's tuition and required fees,
less the value of any state-funded grant, scholarship, or waiver
assistance the student receives; (ii) plus five hundred dollars for
books and materials.
(b) For students attending private four-year institutions of higher
education in Washington, the award amount shall be the representative
average of awards granted to students in public research universities
in Washington.
(c) For students attending private vocational schools in
Washington, the award amount shall be the representative average of
awards granted to students in public community and technical colleges
in Washington.
(7) Recipients may receive no more than four full-time years' worth
of scholarship awards.
(8) Institutions of higher education shall award the student all
need-based and merit-based financial aid for which the student would
otherwise qualify. The Washington college bound scholarship is
intended to replace unmet need, loans, and, at the student's option,
work-study award before any other grants or scholarships are reduced.
(9) The first scholarships shall be awarded to students graduating
in 2012.
(10) The state of Washington retains legal ownership of tuition
units awarded as scholarships under this chapter until the tuition
units are redeemed. These tuition units shall remain separately held
from any tuition units owned under chapter 28B.95 RCW by a Washington
college bound scholarship recipient.
(11) The scholarship award must be used within five years of
receipt. Any unused scholarship tuition units revert to the Washington
college bound scholarship account.
(12) Should the recipient terminate his or her enrollment for any
reason during the academic year, the unused portion of the scholarship
tuition units shall revert to the Washington college bound scholarship
account.
Sec. 501 RCW 9A.60.070 and 2006 c 234 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty of issuing a false academic credential if
the person knowingly:
(a) Grants or awards a false academic credential or offers to grant
or award a false academic credential in violation of this section;
(b) Represents that a credit earned or granted by the person in
violation of this section can be applied toward a credential offered by
another person;
(c) Grants or offers to grant a credit for which a representation
as described in (b) of this subsection is made; or
(d) Solicits another person to seek a credential or to earn a
credit the person knows is offered in violation of this section.
(2) A person is guilty of knowingly using a false academic
credential if the person knowingly uses a false academic credential or
falsely claims to have a credential issued by an institution of higher
education that is accredited by an accrediting association recognized
as such by rule of the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council:
(a) In a written or oral advertisement or other promotion of a
business; or
(b) With the intent to:
(i) Obtain employment;
(ii) Obtain a license or certificate to practice a trade,
profession, or occupation;
(iii) Obtain a promotion, compensation or other benefit, or an
increase in compensation or other benefit, in employment or in the
practice of a trade, profession, or occupation;
(iv) Obtain admission to an educational program in this state; or
(v) Gain a position in government with authority over another
person, regardless of whether the person receives compensation for the
position.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this
section and RCW 28B.85.220.
(a) "False academic credential" means a document that provides
evidence or demonstrates completion of an academic or professional
course of instruction beyond the secondary level that results in the
attainment of an academic certificate, degree, or rank, and that is not
issued by a person or entity that: (i) Is an entity accredited by an
agency recognized as such by rule of the ((higher education
coordinating board)) student achievement council or has the
international equivalents of such accreditation; or (ii) is an entity
authorized as a degree-granting institution by the ((higher education
coordinating board)) student achievement council; or (iii) is an entity
exempt from the requirements of authorization as a degree-granting
institution by the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council; or (iv) is an entity that has been granted a
waiver by the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council from the requirements of authorization by the
((board)) council. Such documents include, but are not limited to,
academic certificates, degrees, coursework, degree credits,
transcripts, or certification of completion of a degree.
(b) "Grant" means award, bestow, confer, convey, sell, or give.
(c) "Offer," in addition to its usual meanings, means advertise,
publicize, or solicit.
(d) "Operate" includes but is not limited to the following:
(i) Offering courses in person, by correspondence, or by electronic
media at or to any Washington location for degree credit;
(ii) Granting or offering to grant degrees in Washington;
(iii) Maintaining or advertising a Washington location, mailing
address, computer server, or telephone number, for any purpose, other
than for contact with the institution's former students for any
legitimate purpose related to the students having attended the
institution.
(4) Issuing a false academic credential is a class C felony.
(5) Knowingly using a false academic credential is a gross
misdemeanor.
Sec. 502 RCW 18.260.110 and 2008 c 150 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit or restrict:
(1) The practice of a dental assistant in the discharge of official
duties by dental assistants in the United States federal services on
federal reservations, including but not limited to the armed services,
coast guard, public health service, veterans' bureau, or bureau of
Indian affairs;
(2) Expanded function dental auxiliary education and training
programs approved by the commission and the practice as an expanded
function dental auxiliary by students in expanded function dental
auxiliary education and training programs approved by the commission,
when acting under the direction and supervision of persons licensed
under chapter 18.29 or 18.32 RCW;
(3) Dental assistant education and training programs, and the
practice of dental assisting by students in dental assistant education
and training programs approved by the commission or offered at a school
approved or licensed by the workforce training and education
coordinating board, ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council, state board for community and technical colleges,
or Washington state skill centers certified by the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, when acting under the direction
and supervision of persons registered or licensed under this chapter or
chapter 18.29 or 18.32 RCW; or
(4) The practice of a volunteer dental assistant providing services
under the supervision of a licensed dentist in a charitable dental
clinic, as approved by the commission in rule.
Sec. 503 RCW 28A.175.130 and 2011 c 288 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The pay for actual student success (PASS) program is created
under this section and RCW 28A.175.135 through 28A.175.160 to invest in
proven dropout prevention and intervention programs as provided in RCW
28A.175.135 and provide a financial award for high schools that
demonstrate improvement in the dropout prevention indicators
established under RCW 28A.175.140. The legislature finds that
increased accumulation of credits and reductions in incidents of
student discipline lead to improved graduation rates.
(2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, the
workforce training and education coordinating board, the building
bridges working group, the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council, and the college scholarship organization
under RCW 28A.175.135(4) shall collaborate to assure that the programs
under RCW 28A.175.135 operate systematically and are expanded to
include as many additional students and schools as possible.
Sec. 504 RCW 28A.230.100 and 2006 c 263 s 402 and 2006 c 114 s 4
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
The superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council,
the state board for community and technical colleges, and the workforce
training and education coordinating board, shall adopt rules pursuant
to chapter 34.05 RCW, to implement the course requirements set forth in
RCW 28A.230.090. The rules shall include, as the superintendent deems
necessary, granting equivalencies for and temporary exemptions from the
course requirements in RCW 28A.230.090 and special alterations of the
course requirements in RCW 28A.230.090. In developing such rules the
superintendent shall recognize the relevance of vocational and applied
courses and allow such courses to fulfill in whole or in part the
courses required for graduation in RCW 28A.230.090, as determined by
the high school or school district in accordance with RCW 28A.230.097.
The rules may include provisions for competency testing in lieu of such
courses required for graduation in RCW 28A.230.090 or demonstration of
specific skill proficiency or understanding of concepts through work or
experience.
Sec. 505 RCW 28A.600.280 and 2009 c 450 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in
collaboration with the state board for community and technical
colleges, the Washington state apprenticeship and training council, the
workforce training and education coordinating board, the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council, ((and)) the
public baccalaureate institutions, and the education data center, shall
report by September 1, 2010, and annually thereafter to the education
and higher education committees of the legislature regarding
participation in dual credit programs. The report shall include:
(a) Data about student participation rates and academic performance
including but not limited to running start, college in the high school,
tech prep, international baccalaureate, advanced placement, and running
start for the trades;
(b) Data on the total unduplicated head count of students enrolled
in at least one dual credit program course; and
(c) The percentage of students who enrolled in at least one dual
credit program as percent of all students enrolled in grades nine
through twelve.
(2) Data on student participation shall be disaggregated by race,
ethnicity, gender, and receipt of free or reduced-price lunch.
Sec. 506 RCW 28A.600.390 and 1994 c 205 s 10 are each amended to
read as follows:
The superintendent of public instruction, the state board for
community and technical colleges, and the ((higher education
coordinating board)) student achievement council shall jointly develop
and adopt rules governing RCW 28A.600.300 through 28A.600.380, if rules
are necessary. The rules shall be written to encourage the maximum use
of the program and shall not narrow or limit the enrollment options
under RCW 28A.600.300 through 28A.600.380.
Sec. 507 RCW 28A.660.050 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 134 are each
amended to read as follows:
Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for these
purposes, the conditional scholarship programs in this chapter are
created under the following guidelines:
(1) The programs shall be administered by the ((office of student
financial assistance)) student achievement council. In administering
the programs, the ((office)) council has the following powers and
duties:
(a) To adopt necessary rules and develop guidelines to administer
the programs;
(b) To collect and manage repayments from participants who do not
meet their service obligations; and
(c) To accept grants and donations from public and private sources
for the programs.
(2) Requirements for participation in the conditional scholarship
programs are as provided in this subsection (2).
(a) The alternative route conditional scholarship program is
limited to interns of professional educator standards board-approved
alternative routes to teaching programs under RCW 28A.660.040. For
fiscal year 2011, priority must be given to fiscal year 2010
participants in the alternative route partnership program. In order to
receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:
(i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment in alternative
certification routes through a professional educator standards board-approved program;
(ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of
the alternative route certification program and receipt of a residency
teaching certificate; and
(iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship,
not to exceed eight thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees,
and educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation
for the alternative route certification program in which the recipient
is enrolled. The ((board)) council may adjust the annual award by the
average rate of resident undergraduate tuition and fee increases at the
state universities as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.
(b) The pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program
is limited to qualified paraeducators as provided by RCW 28A.660.042.
In order to receive conditional scholarship awards, recipients shall:
(i) Be accepted and maintain enrollment at a community and
technical college for no more than two years and attain an associate of
arts degree;
(ii) Continue to make satisfactory progress toward completion of an
associate of arts degree. This progress requirement is a condition for
eligibility into a route one program of the alternative routes to
teacher certification program for a mathematics, special education, or
English as a second language endorsement; and
(iii) Receive no more than the annual amount of the scholarship,
not to exceed four thousand dollars, for the cost of tuition, fees, and
educational expenses, including books, supplies, and transportation for
the alternative route certification program in which the recipient is
enrolled. The ((board)) student achievement council may adjust the
annual award by the average rate of tuition and fee increases at the
state community and technical colleges.
(c) The retooling to teach mathematics and science conditional
scholarship program is limited to current K-12 teachers. In order to
receive conditional scholarship awards:
(i) Individuals currently employed as teachers shall pursue a
middle level mathematics or science, or secondary mathematics or
science endorsement; or
(ii) Individuals who are certificated with an elementary education
endorsement shall pursue an endorsement in middle level mathematics or
science, or both; and
(iii) Individuals shall use one of the pathways to endorsement
processes to receive a mathematics or science endorsement, or both,
which shall include passing a mathematics or science endorsement test,
or both tests, plus observation and completing applicable coursework to
attain the proper endorsement; and
(iv) Individuals shall receive no more than the annual amount of
the scholarship, not to exceed three thousand dollars, for the cost of
tuition, test fees, and educational expenses, including books,
supplies, and transportation for the endorsement pathway being pursued.
(3) The Washington professional educator standards board shall
select individuals to receive conditional scholarships. In selecting
recipients, preference shall be given to eligible veterans or national
guard members.
(4) For the purpose of this chapter, a conditional scholarship is
a loan that is forgiven in whole or in part in exchange for service as
a certificated teacher employed in a Washington state K-12 public
school. The state shall forgive one year of loan obligation for every
two years a recipient teaches in a public school. Recipients who fail
to continue a course of study leading to residency teacher
certification or cease to teach in a public school in the state of
Washington in their endorsement area are required to repay the
remaining loan principal with interest.
(5) Recipients who fail to fulfill the required teaching obligation
are required to repay the remaining loan principal with interest and
any other applicable fees. The ((office of student financial
assistance)) student achievement council shall adopt rules to define
the terms for repayment, including applicable interest rates, fees, and
deferments.
(6) The ((office of student financial assistance)) student
achievement council may deposit all appropriations, collections, and
any other funds received for the program in this chapter in the future
teachers conditional scholarship account authorized in RCW 28B.102.080.
Sec. 508 RCW 28B.07.040 and 1985 c 370 s 49 are each amended to
read as follows:
The authority is authorized and empowered to do the following, on
such terms, with such security and undertakings, subject to such
conditions, and in return for such consideration, as the authority
shall determine in its discretion to be necessary, useful, or
convenient in accomplishing the purposes of this chapter:
(1) To promulgate rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW;
(2) To adopt an official seal and to alter the same at pleasure;
(3) To maintain an office at any place or places as the authority
may designate;
(4) To sue and be sued in its own name, and to plead and be
impleaded;
(5) To make and execute agreements with participants and others and
all other instruments necessary, useful, or convenient for the
accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;
(6) To provide long-term or short-term financing or refinancing to
participants for project costs, by way of loan, lease, conditional
sales contract, mortgage, option to purchase, or other financing or
security device or any such combination;
(7) If, in order to provide to participants the financing or
refinancing of project costs described in subsection (6) of this
section, the authority deems it necessary or convenient for it to own
a project or projects or any part of a project or projects, for any
period of time, it may acquire, contract, improve, alter, rehabilitate,
repair, manage, operate, mortgage, subject to a security interest,
lease, sell, or convey the project;
(8) To fix, revise from time to time, and charge and collect from
participants and others rates, rents, fees, charges, and repayments as
necessary to fully and timely reimburse the authority for all expenses
incurred by it in providing the financing and refinancing and other
services under this section and for the repayment, when due, of all the
principal of, redemption premium, if any, and interest on all bonds
issued under this chapter to provide the financing, refinancing, and
services;
(9) To accept and receive funds, grants, gifts, pledges,
guarantees, mortgages, trust deeds, and other security instruments, and
property from the federal government or the state or other public body,
entity, or agency and from any public or private institution,
association, corporation, or organization, including participants. It
shall not accept or receive from the state or any taxing agency any
money derived from taxes, except money to be devoted to the purposes of
a project of the state or of a taxing agency;
(10) To open and maintain a bank account or accounts in one or more
qualified public depositories in this state and to deposit all or any
part of authority funds therein;
(11) To employ consulting engineers, architects, attorneys,
accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents,
managers, an executive director, and such other employees and agents as
may be necessary in its judgment to carry out the purposes of this
chapter, and to fix their compensation;
(12) To provide financing or refinancing to two or more
participants for a single project or for several projects in such
combinations as the authority deems necessary, useful, or convenient;
(13) To charge to and equitably apportion among participants the
administrative costs and expenses incurred in the exercise of the
powers and duties conferred by this chapter;
(14) To consult with the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council to determine project priorities under the
purposes of this chapter; and
(15) To do all other things necessary, useful, or convenient to
carry out the purposes of this chapter.
In the exercise of any of these powers, the authority shall incur
no expense or liability which shall be an obligation, either general or
special, of the state, or a general obligation of the authority, and
shall pay no expense or liability from funds other than funds of the
authority. Funds of the state shall not be used for such purpose.
Sec. 509 RCW 28B.10.020 and 2004 c 275 s 47 are each amended to
read as follows:
The boards of regents of the University of Washington and
Washington State University, respectively, and the boards of trustees
of Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University,
Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College,
respectively, shall have the power and authority to acquire by
exchange, gift, purchase, lease, or condemnation in the manner provided
by chapter 8.04 RCW for condemnation of property for public use, such
lands, real estate and other property, and interests therein as they
may deem necessary for the use of said institutions respectively.
However, the purchase or lease of major off-campus facilities is
subject to the approval of the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council under RCW 28B.76.230 (as recodified by this
act).
Sec. 510 RCW 28B.10.053 and 2011 2nd sp.s. c 3 s 1 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) By December 1, 2011, and by June of each odd-numbered year
thereafter, the institutions of higher education shall collaboratively
develop a master list of postsecondary courses that can be fulfilled by
taking the advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or other
recognized college-level proficiency examinations, including but not
limited to examinations by a national multidisciplinary science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics program, and meeting the
qualifying examination score or demonstrated competencies for lower
division general education requirements or postsecondary professional
technical requirements. The master list of postsecondary courses
fulfilled by proficiency examinations or demonstrated competencies are
those that fulfill lower division general education requirements or
career and technical education requirements and qualify for
postsecondary credit. From the master list, each institution shall
create and publish a list of its courses that can be satisfied by
successful proficiency examination scores or demonstrated competencies
for lower division general education requirements or postsecondary
professional technical requirements. The qualifying examination scores
and demonstrated competencies shall be included in the published list.
The requirements to develop a master list under this section do not
apply if an institution has a clearly published policy of awarding
credit for the advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or
other recognized college-level placement exams and does not require
those credits to meet specific course requirements but generally
applies those credits towards degree requirements.
(2) To the maximum extent possible, institutions of higher
education shall agree on examination qualifying scores and demonstrated
competencies for the credits or courses under subsection (3) of this
section, with scores equivalent to qualified or well-qualified.
Nothing in this subsection shall prevent an institution of higher
education from adopting policies using higher scores for additional
purposes.
(3) Each institution of higher education, in designing its
certificate, technical degree program, two-year academic transfer
program, or freshman and sophomore courses of a baccalaureate program
or baccalaureate degree, must recognize the equivalencies of at least
one year of course credit and maximize the application of the credits
toward lower division general education requirements that can be earned
through successfully demonstrating proficiency on examinations,
including but not limited to advanced placement and international
baccalaureate examinations. The successful completion of the
examination and the award of credit shall be noted on the student's
college transcript.
(4) Each institution of higher education must clearly include in
its admissions materials and on its web site the credits or the
institution's list of postsecondary courses that can be fulfilled by
proficiency examinations or demonstrated competencies and the agreed-upon examination scores and demonstrated competencies that qualify for
postsecondary credit. Each institution must provide the information to
the ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council
and state board for community and technical colleges in a form that the
superintendent of public instruction is able to distribute to school
districts.
Sec. 511 RCW 28B.10.118 and 2011 c 108 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) State universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen
State College may develop accelerated baccalaureate degree programs
that will allow academically qualified students to obtain a
baccalaureate degree in three years without attending summer classes or
enrolling in more than a full-time class load during the regular
academic year. The programs must allow academically qualified students
to begin coursework within their academic field during their first term
or semester of enrollment.
(2) The state universities, regional universities, and The
Evergreen State College shall report on their plans for the accelerated
baccalaureate degree programs to the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council for approval.
Sec. 512 RCW 28B.10.400 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 47 s 2 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The boards of regents of the state universities, the boards of
trustees of the regional universities and of The Evergreen State
College, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council are
authorized and empowered:
(a) To assist the faculties and such other employees exempt from
civil service pursuant to RCW 41.06.070 (1)(((cc))) (z) and (2) as any
such board may designate in the purchase of old age annuities or
retirement income plans under such rules as any such board may
prescribe, subject to the restrictions in subsection (2) of this
section. County agricultural agents, home demonstration agents, 4-H
club agents, and assistant county agricultural agents paid jointly by
the Washington State University and the several counties shall be
deemed to be full-time employees of the Washington State University for
the purposes of this section;
(b) To provide, under such rules as any such board may prescribe
for the faculty members or other employees exempt from civil service
pursuant to RCW 41.06.070 (1)(((cc))) (z) and (2) under its
supervision, for the retirement of any such faculty member or other
exempt employee on account of age or condition of health, retirement on
account of age to be not earlier than the sixty-fifth birthday:
PROVIDED, That such faculty member or such other exempt employee may
elect to retire at the earliest age specified for retirement by federal
social security law: PROVIDED FURTHER, That any supplemental payment
authorized by (c) of this subsection and paid as a result of retirement
earlier than age sixty-five shall be at an actuarially reduced rate;
and shall be provided only to those persons who participate in an
annuity or retirement income plan under (a) of this subsection prior to
July 1, 2011;
(c) To pay only to those persons who participate in an annuity or
retirement income plan under (a) of this subsection prior to July 1,
2011, or to his or her designated beneficiary(s), each year after his
or her retirement, a supplemental amount which, when added to the
amount of such annuity or retirement income plan, or retirement income
benefit pursuant to RCW 28B.10.415, received by the retired person or
the retired person's designated beneficiary(s) in such year, will not
exceed fifty percent of the average annual salary paid to such retired
person for his or her highest two consecutive years of full-time
service under an annuity or retirement income plan established pursuant
to (a) of this subsection at an institution of higher education:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That if such retired person prior to retirement
elected a supplemental payment survivors option, any such supplemental
payments to such retired person or the retired person's designated
beneficiary(s) shall be at actuarially reduced rates: PROVIDED
FURTHER, That if a faculty member or other employee of an institution
of higher education who is a participant in a retirement plan
authorized by this section dies, or has died before retirement but
after becoming eligible for retirement on account of age, the
designated beneficiary(s) shall be entitled to receive the supplemental
payment authorized by this subsection to which such designated
beneficiary(s) would have been entitled had said deceased faculty
member or other employee retired on the date of death after electing a
supplemental payment survivors option: PROVIDED FURTHER, That for the
purpose of this subsection, the designated beneficiary(s) shall be (i)
the surviving spouse of the retiree; or, (ii) with the written consent
of such spouse, if any, such other person or persons as shall have an
insurable interest in the retiree's life and shall have been nominated
by written designation duly executed and filed with the retiree's
institution of higher education.
(2) Boards are prohibited from offering a purchased annuity or
retirement income plan authorized under this section to employees hired
on or after July 1, 2011, who have retired or are eligible to retire
from a public employees' retirement system described in RCW 41.50.030.
The ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council
shall only offer participation in a purchased annuity or retirement
income plan authorized under this section to employees who have
previously contributed premiums to a similar qualified plan.
(3) During the 2011 legislative interim, the select committee on
pension policy shall evaluate the suitability and necessity of the
annuity and retirement plans authorized under this chapter for
employees in various positions within higher education institutions.
The select committee shall report its findings, including any
recommendations for restrictions on future plan membership, to the ways
and means committees of the house of representatives and the senate no
later than December 31, 2011.
Sec. 513 RCW 28B.10.405 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 47 s 3 are each
amended to read as follows:
Members of the faculties and such other employees exempt from civil
service pursuant to RCW 41.06.070 (1)(((cc))) (z) and (2) as are
designated by the boards of regents of the state universities, the
boards of trustees of the regional universities and of The Evergreen
State College, the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council, or the state board for community and technical
colleges who do not opt to become members of the teachers' retirement
system or the public employees' retirement system under RCW 41.32.836
or 41.40.798, or who are not prevented from participation in an annuity
or retirement plan under RCW 28B.10.400(2) shall be required to
contribute not less than five percent of their salaries during each
year of full-time service after the first two years of such service
toward the purchase of such annuity or retirement income plan; such
contributions may be in addition to federal social security tax
contributions, if any.
Sec. 514 RCW 28B.10.410 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 47 s 4 are each
amended to read as follows:
The boards of regents of the state universities, the boards of
trustees of the regional universities and of The Evergreen State
College, the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council, or the state board for community and technical
colleges shall pay not more than one-half of the annual premium of any
annuity or retirement income plan established under the provisions of
RCW 28B.10.400. Such contribution shall not exceed ten percent of the
salary of the faculty member or other employee on whose behalf the
contribution is made. This contribution may be in addition to federal
social security tax contributions made by the boards, if any.
Sec. 515 RCW 28B.10.415 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 47 s 5 are each
amended to read as follows:
The boards of regents of the state universities, the boards of
trustees of the regional universities and of The Evergreen State
College, the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council, or the state board for community and technical
colleges shall not pay any amount to be added to the annuity or
retirement income plan of any retired person who was first hired on or
after July 1, 2011, or who has served for less than ten years in one or
more of the state institutions of higher education. In the case of
persons who have served more than ten years but less than twenty-five
years no amount shall be paid in excess of four percent of the amount
authorized in RCW 28B.10.400(1)(c), multiplied by the number of years
of full-time service rendered by such person: PROVIDED, That credit
for years of service at an institution of higher education shall be
limited to those years in which contributions were made by a faculty
member or other employee designated pursuant to RCW 28B.10.400(1)(a)
and the institution or the state as a result of which a benefit is
being received by a retired person from any Washington state public
retirement plan: PROVIDED FURTHER, That all such benefits that a
retired person is eligible to receive shall reduce any supplementation
payments provided for in RCW 28B.10.400.
Sec. 516 RCW 28B.10.423 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 47 s 7 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) For employees who are first employed by an institution of
higher education in a position eligible for participation in an old age
annuities or retirement income plan under this chapter prior to July 1,
2011, it is the intent of RCW 28B.10.400, 28B.10.405, 28B.10.410,
28B.10.415, 28B.10.420, and 28B.10.423 that the retirement income
resulting from the contributions described herein from the state of
Washington and the employee shall be projected actuarially so that it
shall not exceed sixty percent of the average of the highest two
consecutive years salary. Periodic review of the retirement systems
established pursuant to RCW 28B.10.400, 28B.10.405, 28B.10.410,
28B.10.415, 28B.10.420, and 28B.10.423 will be undertaken at such time
and in such manner as determined by the committees on ways and means of
the senate and of the house of representatives, the select committee on
pension policy, and the pension funding council, and joint contribution
rates will be adjusted if necessary to accomplish this intent.
(2) Beginning July 1, 2011, state funding for annuity or retirement
income plans under RCW 28B.10.400 shall not exceed six percent of
salary. The state board for community and technical colleges and the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council are
exempt from the provisions of this subsection (2).
(3) By June 30, 2013, and every two years thereafter, each
institution of higher education that is responsible for payment of
supplemental amounts under RCW 28B.10.400(1)(c) shall contract with the
state actuary under chapter 41.44 RCW for an actuarial valuation of
their supplemental benefit plan. By June 30, 2013, and at least once
every six years thereafter, each institution shall also contract with
the state actuary under chapter 41.44 RCW for an actuarial experience
study of the mortality, service, compensation, and other experience of
the annuity or retirement income plans created in this chapter, and
into the financial condition of each system. At the discretion of the
state actuary, the valuation or experience study may be performed by
the state actuary or by an outside actuarial firm under contract to the
office of the state actuary. Each institution of higher education is
required to provide the data and information required for the
performance of the valuation or experience study to the office of the
state actuary or to the actuary performing the study on behalf of the
state actuary. The state actuary may charge each institution for the
actual cost of the valuation or experience study through an interagency
agreement. Upon completion of the valuation or experience study, the
state actuary shall provide copies of the study to the institution of
higher education and to the select committee on pension policy and the
pension funding council.
(4)(a) A higher education retirement plan supplemental benefit fund
is created in the custody of the state treasurer for the purpose of
funding future benefit obligations of higher education retirement plan
supplemental benefits. The state investment board has the full power
to invest, reinvest, manage, contract, sell, or exchange investment
money in the fund.
(b) From January 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013, an employer
contribution rate of one-quarter of one percent of salary is
established to begin prefunding the unfunded future obligations of the
supplemental benefit established in RCW 28B.10.400.
(c) Beginning July 1, 2013, an employer contribution rate of one-half of one percent of salary is established to prefund the unfunded
future obligations of the supplemental benefit established in RCW
28B.10.400.
(d) Consistent with chapter 41.50 RCW, the department of retirement
systems shall collect the employer contribution rates established in
this section from each state institution of higher education, and
deposit those contributions into the higher education retirement plan
supplemental benefit fund. The contributions made by each employer
into the higher education retirement plan supplemental benefit fund and
the earnings on those contributions shall be accounted for separately
within the fund.
(e) Following the completion and review of the initial actuarial
valuations and experience study conducted pursuant to subsection (3) of
this section, the pension funding council may:
(i) Adopt and make changes to the employer contribution rates
established in this subsection consistent with the procedures
established in chapter 41.45 RCW. If the actuarial valuations of the
higher education retirement plans of each institution contributing to
the higher education retirement plan supplemental benefit fund suggest
that different contribution rates are appropriate for each institution,
different rates may be adopted. Rates adopted by the pension funding
council are subject to revision by the legislature;
(ii) Recommend legislation that will, upon accumulation of
sufficient funding in the higher education retirement plan supplemental
benefit fund, transfer the responsibility for making supplemental
benefit payments to the department of retirement systems, and adjust
employer contribution rates to reflect the transfer of responsibility.
Sec. 517 RCW 28B.10.784 and 1993 sp.s. c 15 s 6 are each amended
to read as follows:
The participation rate used to calculate enrollment levels under
RCW 28B.10.776 and 28B.10.782 shall be based on fall enrollment
reported in the higher education enrollment report as maintained by the
office of financial management, fall enrollment as reported in the
management information system of the state board for community and
technical colleges, and the corresponding fall population forecast by
the office of financial management. Formal estimates of the state
participation rates and enrollment levels necessary to fulfill the
requirements of RCW 28B.10.776 and 28B.10.782 shall be determined by
the office of financial management as part of its responsibility to
develop and maintain student enrollment forecasts for colleges and
universities under RCW 43.62.050. Formal estimates of the state
participation rates and enrollment levels required by this section
shall be based on procedures and standards established by a technical
work group consisting of staff from the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council, the public four-year institutions
of higher education, the state board for community and technical
colleges, the fiscal and higher education committees of the house of
representatives and the senate, and the office of financial management.
Formal estimates of the state participation rates and enrollment levels
required by this section shall be submitted to the fiscal committees of
the house of representatives and senate on or before November 15th of
each even-numbered year. The ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council shall periodically review the enrollment
goals set forth in RCW 28B.10.776 and 28B.10.782 and submit
recommendations concerning modification of these goals to the governor
and to the higher education committees of the house of representatives
and the senate.
Sec. 518 RCW 28B.10.790 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 139 are each
amended to read as follows:
Washington residents attending any nonprofit college or university
in another state which has a reciprocity agreement with the state of
Washington shall be eligible for the student financial aid program
outlined in chapter 28B.92 RCW if (1) they qualify as a "needy student"
under RCW 28B.92.030(((5))) (4), and (2) the institution attended is a
member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of
the ((office of student financial assistance)) student achievement
council for the purposes of this section and is specifically
encompassed within or directly affected by such reciprocity agreement
and agrees to and complies with program rules and regulations
pertaining to such students and institutions adopted pursuant to RCW
28B.92.150.
Sec. 519 RCW 28B.12.030 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 142 are each
amended to read as follows:
As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have
the following meanings, unless the context shall clearly indicate
another or different meaning or intent:
(1) The term "needy student" shall mean a student enrolled or
accepted for enrollment at a postsecondary institution who, according
to a system of need analysis approved by the office of student
financial assistance, demonstrates a financial inability, either
parental, familial, or personal, to bear the total cost of education
for any semester or quarter.
(2) The term "eligible institution" shall mean any postsecondary
institution in this state accredited by the Northwest Association of
Schools and Colleges, or a branch of a member institution of an
accrediting association recognized by rule of the ((board)) student
achievement council for purposes of this section, that is eligible for
federal student financial aid assistance and has operated as a
nonprofit college or university delivering on-site classroom
instruction for a minimum of twenty consecutive years within the state
of Washington, or any public technical college in the state.
Sec. 520 RCW 28B.12.040 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 143 are each
amended to read as follows:
The ((office of student financial assistance)) student achievement
council shall develop and administer the state work-study program. The
((board)) council shall be authorized to enter into agreements with
employers and eligible institutions for the operation of the program.
These agreements shall include such provisions as the ((office))
council may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of
this chapter.
With the exception of off-campus community service placements, the
share from moneys disbursed under the state work-study program of the
compensation of students employed under such program in accordance with
such agreements shall not exceed eighty percent of the total such
compensation paid such students.
By rule, the ((office)) council shall define community service
placements and may determine any salary matching requirements for any
community service employers.
Sec. 521 RCW 28B.15.012 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 148 are each
amended to read as follows:
Whenever used in this chapter:
(1) The term "institution" shall mean a public university, college,
or community college within the state of Washington.
(2) The term "resident student" shall mean:
(a) A financially independent student who has had a domicile in the
state of Washington for the period of one year immediately prior to the
time of commencement of the first day of the semester or quarter for
which the student has registered at any institution and has in fact
established a bona fide domicile in this state primarily for purposes
other than educational;
(b) A dependent student, if one or both of the student's parents or
legal guardians have maintained a bona fide domicile in the state of
Washington for at least one year immediately prior to commencement of
the semester or quarter for which the student has registered at any
institution;
(c) A student classified as a resident based upon domicile by an
institution on or before May 31, 1982, who was enrolled at a state
institution during any term of the 1982-1983 academic year, so long as
such student's enrollment (excepting summer sessions) at an institution
in this state is continuous;
(d) Any student who has spent at least seventy-five percent of both
his or her junior and senior years in high schools in this state, whose
parents or legal guardians have been domiciled in the state for a
period of at least one year within the five-year period before the
student graduates from high school, and who enrolls in a public
institution of higher education within six months of leaving high
school, for as long as the student remains continuously enrolled for
three quarters or two semesters in any calendar year;
(e) Any person who has completed the full senior year of high
school and obtained a high school diploma, both at a Washington public
high school or private high school approved under chapter 28A.195 RCW,
or a person who has received the equivalent of a diploma; who has lived
in Washington for at least three years immediately prior to receiving
the diploma or its equivalent; who has continuously lived in the state
of Washington after receiving the diploma or its equivalent and until
such time as the individual is admitted to an institution of higher
education under subsection (1) of this section; and who provides to the
institution an affidavit indicating that the individual will file an
application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity
the individual is eligible to do so and a willingness to engage in any
other activities necessary to acquire citizenship, including but not
limited to citizenship or civics review courses;
(f) Any person who has lived in Washington, primarily for purposes
other than educational, for at least one year immediately before the
date on which the person has enrolled in an institution, and who holds
lawful nonimmigrant status pursuant to 8 U.S.C. Sec. (a)(15) (E)(iii),
(H)(i), or (L), or who holds lawful nonimmigrant status as the spouse
or child of a person having nonimmigrant status under one of those
subsections, or who, holding or having previously held such lawful
nonimmigrant status as a principal or derivative, has filed an
application for adjustment of status pursuant to 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1255(a);
(g) A student who is on active military duty stationed in the state
or who is a member of the Washington national guard;
(h) A student who is the spouse or a dependent of a person who is
on active military duty stationed in the state. If the person on
active military duty is reassigned out-of-state, the student maintains
the status as a resident student so long as the student is continuously
enrolled in a degree program;
(i) A student who resides in the state of Washington and is the
spouse or a dependent of a person who is a member of the Washington
national guard;
(j) A student of an out-of-state institution of higher education
who is attending a Washington state institution of higher education
pursuant to a home tuition agreement as described in RCW 28B.15.725;
(k) A student who meets the requirements of RCW 28B.15.0131:
PROVIDED, That a nonresident student enrolled for more than six hours
per semester or quarter shall be considered as attending for primarily
educational purposes, and for tuition and fee paying purposes only such
period of enrollment shall not be counted toward the establishment of
a bona fide domicile of one year in this state unless such student
proves that the student has in fact established a bona fide domicile in
this state primarily for purposes other than educational;
(l) A student who resides in Washington and is on active military
duty stationed in the Oregon counties of Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River,
Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union,
Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington; or
(m) A student who resides in Washington and is the spouse or a
dependent of a person who resides in Washington and is on active
military duty stationed in the Oregon counties of Columbia, Gilliam,
Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla,
Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington. If the person on active military
duty moves from Washington or is reassigned out of the Oregon counties
of Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas,
Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington, the
student maintains the status as a resident student so long as the
student resides in Washington and is continuously enrolled in a degree
program.
(3) The term "nonresident student" shall mean any student who does
not qualify as a "resident student" under the provisions of this
section and RCW 28B.15.013. Except for students qualifying under
subsection (2)(e) or (j) of this section, a nonresident student shall
include:
(a) A student attending an institution with the aid of financial
assistance provided by another state or governmental unit or agency
thereof, such nonresidency continuing for one year after the completion
of such semester or quarter.
(b) A person who is not a citizen of the United States of America
who does not have permanent or temporary resident status or does not
hold "Refugee-Parolee" or "Conditional Entrant" status with the United
States citizenship immigration services or is not otherwise permanently
residing in the United States under color of law and who does not also
meet and comply with all the applicable requirements in this section
and RCW 28B.15.013.
(4) The term "domicile" shall denote a person's true, fixed and
permanent home and place of habitation. It is the place where the
student intends to remain, and to which the student expects to return
when the student leaves without intending to establish a new domicile
elsewhere. The burden of proof that a student, parent or guardian has
established a domicile in the state of Washington primarily for
purposes other than educational lies with the student.
(5) The term "dependent" shall mean a person who is not financially
independent. Factors to be considered in determining whether a person
is financially independent shall be set forth in rules adopted by the
((office of student financial assistance)) student achievement council
and shall include, but not be limited to, the state and federal income
tax returns of the person and/or the student's parents or legal
guardian filed for the calendar year prior to the year in which
application is made and such other evidence as the ((board)) council
may require.
(6) The term "active military duty" means the person is serving on
active duty in:
(a) The armed forces of the United States government; or
(b) The Washington national guard; or
(c) The coast guard, merchant mariners, or other nonmilitary
organization when such service is recognized by the United States
government as equivalent to service in the armed forces.
Sec. 522 RCW 28B.15.013 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 149 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The establishment of a new domicile in the state of Washington
by a person formerly domiciled in another state has occurred if such
person is physically present in Washington primarily for purposes other
than educational and can show satisfactory proof that such person is
without a present intention to return to such other state or to acquire
a domicile at some other place outside of Washington.
(2) Unless proven to the contrary it shall be presumed that:
(a) The domicile of any person shall be determined according to the
individual's situation and circumstances rather than by marital status
or sex.
(b) A person does not lose a domicile in the state of Washington by
reason of residency in any state or country while a member of the civil
or military service of this state or of the United States, nor while
engaged in the navigation of the waters of this state or of the United
States or of the high seas if that person returns to the state of
Washington within one year of discharge from said service with the
intent to be domiciled in the state of Washington; any resident
dependent student who remains in this state when such student's
parents, having theretofore been domiciled in this state for a period
of one year immediately prior to the time of commencement of the first
day of the semester or quarter for which the student has registered at
any institution, remove from this state, shall be entitled to continued
classification as a resident student so long as such student's
attendance (except summer sessions) at an institution in this state is
continuous.
(3) To aid the institution in deciding whether a student, parent,
legally appointed guardian or the person having legal custody of a
student is domiciled in the state of Washington primarily for purposes
other than educational, the rules ((and regulations)) adopted by the
((office of student financial assistance)) student achievement council
shall include but not be limited to the following:
(a) Registration or payment of Washington taxes or fees on a motor
vehicle, mobile home, travel trailer, boat, or any other item of
personal property owned or used by the person for which state
registration or the payment of a state tax or fee is required will be
a factor in considering evidence of the establishment of a Washington
domicile.
(b) Permanent full time employment in Washington by a person will
be a factor in considering the establishment of a Washington domicile.
(c) Registration to vote for state officials in Washington will be
a factor in considering the establishment of a Washington domicile.
(4) After a student has registered at an institution such student's
classification shall remain unchanged in the absence of satisfactory
evidence to the contrary. A student wishing to apply for a change in
classification shall reduce such evidence to writing and file it with
the institution. In any case involving an application for a change
from nonresident to resident status, the burden of proof shall rest
with the applicant. Any change in classification, either nonresident
to resident, or the reverse, shall be based upon written evidence
maintained in the files of the institution and, if approved, shall take
effect the semester or quarter such evidence was filed with the
institution: PROVIDED, That applications for a change in
classification shall be accepted up to the thirtieth calendar day
following the first day of instruction of the quarter or semester for
which application is made.
Sec. 523 RCW 28B.15.015 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 150 are each
amended to read as follows:
The ((state's institutions)) student achievement council, with the
advice of the attorney general, shall adopt rules ((and regulations))
to be used by the state's institutions for determining a student's
resident and nonresident status and for recovery of fees for improper
classification of residency.
Sec. 524 RCW 28B.15.068 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 10 s 7 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) By September 1st of each year beginning in 2011, the office of
financial management shall report to the governor, the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council, and
appropriate committees of the legislature with updated estimates of:
(a) The total per-student funding level that represents the
sixtieth percentile of funding for similar institutions of higher
education in the global challenge states; and
(b) The tuition that represents the sixtieth percentile of resident
undergraduate tuition for similar institutions of higher education in
the global challenge states.
(2) As used in this section, "global challenge states" are the top
performing states on the new economy index published by the progressive
policy institute as of July 22, 2007. The new economy index ranks
states on indicators of their potential to compete in the new economy.
At least once every five years, the office of financial management
shall determine if changes to the list of global challenge states are
appropriate. The office of financial management shall report its
findings to the governor and the legislature.
(3) Institutions of higher education, in collaboration with
relevant student associations, shall aim to have all students who can
benefit from available tax credits that mitigate the costs of higher
education take advantage of these opportunities. These tax credits
include the American opportunity tax credit provided in the American
recovery and reinvestment act of 2009, the lifetime learning credit,
and other relevant tax credits for as long as they are available.
(4)(a) Institutions shall make every effort to communicate to
students and their families the benefits of such tax credits and
provide assistance to students and their families on how to apply.
(b) Information about relevant tax credits shall, to the greatest
extent possible, be incorporated into financial aid counseling,
admission information, and individual billing statements.
(c) Institutions shall, to the greatest extent possible, use all
means of communication, including but not limited to web sites, online
catalogues, admission and registration forms, mass email messaging,
social media, and outside marketing to ensure information about
relevant tax credits is visible and compelling, and reaches the maximum
amount of student and families that can benefit.
(5) In the event that the economic value of the American
opportunity tax credit is reduced or expires at any time before
December 31, 2012, institutions of higher education shall:
(a) Develop an updated tuition mitigation plan established under
RCW 28B.15.102 for the purpose of minimizing, to the greatest extent
possible, the increase in net cost of tuition or total cost of
attendance for students resulting from any such change. This plan
shall include the methods specified by the four-year institution of
higher education to avoid adding additional loan debt burdens to
students regardless of the source of such loans;
(b) Report to the governor and the relevant committees of the
legislature on their plans to adjust their tuition mitigation plans no
later than ninety days after any such change to the American
opportunity tax credit.
Sec. 525 RCW 28B.15.068 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 50 s 928 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) Beginning with the 2007-08 academic year and ending with the
2016-17 academic year, tuition fees charged to full-time resident
undergraduate students, except in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11,
may increase no greater than seven percent over the previous academic
year in any institution of higher education. Annual reductions or
increases in full-time tuition fees for resident undergraduate students
shall be as provided in the omnibus appropriations act, within the
seven percent increase limit established in this section. For academic
years 2009-10 and 2010-11 the omnibus appropriations act may provide
tuition increases greater than seven percent. To the extent that state
appropriations combined with tuition and fee revenues are insufficient
to achieve the total per-student funding goals established in
subsection (2) of this section, the legislature may revisit state
appropriations, authorized enrollment levels, and changes in tuition
fees for any given fiscal year. In order to facilitate the full
implementation of chapter 10, Laws of 2011 1st sp. sess. for the
2011-12 academic year and thereafter, the institutions of higher
education are authorized to adopt tuition levels that are less than,
equal to, or greater than the tuition levels assumed in the omnibus
appropriations act, subject to the conditions and limitations in this
chapter and the omnibus appropriations act.
(2) The state shall adopt as its goal total per-student funding
levels, from state appropriations plus tuition and fees, of at least
the sixtieth percentile of total per-student funding at similar public
institutions of higher education in the global challenge states. In
defining comparable per-student funding levels, the office of financial
management shall adjust for regional cost-of-living differences; for
differences in program offerings and in the relative mix of lower
division, upper division, and graduate students; and for accounting and
reporting differences among the comparison institutions. The office of
financial management shall develop a funding trajectory for each four-year institution of higher education and for the community and
technical college system as a whole that when combined with tuition and
fees revenue allows the state to achieve its funding goal for each
four-year institution and the community and technical college system as
a whole no later than fiscal year 2017. The state shall not reduce
enrollment levels below fiscal year 2007 budgeted levels in order to
improve or alter the per-student funding amount at any four-year
institution of higher education or the community and technical college
system as a whole. The state recognizes that each four-year
institution of higher education and the community and technical college
system as a whole have different funding requirements to achieve
desired performance levels, and that increases to the total per-student
funding amount may need to exceed the minimum funding goal.
(3) By September 1st of each year beginning in 2008, the office of
financial management shall report to the governor, the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council, and
appropriate committees of the legislature with updated estimates of the
total per-student funding level that represents the sixtieth percentile
of funding for comparable institutions of higher education in the
global challenge states, and the progress toward that goal that was
made for each of the public institutions of higher education.
(4) As used in this section, "global challenge states" are the top
performing states on the new economy index published by the progressive
policy institute as of July 22, 2007. The new economy index ranks
states on indicators of their potential to compete in the new economy.
At least once every five years, the office of financial management
shall determine if changes to the list of global challenge states are
appropriate. The office of financial management shall report its
findings to the governor and the legislature.
(5) During the 2009-10 and the 2010-11 academic years, institutions
of higher education shall include information on their billing
statements notifying students of tax credits available through the
American opportunity tax credit provided in the American recovery and
reinvestment act of 2009.
Sec. 526 RCW 28B.15.102 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 10 s 6 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) Beginning with the 2011-12 academic year, any four-year
institution of higher education that increases tuition beyond levels
assumed in the omnibus appropriations act is subject to the financial
aid requirements included in this section and shall remain subject to
these requirements through the 2018-19 academic year.
(2) Beginning July 1, 2011, each four-year institution of higher
education that raises tuition beyond levels assumed in the omnibus
appropriations act shall, in a manner consistent with the goal of
enhancing the quality of and access to their institutions, provide
financial aid to offset full-time tuition fees for resident
undergraduate students as follows:
(a) Subtract from the full-time tuition fees an amount that is
equal to the maximum amount of a state need grant award that would be
given to an eligible student with a family income at or below fifty
percent of the state's median family income as determined by the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council;
and
(b) Offset the remainder as follows:
(i) Students with demonstrated need whose family incomes are at or
below fifty percent of the state's median family income shall receive
financial aid equal to one hundred percent of the remainder if an
institution's full-time tuition fees for resident undergraduate
students is five percent or greater of the state's median family income
for a family of four as provided by the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council;
(ii) Students with demonstrated need whose family incomes are
greater than fifty percent and no more than seventy percent of the
state's median family income shall receive financial aid equal to
seventy-five percent of the remainder if an institution's full-time
tuition fees for resident undergraduate students is ten percent or
greater of the state's median family income for a family of four as
provided by the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council;
(iii) Students with demonstrated need whose family incomes exceed
seventy percent and are less than one hundred percent of the state's
median family income shall receive financial aid equal to fifty percent
of the remainder if an institution's full-time tuition fees for
resident undergraduate students is fifteen percent or greater of the
state's median family income for a family of four as provided by the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council;
and
(iv) Students with demonstrated need whose family incomes are at or
exceed one hundred percent and are no more than one hundred twenty-five
percent of the state's median family income shall receive financial aid
equal to twenty-five percent of the remainder if an institution's
full-time tuition fees for resident undergraduate students is twenty
percent or greater of the state's median family income for a family of
four as provided by the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council.
(3) The financial aid required in subsection (2) of this section
shall:
(a) Be reduced by the amount of other financial aid awards, not
including the state need grant;
(b) Be prorated based on credit load; and
(c) Only be provided to students up to demonstrated need.
(4) Financial aid sources and methods may be:
(a) Tuition revenue or locally held funds;
(b) Tuition waivers created by a four-year institution of higher
education for the specific purpose of serving low and middle-income
students; or
(c) Local financial aid programs.
(5) Use of tuition waivers as specified in subsection (4)(b) of
this section shall not be included in determining total state tuition
waiver authority as defined in RCW 28B.15.910.
(6) By August 15, 2012, and August 15th every year thereafter,
four-year institutions of higher education shall report to the governor
and relevant committees of the legislature on the effectiveness of the
various sources and methods of financial aid in mitigating tuition
increases. A key purpose of these reports is to provide information
regarding the results of the decision to grant tuition-setting
authority to the four-year institutions of higher education and whether
tuition setting authority should continue to be granted to the
institutions or revert back to the legislature after consideration of
the impacts on students, including educational access, affordability,
and quality. These reports shall include:
(a) The amount of additional financial aid provided to middle-income and low-income students with demonstrated need in the aggregate
and per student;
(b) An itemization of the sources and methods of financial aid
provided by the four-year institution of higher education in the
aggregate and per student;
(c) An analysis of the combined impact of federal tuition tax
credits and financial aid provided by the institution of higher
education on the net cost to students and their families resulting from
tuition increases;
(d) In cases where tuition increases are greater than those assumed
in the omnibus appropriations act at any four-year institution of
higher education, the institution must include an explanation in its
report of why this increase was necessary and how the institution will
mitigate the effects of the increase. The institution must include in
this section of its report a plan and specific timelines; and
(e) An analysis of changes in resident student enrollment patterns,
participation rates, graduation rates, and debt load, by race and
ethnicity, gender, state and county of origin, age, and socioeconomic
status, and a plan to mitigate effects of reduced diversity due to
tuition increases. This analysis shall include disaggregated data for
resident students in the following income brackets:
(i) Up to seventy percent of the median family income;
(ii) Between seventy-one percent and one hundred twenty-five
percent of the median family income; and
(iii) Above one hundred twenty-five percent of the median family
income.
(7) Beginning in the 2012-13 academic year, the University of
Washington shall enroll during each academic year at least the same
number of resident freshman undergraduate students at the Seattle
campus, as defined in RCW 28B.15.012, as enrolled during the 2009-10
academic year. This requirement shall not apply to nonresident
undergraduate and graduate and professional students.
Sec. 527 RCW 28B.15.460 and 1997 c 5 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) An institution of higher education shall not grant any waivers
for the purpose of achieving gender equity until the 1991-92 academic
year, and may grant waivers for the purpose of achieving gender equity
in intercollegiate athletic programs as authorized in RCW 28B.15.740,
for the 1991-92 academic year only if the institution's governing board
has adopted a plan for complying with the provisions of RCW 28B.15.455
and submitted the plan to the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council.
(2)(a) Beginning in the 1992-93 academic year, an institution of
higher education shall not grant any waiver for the purpose of
achieving gender equity in intercollegiate athletic programs as
authorized in RCW 28B.15.740 unless the institution's plan has been
approved by the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council.
(b) Beginning in the 1999-2000 academic year, an institution that
did not provide, by June 30, 1998, athletic opportunities for an
historically underrepresented gender class at a rate that meets or
exceeds the current rate at which that class participates in high
school athletics in Washington state shall have a new institutional
plan approved by the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council before granting further waivers.
(c) Beginning in the 2003-04 academic year, an institution of
higher education that was not within five percent of the ratio of
undergraduates described in RCW 28B.15.470 by June 30, 2002, shall have
a new plan for achieving gender equity in intercollegiate athletic
programs approved by the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council before granting further waivers.
(3) The plan shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) For any institution with an historically underrepresented
gender class described in subsection (2)(b) of this section, provisions
that ensure that by July 1, 2000, the institution shall provide
athletic opportunities for the underrepresented gender class at a rate
that meets or exceeds the current rate at which that class participates
in high school interscholastic athletics in Washington state not to
exceed the point at which the underrepresented gender class is no
longer underrepresented;
(b) For any institution with an underrepresented gender class
described in subsection (2)(c) of this section, provisions that ensure
that by July 1, 2004, the institution will have reached substantial
proportionality in its athletic program;
(c) Activities to be undertaken by the institution to increase
participation rates of any underrepresented gender class in
interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. These activities may
include, but are not limited to: Sponsoring equity conferences,
coaches clinics and sports clinics; and taking a leadership role in
working with athletic conferences to reduce barriers to participation
by those gender classes in interscholastic and intercollegiate
athletics;
(d) An identification of barriers to achieving and maintaining
equitable intercollegiate athletic opportunities for men and women; and
(e) Measures to achieve institutional compliance with the
provisions of RCW 28B.15.455.
Sec. 528 RCW 28B.15.760 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 155 are each
reenacted and amended to read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout RCW 28B.15.762 and 28B.15.764.
(1) (("Board" means the higher education coordinating board.)) "Borrower" means an eligible student who has received a loan
under RCW 28B.15.762.
(2)
(2) "Council" means the student achievement council.
(3) "Eligible student" means a student registered for at least ten
credit hours or the equivalent and demonstrates achievement of a 3.00
grade point average for each academic year, who is a resident student
as defined by RCW 28B.15.012 through 28B.15.015, who is a "needy
student" as defined in RCW 28B.92.030, and who has a declared major in
a program leading to a degree in teacher education in a field of
science or mathematics, or a certificated teacher who meets the same
credit hour and "needy student" requirements and is seeking an
additional degree in science or mathematics.
(4) "Forgiven" or "to forgive" means to collect service as a
teacher in a field of science or mathematics at a public school in the
state of Washington in lieu of monetary payment.
(5) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a
college or university in the state of Washington which is a member
institution of an accrediting association recognized as such by rule of
the ((higher education coordinating board)) council.
(6) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.
(7) "Public school" means a middle school, junior high school, or
high school within the public school system referred to in Article IX
of the state Constitution.
(8) "Satisfied" means paid-in-full.
Sec. 529 RCW 28B.15.762 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 156 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The ((office)) council may make long-term loans to eligible
students at institutions of higher education from the funds
appropriated to the ((office)) council for this purpose. The amount of
any such loan shall not exceed the demonstrated financial need of the
student or two thousand five hundred dollars for each academic year
whichever is less, and the total amount of such loans to an eligible
student shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. The interest rates and
terms of deferral of such loans shall be consistent with the terms of
the guaranteed loan program established by 20 U.S.C. Sec. 1701 et seq.
The period for repaying the loan principal and interest shall be ten
years with payments accruing quarterly commencing nine months from the
date the borrower graduated. The entire principal and interest of each
loan payment shall be forgiven for each payment period in which the
borrower teaches science or mathematics in a public school in this
state until the entire loan is satisfied or the borrower ceases to
teach science or mathematics at a public school in this state. Should
the borrower cease to teach science or mathematics at a public school
in this state before the time in which the principal and interest on
the loan are satisfied, payments on the unsatisfied portion of the
principal and interest on the loan shall begin the next payment period
and continue until the remainder of the loan is paid.
(2) The ((office)) council is responsible for collection of loans
made under subsection (1) of this section and shall exercise due
diligence in such collection, maintaining all necessary records to
insure that maximum repayments are made. Collection and servicing of
loans under subsection (1) of this section shall be pursued using the
full extent of the law, including wage garnishment if necessary, and
shall be performed by entities approved for such servicing by the
Washington student loan guaranty association or its successor agency.
The ((board)) council is responsible to forgive all or parts of such
loans under the criteria established in subsection (1) of this section
and shall maintain all necessary records of forgiven payments.
(3) Receipts from the payment of principal or interest or any other
subsidies to which the ((board)) council as lender is entitled, which
are paid by or on behalf of borrowers under subsection (1) of this
section, shall be deposited with the office and shall be used to cover
the costs of making the loans under subsection (1) of this section,
maintaining necessary records, and making collections under subsection
(2) of this section. The office shall maintain accurate records of
these costs, and all receipts beyond those necessary to pay such costs
shall be used to make loans to eligible students.
(4) Any funds not used to make loans, or to cover the cost of
making loans or making collections, shall be placed in the state
educational trust fund for needy or disadvantaged students.
(5) The ((office)) council shall adopt necessary rules to implement
this section.
Sec. 530 RCW 28B.30.515 and 2011 c 321 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The legislature finds that access to baccalaureate and graduate
degree programs continues to be limited for residents of north
Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties. Studies conducted by the state
board for community and technical colleges, the higher education
coordinating board, and the council of presidents confirm that
enrollment in higher education compared to demand in this geographic
region lags behind enrollment in other parts of the state, particularly
for upper-division courses leading to advanced degrees.
(2) The legislature also finds that access to high employer demand
programs of study is imperative for the state's global competitiveness
and economic prosperity, particularly those degrees in the science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields that align with
the workforce skill demands of the regional economy, that support the
aerospace industry, and provide skilled undergraduate and
graduate-degree engineers required by the largest employers in the
aerospace industry cluster.
(3) The legislature finds that meeting the long-range goal of
greatly expanded access for the population of the region to the widest
array of baccalaureate and graduate programs can best be accomplished
by assigning responsibility to a research university with multiple
experiences in similar settings.
(4) Management and leadership of the University Center of North
Puget Sound is assigned to Washington State University to meet the
needs of the Everett metropolitan area and the north Snohomish, Island,
and Skagit county region and the state of Washington for baccalaureate
and graduate degrees offered by a state university. The chief
executive officer of the University Center of North Puget Sound is the
director who reports to the president of Washington State University.
The director shall manage the activities and logistics of operating the
center, make policy and planning recommendations to the council in
subsection (5) of this section, and implement decisions of the council.
(5)(a) Washington State University and Everett Community College
must collaborate with community leaders, and other four-year
institutions of higher education that offer programs at the University
Center of North Puget Sound to serve the varied interests of students
in the region. To this end, a coordinating and planning council must
be established to be responsible for long-range and strategic planning,
interinstitutional collaboration, collaboration with the community
served, and dispute resolution for the center. The following
individuals shall comprise the coordinating and planning council:
(i) The president of Washington State University, or his or her
designee;
(ii) The provost of Washington State University, or his or her
designee;
(iii) The president of Everett Community College;
(iv) Two representatives of two other institutions of higher
education that offer baccalaureate or graduate degree programs at the
center;
(v) A student enrolled at the University Center of North Puget
Sound appointed by the coordinating and planning council;
(vi) The director of the council, as the nonvoting chair;
(vii) A community leader appointed by the president of Everett
Community College; and
(viii) A community leader appointed by the mayor of Everett.
(b) The coordinating and planning council may appoint other groups,
as appropriate, to advise on administration and operations, and may
alter its own composition by agreement of all the members.
(6)(a) Washington State University shall assume leadership of the
center upon completion and approval by the legislature as provided
under (d) of this subsection of a strategic plan for meeting the
academic needs of the region and successful establishment of an
engineering degree program. The strategic plan must build on the
strengths of the institutions, reflecting each institution's mission,
in order to provide the region with the highest standard of educational
programs, research, and service to the community. The strategic plan
must include a multibiennium budget that addresses both operating and
capital expenses required to effectively implement the plan. The
strategic plan shall be developed with the collaboration of the
University Center at Everett Community College and all the institutions
of higher education that provide baccalaureate degrees at the
University Center, and community leaders.
(b) Center partners must implement the strategic plan with careful
attention to the academic and professional standards established and
maintained by each institution and by the appropriate accrediting
bodies, and to the historic role of each institution's governing board
in setting policy.
(c) The strategic plan must address expansion of the range and
depth of educational opportunities in the region and include strategies
that:
(i) Build upon baccalaureate and graduate degree offerings at the
center;
(ii) Meet projected student enrollment demands for baccalaureate,
graduate, and certificate programs in the region;
(iii) Meet employers' needs for skilled workers by expanding high
employer demand programs of study as defined in RCW 28B.50.030, with an
initial and ongoing emphasis by Washington State University on
undergraduate and graduate science, technology, mathematics, and
engineering degree programs, including a variety of engineering
disciplines such as civil, mechanical, aeronautical, and aerospace
manufacturing;
(iv) Coordinate delivery of lower and upper division courses to
maximize student opportunities and resources; and
(v) Transfer budget support and resources for the center from
Everett Community College to Washington State University.
(d) The strategic plan must be completed by December 1, 2012, and
submitted to the legislature for review. The strategic plan shall be
considered approved if the legislature does not take further action on
the strategic plan during the 2013 legislative session. The transfer
of the responsibility for the management and operation of the
University Center of North Puget Sound to Washington State University
must occur by July 1, 2014.
(7)(a) Academic programming and delivery at the center must be
developed in accordance with the missions of Washington State
University, Everett Community College, and other institutions of higher
education that have a presence at the center.
(b) Each institution shall abide by the guidelines for university
centers adopted by the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council.
(c) Each institution shall award all degrees and certificates
granted in the programs it delivers at the center.
(d) The coordinating council described in subsection (5) of this
section shall establish a process for prioritizing new programs and
revising existing programs that facilitates timeliness of new
offerings, recognizes the internal processes of the proposing
institutions, and addresses each proposal's fit with the needs of the
region.
(8)(a) Washington State University shall review center expansion
needs and consider capital facilities funding at least annually.
Washington State University and Everett Community College must
cooperate in preparing funding requests and bond financing for
submission to the legislature on behalf of development at the center,
in accordance with each institution's process and priorities for
advancing legislative requests.
(b) Washington State University shall design, construct, and manage
any facility developed at the center. Any facility developed at the
center with Everett Community College capital funding must be designed
by Everett Community College in consultation with Washington State
University. Building construction may be managed by Washington State
University via an interagency agreement which details responsibility
and associated costs. Building operations and management for all
facilities at the center must be governed by the infrastructure and
operating cost allocation method described in subsection (9) of this
section.
(9) Washington State University has responsibility for
infrastructure development and maintenance for the center. All
infrastructure operating and maintenance costs are to be shared in what
is deemed to be an equitable and fair manner based on space allocation,
special cost, and other relevant considerations. Washington State
University may make infrastructure development and maintenance
decisions in consultation with the council described in subsection (5)
of this section.
(10) In the event that conflict cannot be resolved through the
coordinating council described in subsection (5) of this section the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council
dispute resolution must be employed.
Sec. 531 RCW 28B.45.014 and 2011 c 208 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The primary mission of the higher education branch campuses
created under this chapter remains to expand access to baccalaureate
and graduate education in underserved urban areas of the state in
collaboration with community and technical colleges. The top priority
for each of the campuses is to expand courses and degree programs for
transfer and graduate students. New degree programs should be driven
by the educational needs and demands of students and the community, as
well as the economic development needs of local businesses and
employers.
(2) Branch campuses shall collaborate with the community and
technical colleges in their region to develop articulation agreements,
dual admissions policies, and other partnerships to ensure that branch
campuses serve as innovative models of a two plus two educational
system. Other possibilities for collaboration include but are not
limited to joint development of curricula and degree programs,
colocation of instruction, and arrangements to share faculty.
(3) In communities where a private postsecondary institution is
located, representatives of the private institution may be invited to
participate in the conversation about meeting the baccalaureate and
graduate needs in underserved urban areas of the state.
(4) However, the legislature recognizes there are alternative
models for achieving this primary mission. Some campuses may have
additional missions in response to regional needs and demands. At
selected branch campuses, an innovative combination of instruction and
research targeted to support regional economic development may be
appropriate to meet the region's needs for both access and economic
viability. Other campuses should focus on becoming models of a two
plus two educational system through continuous improvement of
partnerships and agreements with community and technical colleges.
Still other campuses may be best suited to transition to a four-year
university or be removed from designation as a branch campus entirely.
(5) The legislature recognizes that size, mix of degree programs,
and proportion of lower versus upper division and graduate enrollments
are factors that affect costs at branch campuses. However over time,
the legislature intends that branch campuses be funded more similarly
to regional universities.
(6) ((Subject to approval by the higher education coordinating
board, in accordance with RCW 28B.76.230,)) Research universities are
authorized to develop doctoral degree programs at their branch
campuses.
(7) The ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council shall monitor and evaluate growth of the branch campuses and
periodically report and make recommendations to the higher education
committees of the legislature to ensure the campuses continue to follow
the priorities established under this chapter.
Sec. 532 RCW 28B.45.020 and 2005 c 258 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The University of Washington is responsible for ensuring the
expansion of baccalaureate and graduate educational programs in the
central Puget Sound area under rules or guidelines adopted by the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council and
in accordance with proportionality agreements emphasizing access for
transfer students developed with the state board for community and
technical colleges. 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 collocated with Cascadia Community College in the
Bothell-Woodinville area.
(2) At the University of Washington Tacoma, a top priority is
expansion of upper division capacity for transfer students and graduate
capacity and programs. Beginning in the fall of 2006, the campus may
offer lower division courses linked to specific majors in fields not
addressed at local community colleges. The campus shall admit lower
division students through coadmission or coenrollment agreements with
a community college, or through direct transfer for students who have
accumulated approximately one year of transferable college credits. In
addition to offering lower division courses linked to specific majors
as addressed above, the campus may also directly admit freshmen and
sophomores ((gradually and deliberately in accordance with the campus
plan submitted to the higher education coordinating board in 2004)).
(3) At the University of Washington Bothell, a top priority is
expansion of upper division capacity for transfer students and graduate
capacity and programs. The campus shall also seek additional
opportunities to collaborate with and maximize its ((collocation
[colocation])) colocation with Cascadia Community College. Beginning
in the fall of 2006, the campus may offer lower division courses linked
to specific majors in fields not addressed at local community colleges.
The campus may admit lower division students through coadmission or
coenrollment agreements with a community college, or through direct
transfer for students who have accumulated approximately one year of
transferable college credits. In addition to offering lower division
courses linked to specific majors as addressed above, the campus may
also directly admit freshmen and sophomores ((gradually and
deliberately in accordance with the campus plan submitted to the higher
education coordinating board in 2004)).
Sec. 533 RCW 28B.45.030 and 2006 c 166 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Washington State University is responsible for providing
baccalaureate 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)) student achievement council
and in accordance with proportionality agreements emphasizing access
for transfer students developed with the state board for community and
technical colleges. Washington State University shall meet that
responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the Tri-Cities area. The branch campus shall replace and supersede the Tri-Cities university center. All land, facilities, equipment, and
personnel of the Tri-Cities university center shall be transferred from
the University of Washington to Washington State University.
(2) ((In 2005, the legislature authorized the expansion on a
limited basis of Washington State University's branch campus in the
Tri-Cities area. The legislature authorized the Tri-Cities branch
campus to continue providing innovative coadmission and coenrollment
options with Columbia Basin College, and to expand its upper-division
capacity for transfer students and graduate capacity and programs. The
branch campus was given authority beginning in fall 2006 to offer
lower-division courses linked to specific majors in fields not
addressed at the local community colleges. The campus was also
authorized to directly admit freshmen and sophomores for a bachelor's
degree program in biotechnology subject to approval by the higher
education coordinating board. The legislature finds that the Tri-Cities community is very engaged in and committed to exploring the
further expansion of Washington State University Tri-Cities branch
campus into a four-year institution and considers this issue to be a
top priority for the larger Tri-Cities region.)) Beginning in the fall of 2007, the Washington State
University Tri-Cities branch campus may ((
(3) Washington State University Tri-Cities shall continue providing
innovative coadmission and coenrollment options with Columbia Basin
College, and expand its upper division capacity for transfer students
and graduate capacity and programs. The campus shall also seek
additional opportunities to collaborate with the Pacific Northwest
national laboratory. Beginning in the fall of 2006, the campus may
offer lower division courses linked to specific majors in fields not
addressed at local community colleges. The campus may admit lower
division students through coadmission or coenrollment agreements with
a community college, or through direct transfer for students who have
accumulated approximately one year of transferable college credits. In
addition to offering lower division courses linked to specific majors
as addressed above, the campus may also directly admit freshmen and
sophomores for a bachelor's degree program in biotechnology subject to
approval by the higher education coordinating board.
(4) The Washington State University Tri-Cities branch campus shall
develop a plan for expanding into a four-year institution and shall
identify new degree programs and course offerings focused on areas of
specific need in higher education that exist in southeastern
Washington. The branch campus's plan should examine the resources and
talent available in the Tri-Cities area, including but not limited to
resources and talent available at the Pacific Northwest national
laboratory, and how these resources and talent may best be used by the
Tri-Cities branch campus to expand into a four-year institution. The
branch campus shall submit its plan to the legislature and the higher
education coordinating board by November 30, 2006.
(5)begin, subject to approval by
the higher education coordinating board, admitting lower-division
students directly into programs beyond the biotechnology field that are
identified in its plan as being in high need in southeastern
Washington. Such fields may include but need not be limited to
science, engineering and technology, biomedical sciences, alternative
energy, and computational and information sciences. By gradually and
deliberately admitting freshmen and sophomores in accordance with its
plan, increasing transfer enrollment, and coadmitting transfer
students, the campus shall develop into a four-year institution serving
the southeastern Washington region)) directly admit freshman and
sophomore students.
Sec. 534 RCW 28B.45.040 and 2005 c 258 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Washington State University is responsible for providing
baccalaureate and graduate level higher education programs to the
citizens of the southwest Washington area, under rules or guidelines
adopted by the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council and in accordance with proportionality agreements
emphasizing access for transfer students developed with the state board
for community and technical colleges. Washington State University
shall meet that responsibility through the operation of a branch campus
in the southwest Washington area.
(2) Washington State University Vancouver shall expand upper
division capacity for transfer students and graduate capacity and
programs and continue to collaborate with local community colleges on
coadmission and coenrollment programs. In addition, beginning in the
fall of 2006, the campus may admit lower division students directly.
By simultaneously admitting freshmen and sophomores, increasing
transfer enrollment, coadmitting transfer students, and expanding
graduate and professional programs, the campus shall develop into a
four-year institution serving the southwest Washington region.
Sec. 535 RCW 28B.45.080 and 2004 c 57 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((higher education coordinating board)) state board for
community and technical colleges and the student achievement council
shall adopt performance measures to ensure a collaborative partnership
between the community and technical colleges and the branch campuses.
The partnership shall be one in which the community and technical
colleges prepare students for transfer to the upper-division programs
of the branch campuses and the branch campuses work with community and
technical colleges to enable students to transfer and obtain degrees
efficiently.
Sec. 536 RCW 28B.50.030 and 2009 c 353 s 1, 2009 c 151 s 3, and
2009 c 64 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Adult education" means all education or instruction, including
academic, vocational education or training, basic skills and literacy
training, and "occupational education" provided by public educational
institutions, including common school districts for persons who are
eighteen years of age and over or who hold a high school diploma or
certificate. However, "adult education" shall not include academic
education or instruction for persons under twenty-one years of age who
do not hold a high school degree or diploma and who are attending a
public high school for the sole purpose of obtaining a high school
diploma or certificate, nor shall "adult education" include education
or instruction provided by any four-year public institution of higher
education.
(2) "Applied baccalaureate degree" means a baccalaureate degree
awarded by a college under RCW 28B.50.810 for successful completion of
a program of study that is:
(a) Specifically designed for individuals who hold an associate of
applied science degree, or its equivalent, in order to maximize
application of their technical course credits toward the baccalaureate
degree; and
(b) Based on a curriculum that incorporates both theoretical and
applied knowledge and skills in a specific technical field.
(3) "Board" means the workforce training and education coordinating
board.
(4) "Board of trustees" means the local community and technical
college board of trustees established for each college district within
the state.
(5) "Center of excellence" means a community or technical college
designated by the college board as a statewide leader in
industry-specific, community and technical college workforce education
and training.
(6) "College board" means the state board for community and
technical colleges created by this chapter.
(7) "Common school board" means a public school district board of
directors.
(8) "Community college" includes those higher education
institutions that conduct education programs under RCW 28B.50.020.
(9) "Director" means the administrative director for the state
system of community and technical colleges.
(10) "Dislocated forest product worker" means a forest products
worker who: (a)(i) Has been terminated or received notice of
termination from employment and is unlikely to return to employment in
the individual's principal occupation or previous industry because of
a diminishing demand for his or her skills in that occupation or
industry; or (ii) is self-employed and has been displaced from his or
her business because of the diminishing demand for the business'
services or goods; and (b) at the time of last separation from
employment, resided in or was employed in a rural natural resources
impact area.
(11) "Dislocated salmon fishing worker" means a finfish products
worker who: (a)(i) Has been terminated or received notice of
termination from employment and is unlikely to return to employment in
the individual's principal occupation or previous industry because of
a diminishing demand for his or her skills in that occupation or
industry; or (ii) is self-employed and has been displaced from his or
her business because of the diminishing demand for the business's
services or goods; and (b) at the time of last separation from
employment, resided in or was employed in a rural natural resources
impact area.
(12) "District" means any one of the community and technical
college districts created by this chapter.
(13) "Forest products worker" means a worker in the forest products
industries affected by the reduction of forest fiber enhancement,
transportation, or production. The workers included within this
definition shall be determined by the employment security department,
but shall include workers employed in the industries assigned the major
group standard industrial classification codes "24" and "26" and the
industries involved in the harvesting and management of logs,
transportation of logs and wood products, processing of wood products,
and the manufacturing and distribution of wood processing and logging
equipment. The commissioner may adopt rules further interpreting these
definitions. For the purposes of this subsection, "standard industrial
classification code" means the code identified in RCW 50.29.025(3).
(14) "High employer demand program of study" means an
apprenticeship, or an undergraduate or graduate certificate or degree
program in which the number of students prepared for employment per
year from in-state institutions is substantially less than the number
of projected job openings per year in that field, statewide or in a
substate region.
(15) "K-12 system" means the public school program including
kindergarten through the twelfth grade.
(16) "Occupational education" means education or training that will
prepare a student for employment that does not require a baccalaureate
degree, and education and training that will prepare a student for
transfer to bachelor's degrees in professional fields, subject to rules
adopted by the college board.
(17) "Qualified institutions of higher education" means:
(a) Washington public community and technical colleges;
(b) Private career schools that are members of an accrediting
association recognized by rule of the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council for the purposes of chapter 28B.92
RCW; and
(c) Washington state apprenticeship and training council-approved
apprenticeship programs.
(18) "Rural natural resources impact area" means:
(a) A nonmetropolitan county, as defined by the 1990 decennial
census, that meets three of the five criteria set forth in subsection
(19) of this section;
(b) A nonmetropolitan county with a population of less than forty
thousand in the 1990 decennial census, that meets two of the five
criteria as set forth in subsection (19) of this section; or
(c) A nonurbanized area, as defined by the 1990 decennial census,
that is located in a metropolitan county that meets three of the five
criteria set forth in subsection (19) of this section.
(19) For the purposes of designating rural natural resources impact
areas, the following criteria shall be considered:
(a) A lumber and wood products employment location quotient at or
above the state average;
(b) A commercial salmon fishing employment location quotient at or
above the state average;
(c) Projected or actual direct lumber and wood products job losses
of one hundred positions or more;
(d) Projected or actual direct commercial salmon fishing job losses
of one hundred positions or more; and
(e) An unemployment rate twenty percent or more above the state
average. The counties that meet these criteria shall be determined by
the employment security department for the most recent year for which
data is available. For the purposes of administration of programs
under this chapter, the United States post office five-digit zip code
delivery areas will be used to determine residence status for
eligibility purposes. For the purpose of this definition, a zip code
delivery area of which any part is ten miles or more from an urbanized
area is considered nonurbanized. A zip code totally surrounded by zip
codes qualifying as nonurbanized under this definition is also
considered nonurbanized. The office of financial management shall make
available a zip code listing of the areas to all agencies and
organizations providing services under this chapter.
(20) "Salmon fishing worker" means a worker in the finfish industry
affected by 1994 or future salmon disasters. The workers included
within this definition shall be determined by the employment security
department, but shall include workers employed in the industries
involved in the commercial and recreational harvesting of finfish
including buying and processing finfish. The commissioner may adopt
rules further interpreting these definitions.
(21) "System" means the state system of community and technical
colleges, which shall be a system of higher education.
(22) "Technical college" includes those higher education
institutions with the mission of conducting occupational education,
basic skills, literacy programs, and offering on short notice, when
appropriate, programs that meet specific industry needs. For purposes
of this chapter, technical colleges shall include Lake Washington
Vocational-Technical Institute, Renton Vocational-Technical Institute,
Bates Vocational-Technical Institute, Clover Park Vocational Institute,
and Bellingham Vocational-Technical Institute.
Sec. 537 RCW 28B.50.140 and 2010 c 51 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
Each board of trustees:
(1) Shall operate all existing community and technical colleges in
its district;
(2) Shall create comprehensive programs of community and technical
college education and training and maintain an open-door policy in
accordance with the provisions of RCW 28B.50.090(3);
(3) Shall employ for a period to be fixed by the board a college
president for each community and technical college and, may appoint a
president for the district, and fix their duties and compensation,
which may include elements other than salary. Compensation under this
subsection shall not affect but may supplement retirement, health care,
and other benefits that are otherwise applicable to the presidents as
state employees. The board shall also employ for a period to be fixed
by the board members of the faculty and such other administrative
officers and other employees as may be necessary or appropriate and fix
their salaries and duties. Compensation and salary increases under
this subsection shall not exceed the amount or percentage established
for those purposes in the state appropriations act by the legislature
as allocated to the board of trustees by the state board for community
and technical colleges. The state board for community and technical
colleges shall adopt rules defining the permissible elements of
compensation under this subsection;
(4) May establish, ((under the approval and direction of the
college board)) in accordance with RCW 28B.76.230 (as recodified by
this act), new facilities as community needs and interests demand.
However, the authority of boards of trustees to purchase or lease major
off-campus facilities shall be subject to the approval of the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council pursuant to
RCW 28B.76.230 (as recodified by this act);
(5) May establish or lease, operate, equip and maintain
dormitories, food service facilities, bookstores and other self-supporting facilities connected with the operation of the community and
technical college;
(6) May, with the approval of the college board, borrow money and
issue and sell revenue bonds or other evidences of indebtedness for the
construction, reconstruction, erection, equipping with permanent
fixtures, demolition and major alteration of buildings or other capital
assets, and the acquisition of sites, rights-of-way, easements,
improvements or appurtenances, for dormitories, food service
facilities, and other self-supporting facilities connected with the
operation of the community and technical college in accordance with the
provisions of RCW 28B.10.300 through 28B.10.330 where applicable;
(7) May establish fees and charges for the facilities authorized
hereunder, including reasonable rules and regulations for the
government thereof, not inconsistent with the rules of the college
board; each board of trustees operating a community and technical
college may enter into agreements, subject to rules of the college
board, with owners of facilities to be used for housing regarding the
management, operation, and government of such facilities, and any board
entering into such an agreement may:
(a) Make rules for the government, management and operation of such
housing facilities deemed necessary or advisable; and
(b) Employ necessary employees to govern, manage and operate the
same;
(8) May receive such gifts, grants, conveyances, devises and
bequests of real or personal property from private sources, as may be
made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, whenever the terms and
conditions thereof will aid in carrying out the community and technical
college programs as specified by law and the rules of the state college
board; sell, lease or exchange, invest or expend the same or the
proceeds, rents, profits and income thereof according to the terms and
conditions thereof; and adopt rules to govern the receipt and
expenditure of the proceeds, rents, profits and income thereof;
(9) May establish and maintain night schools whenever in the
discretion of the board of trustees it is deemed advisable, and
authorize classrooms and other facilities to be used for summer or
night schools, or for public meetings and for any other uses consistent
with the use of such classrooms or facilities for community and
technical college purposes;
(10) May make rules for pedestrian and vehicular traffic on
property owned, operated, or maintained by the district;
(11) Shall prescribe, with the assistance of the faculty, the
course of study in the various departments of the community and
technical college or colleges under its control, and publish such
catalogues and bulletins as may become necessary;
(12) May grant to every student, upon graduation or completion of
a course of study, a suitable diploma, degree, or certificate under the
rules of the state board for community and technical colleges that are
appropriate to their mission. The purposes of these diplomas,
certificates, and degrees are to lead individuals directly to
employment in a specific occupation or prepare individuals for a
bachelor's degree or beyond. Technical colleges may only offer
transfer degrees that prepare students for bachelor's degrees in
professional fields, subject to rules adopted by the college board. In
adopting rules, the college board, where possible, shall create
consistency between community and technical colleges and may address
issues related to tuition and fee rates; tuition waivers; enrollment
counting, including the use of credits instead of clock hours; degree
granting authority; or any other rules necessary to offer the associate
degrees that prepare students for transfer to bachelor's degrees in
professional areas. Only ((pilot)) colleges under RCW 28B.50.810 may
award baccalaureate degrees. The board, upon recommendation of the
faculty, may also confer honorary associate of arts degrees upon
persons other than graduates of the community college, in recognition
of their learning or devotion to education, literature, art, or
science. No degree may be conferred in consideration of the payment of
money or the donation of any kind of property;
(13) Shall enforce the rules prescribed by the state board for
community and technical colleges for the government of community and
technical colleges, students and teachers, and adopt such rules and
perform all other acts not inconsistent with law or rules of the state
board for community and technical colleges as the board of trustees may
in its discretion deem necessary or appropriate to the administration
of college districts: PROVIDED, That such rules shall include, but not
be limited to, rules relating to housing, scholarships, conduct at the
various community and technical college facilities, and discipline:
PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the board of trustees may suspend or expel from
community and technical colleges students who refuse to obey any of the
duly adopted rules;
(14) May, by written order filed in its office, delegate to the
president or district president any of the powers and duties vested in
or imposed upon it by this chapter. Such delegated powers and duties
may be exercised in the name of the district board;
(15) May perform such other activities consistent with this chapter
and not in conflict with the directives of the college board;
(16) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, may offer
educational services on a contractual basis other than the tuition and
fee basis set forth in chapter 28B.15 RCW for a special fee to private
or governmental entities, consistent with rules adopted by the state
board for community and technical colleges: PROVIDED, That the whole
of such special fee shall go to the college district and be not less
than the full instructional costs of such services including any salary
increases authorized by the legislature for community and technical
college employees during the term of the agreement: PROVIDED FURTHER,
That enrollments generated hereunder shall not be counted toward the
official enrollment level of the college district for state funding
purposes;
(17) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, may offer
educational services on a contractual basis, charging tuition and fees
as set forth in chapter 28B.15 RCW, counting such enrollments for state
funding purposes, and may additionally charge a special supplemental
fee when necessary to cover the full instructional costs of such
services: PROVIDED, That such contracts shall be subject to review by
the state board for community and technical colleges and to such rules
as the state board may adopt for that purpose in order to assure that
the sum of the supplemental fee and the normal state funding shall not
exceed the projected total cost of offering the educational service:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That enrollments generated by courses offered on the
basis of contracts requiring payment of a share of the normal costs of
the course will be discounted to the percentage provided by the
college;
(18) Shall be authorized to pay dues to any association of trustees
that may be formed by the various boards of trustees; such association
may expend any or all of such funds to submit biennially, or more often
if necessary, to the governor and to the legislature, the
recommendations of the association regarding changes which would affect
the efficiency of such association;
(19) May participate in higher education centers and consortia that
involve any four-year public or independent college or university((:
PROVIDED, That new degree programs or off-campus programs offered by a
four-year public or independent college or university in collaboration
with a community or technical college are subject to approval by the
higher education coordinating board under)) in accordance with RCW
28B.76.230 (as recodified by this act);
(20) Shall perform any other duties and responsibilities imposed by
law or rule of the state board; and
(21) May confer honorary associate of arts degrees upon persons who
request an honorary degree if they were students at the college in 1942
and did not graduate because they were ordered into an internment camp.
The honorary degree may also be requested by a representative of
deceased persons who meet these requirements. For the purposes of this
subsection, "internment camp" means a relocation center to which
persons were ordered evacuated by Presidential Executive Order 9066,
signed on February 19, 1942.
Sec. 538 RCW 28B.50.820 and 2005 c 258 s 12 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) One strategy to accomplish expansion of baccalaureate capacity
in underserved regions of the state is to allocate state funds for
student enrollment to a community and technical college and authorize
the college to enter into agreements with a state university, regional
university, or state college as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 ((or a branch
campus under chapter 28B.45 RCW)), to offer baccalaureate degree
programs.
(2) Subject to legislative appropriation for the purpose described
in this section, the college board shall select and allocate funds to
three community or technical colleges for the purpose of entering into
an agreement with one or more state universities, regional
universities, ((branch campuses,)) or the state college to offer
baccalaureate degree programs on the college campus.
(3) The college board shall select the community or technical
college based on analysis of gaps in service delivery, capacity, and
student and employer demand for programs. Before taking effect, the
agreement under this section must be approved by the ((higher education
coordinating board)) student achievement council.
(4) Students enrolled in programs under this section are considered
students of the state university, regional university, branch campus,
or state college for all purposes including tuition and reporting of
state-funded enrollments.
Sec. 539 RCW 28B.65.040 and 1995 c 399 s 29 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The Washington high-technology coordinating board is hereby
created.
(2) The board shall be composed of eighteen members as follows:
(a) Eleven shall be citizen members appointed by the governor, with
the consent of the senate, for four-year terms. In making the
appointments the governor shall ensure that a balanced geographic
representation of the state is achieved and shall attempt to choose
persons experienced in high-technology fields, including at least one
representative of labor. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring before a term expires shall be appointed only for the
remainder of that term; and
(b) Seven of the members shall be as follows: One representative
from each of the state's two research universities, one representative
of the state college and regional universities, the director for the
state system of community and technical colleges or the director's
designee, the superintendent of public instruction or the
superintendent's designee, ((a representative of the higher education
coordinating board)) the executive director of the student achievement
council, or the executive director's designee, and the director of the
department of ((community, trade, and economic development)) commerce
or the director's designee.
(3) Members of the board shall not receive any salary for their
services, but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses under RCW
43.03.050 and 43.03.060 for each day actually spent in attending to
duties as a member of the board.
(4) A citizen member of the board shall not be, during the term of
office, a member of the governing board of any public or private
educational institution, or an employee of any state or local agency.
Sec. 540 RCW 28B.65.050 and 1998 c 245 s 22 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The board shall oversee, coordinate, and evaluate the high-technology programs.
(2) The board shall:
(a) Determine the specific high-technology occupational fields in
which technical training is needed and advise the institutions of
higher education and the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council on their findings;
(b) Identify economic areas and high-technology industries in need
of technical training and research and development critical to economic
development and advise the institutions of higher education and the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council on
their findings;
(c) Oversee and coordinate the Washington high-technology education
and training program to ensure high standards, efficiency, and
effectiveness;
(d) Work cooperatively with the superintendent of public
instruction to identify the skills prerequisite to the high-technology
programs in the institutions of higher education;
(e) ((Work cooperatively with and provide any information or advice
which may be requested by the higher education coordinating board
during the board's review of new baccalaureate degree program proposals
which are submitted under this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall
be construed as altering or superseding the powers or prerogatives of
the higher education coordinating board over the review of new degree
programs as established in section 6(2) of this 1985 act;)) Work cooperatively with the department of ((
(f)community, trade,
and economic development)) commerce to identify the high-technology
education and training needs of existing Washington businesses and
businesses with the potential to locate in Washington;
(((g))) (f) Work towards increasing private sector participation
and contributions in Washington high-technology programs;
(((h))) (g) Identify and evaluate the effectiveness of state
sponsored research related to high technology; and
(((i))) (h) Establish and maintain a plan, including priorities, to
guide high-technology program development in public institutions of
higher education, which plan shall include an assessment of current
high-technology programs, steps to increase existing programs, new
initiatives and programs necessary to promote high technology, and
methods to coordinate and target high-technology programs to changing
market opportunities in business and industry.
(3) The board may adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW as it deems
necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(4) The board shall cease to exist on June 30, 1987, unless
extended by law for an additional fixed period of time.
Sec. 541 RCW 28B.76.250 and 2004 c 55 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The ((higher education coordinating board)) council must
convene work groups to develop transfer associate degrees that will
satisfy lower division requirements at public four-year institutions of
higher education for specific academic majors. Work groups must
include representatives from the state board for community and
technical colleges and the council of presidents, as well as faculty
from two and four-year institutions. Work groups may include
representatives from independent four-year institutions.
(2) Each transfer associate degree developed under this section
must enable a student to complete the lower-division courses or
competencies for general education requirements and preparation for the
major that a direct-entry student would typically complete in the
freshman and sophomore years for that academic major.
(3) Completion of a transfer associate degree does not guarantee a
student admission into an institution of higher education or admission
into a major, minor, or professional program at an institution of
higher education that has competitive admission standards for the
program based on grade point average or other performance criteria.
(4) During the 2004-05 academic year, the work groups must develop
transfer degrees for elementary education, engineering, and nursing.
((Each year thereafter, the higher education coordinating board)) As
necessary based on demand or identified need, the council must convene
additional groups to identify and develop additional transfer degrees.
The ((board)) council must give priority to majors in high demand by
transfer students and majors that the general direct transfer agreement
associate degree does not adequately prepare students to enter
automatically upon transfer.
(5) The ((higher education coordinating board)) council, in
collaboration with the intercollege relations commission, must collect
and maintain lists of courses offered by each community and technical
college and public four-year institution of higher education that fall
within each transfer associate degree.
(6) The ((higher education coordinating board)) council must
monitor implementation of transfer associate degrees by public four-year institutions to ensure compliance with subsection (2) of this
section.
(7) Beginning January 10, 2005, the ((higher education coordinating
board)) council must submit a progress report on the development of
transfer associate degrees to the higher education committees of the
house of representatives and the senate. The first progress report
must include measurable benchmark indicators to monitor the
effectiveness of the initiatives in improving transfer and baseline
data for those indicators before the implementation of the initiatives.
Subsequent reports must be submitted by January 10 of each odd-numbered
year and must monitor progress on the indicators, describe development
of additional transfer associate degrees, and provide other data on
improvements in transfer efficiency.
Sec. 542 RCW 28B.85.010 and 1986 c 136 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout this chapter:
(1) (("Board")) "Council" means the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council.
(2) "Degree" means any designation, appellation, letters, or words
including but not limited to "associate," "bachelor," "master,"
"doctor," or "fellow" which signify or purport to signify satisfactory
completion of the requirements of an academic program of study beyond
the secondary school level.
(3) "Degree-granting institution" means an entity that offers
educational credentials, instruction, or services prerequisite to or
indicative of an academic or professional degree beyond the secondary
level.
Sec. 543 RCW 28B.85.020 and 2006 c 234 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The ((board)) council:
(a) Shall adopt by rule, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW,
minimum standards for degree-granting institutions concerning granting
of degrees, quality of education, unfair business practices, financial
stability, and other necessary measures to protect citizens of this
state against substandard, fraudulent, or deceptive practices. The
rules shall require that an institution operating in Washington:
(i) Be accredited;
(ii) Have applied for accreditation and such application is pending
before the accrediting agency;
(iii) Have been granted a waiver by the ((board)) council waiving
the requirement of accreditation; or
(iv) Have been granted an exemption by the ((board)) council from
the requirements of this subsection (1)(a);
(b) May investigate any entity the ((board)) council reasonably
believes to be subject to the jurisdiction of this chapter. In
connection with the investigation, the ((board)) council may administer
oaths and affirmations, issue subpoenas and compel attendance, take
evidence, and require the production of any books, papers,
correspondence, memorandums, or other records which the ((board))
council deems relevant or material to the investigation. The ((board))
council, including its staff and any other authorized persons, may
conduct site inspections, the cost of which shall be borne by the
institution, and examine records of all institutions subject to this
chapter;
(c) Shall develop an interagency agreement with the workforce
training and education coordinating board to regulate degree-granting
private vocational schools with respect to degree and nondegree
programs; and
(d) Shall develop and disseminate information to the public about
entities that sell or award degrees without requiring appropriate
academic achievement at the postsecondary level, including but not
limited to, a description of the substandard and potentially fraudulent
practices of these entities, and advice about how the public can
recognize and avoid the entities. To the extent feasible, the
information shall include links to additional resources that may assist
the public in identifying specific institutions offering substandard or
fraudulent degree programs.
(2) Financial disclosures provided to the ((board)) council by
degree-granting private vocational schools are not subject to public
disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW.
Sec. 544 RCW 28B.85.030 and 2003 c 53 s 175 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) A degree-granting institution shall not operate and shall not
grant or offer to grant any degree unless the institution has obtained
current authorization from the ((board)) council.
(2) Any person, group, or entity or any owner, officer, agent, or
employee of such entity who willfully violates this section is guilty
of a gross misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed
one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term
not to exceed one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each
day on which a violation occurs constitutes a separate violation. The
criminal sanctions may be imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction
in an action brought by the attorney general of this state.
Sec. 545 RCW 28B.85.040 and 2006 c 234 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) An institution or person shall not advertise, offer, sell, or
award a degree or any other type of educational credential unless the
student has enrolled in and successfully completed a prescribed program
of study, as outlined in the institution's publications. This
prohibition shall not apply to honorary credentials clearly designated
as such on the front side of the diploma or certificate and awarded by
institutions offering other educational credentials in compliance with
state law.
(2) No exemption or waiver granted under this chapter is permanent.
The ((board)) council shall periodically review exempted degree-granting institutions and degree-granting institutions granted a
waiver, and continue exemptions or waivers only if an institution meets
the statutory or ((board)) council requirements for exemption or waiver
in effect on the date of the review.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, this
chapter shall not apply to:
(a) Any public college, university, community college, technical
college, or institute operating as part of the public higher
educational system of this state;
(b) Institutions that have been accredited by an accrediting
association recognized by the ((agency)) council for the purposes of
this chapter: PROVIDED, That those institutions meet minimum exemption
standards adopted by the ((agency)) council; and PROVIDED FURTHER, That
an institution, branch, extension, or facility operating within the
state of Washington which is affiliated with an institution operating
in another state must be a separately accredited member institution of
any such accrediting association to qualify for this exemption;
(c) Institutions of a religious character, but only as to those
education programs devoted exclusively to religious or theological
objectives if the programs are represented in an accurate manner in
institutional catalogs and other official publications;
(d) Honorary credentials clearly designated as such on the front
side of the diploma or certificate awarded by institutions offering
other educational credentials in compliance with state law; or
(e) Institutions not otherwise exempt which offer only workshops or
seminars and institutions offering only credit-bearing workshops or
seminars lasting no longer than three calendar days.
Sec. 546 RCW 28B.85.050 and 1986 c 136 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
All degree-granting institutions subject to this chapter shall file
information with the ((board)) council as the ((board)) council may
require.
Sec. 547 RCW 28B.85.060 and 1986 c 136 s 6 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((board)) council shall impose fees on any degree-granting
institution authorized to operate under this chapter. Fees shall be
set and revised by the ((board)) council by rule at the level necessary
to approximately recover the staffing costs incurred in administering
this chapter. Fees shall be deposited in the general fund.
Sec. 548 RCW 28B.85.070 and 1986 c 136 s 7 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The ((board)) council may require any degree-granting
institution to have on file with the ((board)) council an approved
surety bond or other security in lieu of a bond in an amount determined
by the ((board)) council.
(2) In lieu of a surety bond, an institution may deposit with the
((board)) council a cash deposit or other negotiable security
acceptable to the ((board)) council. The security deposited with the
((board)) council in lieu of the surety bond shall be returned to the
institution one year after the institution's authorization has expired
or been revoked if legal action has not been instituted against the
institution or the security deposit at the expiration of the year. The
obligations and remedies relating to surety bonds authorized by this
section, including but not limited to the settlement of claims
procedure in subsection (5) of this section, shall apply to deposits
filed with the ((board)) council, as applicable.
(3) Each bond shall:
(a) Be executed by the institution as principal and by a corporate
surety licensed to do business in the state;
(b) Be payable to the state for the benefit and protection of any
student or enrollee of an institution, or, in the case of a minor, his
or her parents or guardian;
(c) Be conditioned on compliance with all provisions of this
chapter and the ((board's)) council's rules adopted under this chapter;
(d) Require the surety to give written notice to the ((board))
council at least thirty-five days before cancellation of the bond; and
(e) Remain in effect for one year following the effective date of
its cancellation or termination as to any obligation occurring on or
before the effective date of cancellation or termination.
(4) Upon receiving notice of a bond cancellation, the ((board))
council shall notify the institution that the authorization will be
suspended on the effective date of the bond cancellation unless the
institution files with the ((board)) council another approved surety
bond or other security. The ((board)) council may suspend or revoke
the authorization at an earlier date if it has reason to believe that
such action will prevent students from losing their tuition or fees.
(5) If a complaint is filed under RCW 28B.85.090(1) against an
institution, the ((board)) council may file a claim against the surety
and settle claims against the surety by following the procedure in this
subsection.
(a) The ((board)) council shall attempt to notify all potential
claimants. If the absence of records or other circumstances makes it
impossible or unreasonable for the ((board)) council to ascertain the
names and addresses of all the claimants, the ((board)) council after
exerting due diligence and making reasonable inquiry to secure that
information from all reasonable and available sources, may make a
demand on a bond on the basis of information in the ((board's))
council's possession. The ((board)) council is not liable or
responsible for claims or the handling of claims that may subsequently
appear or be discovered.
(b) Thirty days after notification, if a claimant fails, refuses,
or neglects to file with the ((board)) council a verified claim, the
((board)) council shall be relieved of further duty or action under
this chapter on behalf of the claimant.
(c) After reviewing the claims, the ((board)) council may make
demands upon the bond on behalf of those claimants whose claims have
been filed. The ((board)) council may settle or compromise the claims
with the surety and may execute and deliver a release and discharge of
the bond.
(d) If the surety refuses to pay the demand, the ((board)) council
may bring an action on the bond in behalf of the claimants. If an
action is commenced on the bond, the ((board)) council may require a
new bond to be filed.
(e) Within ten days after a recovery on a bond or other posted
security has occurred, the institution shall file a new bond or
otherwise restore its security on file to the required amount.
(6) The liability of the surety shall not exceed the amount of the
bond.
Sec. 549 RCW 28B.85.080 and 1986 c 136 s 8 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((board)) council may suspend or modify any of the requirements
under this chapter in a particular case if the ((board)) council finds
that:
(1) The suspension or modification is consistent with the purposes
of this chapter; and
(2) The education to be offered addresses a substantial,
demonstrated need among residents of the state or that literal
application of this chapter would cause a manifestly unreasonable
hardship.
Sec. 550 RCW 28B.85.090 and 1989 c 175 s 82 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) A person claiming loss of tuition or fees as a result of an
unfair business practice may file a complaint with the ((board))
council. The complaint shall set forth the alleged violation and shall
contain information required by the ((board)) council. A complaint may
also be filed with the ((board)) council by an authorized staff member
of the ((board)) council or by the attorney general.
(2) The ((board)) council shall investigate any complaint under
this section and may attempt to bring about a settlement. The
((board)) council may hold a hearing pursuant to the Administrative
Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW, in order to determine whether a
violation has occurred. If the ((board)) council prevails, the degree-granting institution shall pay the costs of the administrative hearing.
(3) If, after the hearing, the ((board)) council finds that the
institution or its agent engaged in or is engaging in any unfair
business practice, the ((board)) council shall issue and cause to be
served upon the violator an order requiring the violator to cease and
desist from the act or practice and may impose the penalties under RCW
28B.85.100. If the ((board)) council finds that the complainant has
suffered loss as a result of the act or practice, the ((board)) council
may order full or partial restitution for the loss. The complainant is
not bound by the ((board's)) council's determination of restitution and
may pursue any other legal remedy.
Sec. 551 RCW 28B.85.100 and 1986 c 136 s 10 are each amended to
read as follows:
Any person, group, or entity or any owner, officer, agent, or
employee of such entity who ((wilfully)) willfully violates any
provision of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter shall
be subject to a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars for
each violation. Each day on which a violation occurs constitutes a
separate violation. The fine may be imposed by the ((higher education
coordinating board)) council or by any court of competent jurisdiction.
Sec. 552 RCW 28B.85.130 and 1986 c 136 s 13 are each amended to
read as follows:
If any degree-granting institution discontinues its operation, the
chief administrative officer of the institution shall file with the
((board)) council the original or legible true copies of all
educational records required by the ((board)) council. If the
((board)) council determines that any educational records are in danger
of being made unavailable to the ((board)) council, the ((board))
council may seek a court order to protect and if necessary take
possession of the records. The ((board)) council shall cause to be
maintained a permanent file of educational records coming into its
possession.
Sec. 553 RCW 28B.85.170 and 1986 c 136 s 17 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((board)) council may seek injunctive relief, after giving
notice to the affected party, in a court of competent jurisdiction for
a violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter.
The ((board)) council need not allege or prove that the ((board))
council has no adequate remedy at law. The right of injunction
provided in this section is in addition to any other legal remedy which
the ((board)) council has and is in addition to any right of criminal
prosecution provided by law. The existence of ((board)) council action
with respect to alleged violations of this chapter and rules adopted
under this chapter does not operate as a bar to an action for
injunctive relief under this section.
Sec. 554 RCW 28B.90.010 and 1993 c 181 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Degree" means any designation, appellation, certificate,
letters or words including, but not limited to, "associate,"
"bachelor," "masters," "doctorate," or "fellow" that signifies, or
purports to signify, satisfactory and successful completion of
requirements of a postsecondary academic program of study.
(2) "Foreign degree-granting institution" means a public or private
college or university, either profit or nonprofit:
(a) That is domiciled in a foreign country;
(b) That offers in its country of domicile credentials,
instruction, or services prerequisite to the obtaining of an academic
or professional degree granted by such college or university; and
(c) That is authorized under the laws or regulations of its country
of domicile to operate a degree-granting institution in that country.
(3) "Approved branch campus" means a foreign degree-granting
institution's branch campus that has been approved by the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council to operate
in the state.
(4) "Branch campus" means an educational facility located in the
state that:
(a) Is either owned and operated directly by a foreign degree-granting institution or indirectly through a Washington profit or
nonprofit corporation in which the foreign degree-granting institution
is the sole or controlling shareholder or member; and
(b) Provides courses solely and exclusively to students enrolled in
a degree-granting program offered by the foreign degree-granting
institution who:
(i) Have received academic credit for courses of study completed at
the foreign degree-granting institution in its country of domicile;
(ii) Will receive academic credit towards their degree from the
foreign degree-granting institution for the courses of study completed
at the educational facility in the state; and
(iii) Will return to the foreign degree-granting institution in its
country of domicile for completion of their degree-granting program or
receipt of their degree.
(5) (("Board")) "Council" means the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council.
Sec. 555 RCW 28B.90.020 and 1999 c 85 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
A foreign degree-granting institution that submits evidence
satisfactory to the ((board)) council of its authorized status in its
country of domicile and its intent to establish an educational facility
in the state is entitled to operate a branch campus as defined in RCW
28B.90.010. Upon receipt of the satisfactory evidence, the ((board))
council may certify that the branch campus of the foreign degree-granting institution is approved to operate in the state under this
chapter, for as long as the foreign degree-granting institution retains
its authorized status in its country of domicile.
Sec. 556 RCW 28B.90.030 and 1993 c 181 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
A branch campus of a foreign degree-granting institution previously
found by the ((board)) council to be exempt from chapter 28B.85 RCW may
continue to operate in the state. However, within one year of July 25,
1993, the institution shall provide evidence of authorization as
required under RCW 28B.90.020. Upon receipt of the satisfactory
evidence, the ((board)) council shall certify that the branch campus of
the foreign degree-granting institution is approved to operate in the
state under this chapter.
Sec. 557 RCW 28B.92.030 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 159 are each
amended to read as follows:
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Council" means the student achievement council.
(2) "Disadvantaged student" means a posthigh school student who by
reason of adverse cultural, educational, environmental, experiential,
familial or other circumstances is unable to qualify for enrollment as
a full-time student in an institution of higher education, who would
otherwise qualify as a needy student, and who is attending an
institution of higher education under an established program designed
to qualify the student for enrollment as a full-time student.
(((2))) (3) "Financial aid" means loans and/or grants to needy
students enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student at
institutions of higher education.
(((3))) (4) "Institution" or "institutions of higher education"
means:
(a) Any public university, college, community college, or technical
college operated by the state of Washington or any political
subdivision thereof; or
(b) Any other university, college, school, or institute in the
state of Washington offering instruction beyond the high school level
which is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized
by rule of the ((board)) council for the purposes of this section:
PROVIDED, That any institution, branch, extension or facility operating
within the state of Washington which is affiliated with an institution
operating in another state must be a separately accredited member
institution of any such accrediting association, or a branch of a
member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of
the ((board)) council for purposes of this section, that is eligible
for federal student financial aid assistance and has operated as a
nonprofit college or university delivering on-site classroom
instruction for a minimum of twenty consecutive years within the state
of Washington, and has an annual enrollment of at least seven hundred
full-time equivalent students: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no institution
of higher education shall be eligible to participate in a student
financial aid program unless it agrees to and complies with program
rules and regulations adopted pursuant to RCW 28B.92.150.
(((4))) (5) "Needy student" means a posthigh school student of an
institution of higher education who demonstrates to the ((board))
office the financial inability, either through the student's parents,
family and/or personally, to meet the total cost of board, room, books,
and tuition and incidental fees for any semester or quarter. "Needy
student" also means an opportunity internship graduate as defined by
RCW 28C.18.162 who enrolls in a postsecondary program of study as
defined in RCW 28C.18.162 within one year of high school graduation.
(((5))) (6) "Office" means the office of student financial
assistance.
(((6))) (7) "Placebound student" means a student who (a) is unable
to complete a college program because of family or employment
commitments, health concerns, monetary inability, or other similar
factors; and (b) may be influenced by the receipt of an enhanced
student financial aid award to complete a baccalaureate degree at an
eligible institution.
Sec. 558 RCW 28B.92.060 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 162 and 2011
1st sp.s. c 10 s 9 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
In awarding need grants, the office shall proceed substantially as
follows: PROVIDED, That nothing contained herein shall be construed to
prevent the office, in the exercise of its sound discretion, from
following another procedure when the best interest of the program so
dictates:
(1) The office shall annually select the financial aid award
recipients from among Washington residents applying for student
financial aid who have been ranked according to:
(a) Financial need as determined by the amount of the family
contribution; and
(b) Other considerations, such as whether the student is a former
foster youth, or is a placebound student who has completed an associate
of arts or associate of science degree or its equivalent.
(2) The financial need of the highest ranked students shall be met
by grants depending upon the evaluation of financial need until the
total allocation has been disbursed. Funds from grants which are
declined, forfeited or otherwise unused shall be reawarded until
disbursed, except that eligible former foster youth shall be assured
receipt of a grant. The ((board)) office, in consultation with four-year institutions of higher education, the council, and the state board
for community and technical colleges, shall develop award criteria and
methods of disbursement based on level of need, and not solely rely on
a first-come, first-served basis.
(3) A student shall be eligible to receive a state need grant for
up to five years, or the credit or clock hour equivalent of five years,
or up to one hundred twenty-five percent of the published length of
time of the student's program. A student may not start a new associate
degree program as a state need grant recipient until at least five
years have elapsed since earning an associate degree as a need grant
recipient, except that a student may earn two associate degrees
concurrently. Qualifications for renewal will include maintaining
satisfactory academic progress toward completion of an eligible program
as determined by the office. Should the recipient terminate his or her
enrollment for any reason during the academic year, the unused portion
of the grant shall be returned to the state educational grant fund by
the institution according to the institution's own policy for issuing
refunds, except as provided in RCW 28B.92.070.
(4) In computing financial need, the office shall determine a
maximum student expense budget allowance, not to exceed an amount equal
to the total maximum student expense budget at the public institutions
plus the current average state appropriation per student for operating
expense in the public institutions. Any child support payments
received by students who are parents attending less than half-time
shall not be used in computing financial need.
(5)(a) A student who is enrolled in three to six credit-bearing
quarter credits, or the equivalent semester credits, may receive a
grant for up to one academic year before beginning a program that leads
to a degree or certificate.
(b) An eligible student enrolled on a less-than-full-time basis
shall receive a prorated portion of his or her state need grant for any
academic period in which he or she is enrolled on a less-than-full-time
basis, as long as funds are available.
(c) An institution of higher education may award a state need grant
to an eligible student enrolled in three to six credit-bearing quarter
credits, or the semester equivalent, on a provisional basis if:
(i) The student has not previously received a state need grant from
that institution;
(ii) The student completes the required free application for
federal student aid;
(iii) The institution has reviewed the student's financial
condition, and the financial condition of the student's family if the
student is a dependent student, and has determined that the student is
likely eligible for a state need grant; and
(iv) The student has signed a document attesting to the fact that
the financial information provided on the free application for federal
student aid and any additional financial information provided directly
to the institution is accurate and complete, and that the student
agrees to repay the institution for the grant amount if the student
submitted false or incomplete information.
(6) As used in this section, "former foster youth" means a person
who is at least eighteen years of age, but not more than twenty-four
years of age, who was a dependent of the department of social and
health services at the time he or she attained the age of eighteen.
Sec. 559 RCW 28B.92.070 and 2004 c 275 s 38 are each amended to
read as follows:
Under rules adopted by the ((board)) council, the provisions of RCW
28B.92.060(3) shall not apply to eligible students, as defined in RCW
28B.10.017, and eligible students shall not be required to repay the
unused portions of grants received under the state student financial
aid program.
Sec. 560 RCW 28B.92.082 and 2009 c 215 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose and
within overall appropriations for the state need grant, enhanced need
grants are provided for persons who meet all of the following criteria:
(a) Are needy students as defined in RCW 28B.92.030;
(b) Are placebound students as defined in RCW 28B.92.030; and
(c) Have completed the associate of arts or the associate of
science degree, or its equivalent.
(2) The enhanced need grants established in this section are
provided to this specific group of students in addition to the base
state need grant, as defined by rule of the ((board)) council.
Sec. 561 RCW 28B.97.020 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 175 are each
amended to read as follows:
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Institution of higher education" means a college or university
in the state of Washington that is accredited by an accrediting
association recognized as such by rule of the ((board)) student
achievement council.
(2) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.
(3) "Program" means the Washington higher education loan program.
(4) "Resident student" has the definition in RCW 28B.15.012(2) (a)
through (d).
Sec. 562 RCW 28B.102.020 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 176 are each
reenacted and amended to read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Approved education program" means an education program in the
state of Washington for knowledge and skills generally learned in
preschool through twelfth grade. Approved education programs may
include but are not limited to:
(a) K-12 schools under Title 28A RCW; or
(b) Other K-12 educational sites in the state of Washington as
designated by the ((board)) student achievement council.
(2) "Conditional scholarship" means a loan that is forgiven in
whole or in part if the recipient renders service as a teacher in an
approved education program in this state.
(3) "Eligible student" means a student who is registered for at
least six credit hours or the equivalent, demonstrates high academic
achievement, is a resident student as defined by RCW 28B.15.012 and
28B.15.013, and has a declared intention to complete an approved
preparation program leading to initial teacher certification or
required for earning an additional endorsement, and commits to teaching
service in the state of Washington.
(4) "Equalization fee" means the additional amount added to the
principal of a loan under this chapter to equate the debt to that which
the student would have incurred if the loan had been received through
the federal subsidized Stafford student loan program.
(5) "Forgiven" or "to forgive" or "forgiveness" means to render
service as a teacher in an approved education program in the state of
Washington in lieu of monetary repayment.
(6) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a
college or university in the state of Washington that is accredited by
an accrediting association recognized as such by rule of the student
achievement council ((for higher education)).
(7) "Loan repayment" means a federal student loan that is repaid in
whole or in part if the recipient renders service as a teacher in an
approved education program in Washington state.
(8) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.
(9) "Participant" means an eligible student who has received a
conditional scholarship or loan repayment under this chapter.
(10) "Public school" means an elementary school, a middle school,
junior high school, or high school within the public school system
referred to in Article IX of the state Constitution.
(11) "Satisfied" means paid-in-full.
(12) "Teacher shortage area" means a shortage of elementary or
secondary school teachers in a specific subject area, discipline,
classification, or geographic area as defined by the office of the
superintendent of public instruction.
Sec. 563 RCW 28B.102.030 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 177 are each
amended to read as follows:
The future teachers conditional scholarship and loan repayment
program is established. The program shall be administered by the
((office)) student achievement council. In administering the program,
the ((board)) council shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Select students to receive conditional scholarships or loan
repayments;
(2) Adopt necessary rules and guidelines;
(3) Publicize the program;
(4) Collect and manage repayments from students who do not meet
their teaching obligations under this chapter; and
(5) Solicit and accept grants and donations from public and private
sources for the program.
Sec. 564 RCW 28B.108.040 and 1990 c 287 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((board)) office may award scholarships to eligible students
from moneys earned from the endowment fund created in RCW 28B.108.060,
or from funds appropriated to the ((board)) council for this purpose,
or from any private donations, or from any other funds given to the
((board)) council for this program. For an undergraduate student, the
amount of the scholarship shall not exceed the student's demonstrated
financial need. For a graduate student, the amount of the scholarship
shall not exceed the student's demonstrated need; or the stipend of a
teaching assistant, including tuition, at the University of Washington;
whichever is higher. In calculating a student's need, the ((board))
office shall consider the student's costs for tuition, fees, books,
supplies, transportation, room, board, personal expenses, and child
care. The student's scholarship awarded under this chapter shall not
exceed the amount received by a student attending a state research
university. A student is eligible to receive a scholarship for a
maximum of five years. However, the length of the scholarship shall be
determined at the discretion of the ((board)) office.
Sec. 565 RCW 28B.109.010 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 195 are each
amended to read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Eligible participant" means an international student whose
country of residence has a trade relationship with the state of
Washington.
(2) "Institution of higher education" or "institution" means a
college or university in the state of Washington that is accredited by
an accrediting association recognized as such by rule of the ((board))
student achievement council.
(3) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.
(4) "Service obligation" means volunteering for a minimum number of
hours as established by the ((board)) student achievement council based
on the amount of scholarship award, to speak to or teach groups of
Washington citizens, including but not limited to elementary, middle,
and high schools, service clubs, and universities.
(5) "Washington international exchange scholarship program" means
a scholarship award for a period not to exceed one academic year to
attend a Washington institution of higher education made to an
international student whose country has an established trade
relationship with Washington.
Sec. 566 RCW 28B.110.030 and 1989 c 341 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
In consultation with institutions of higher education, the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council shall
develop rules and guidelines to eliminate possible gender
discrimination to students, including sexual harassment, at
institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016. The
rules and guidelines shall include but not be limited to access to
academic programs, student employment, counseling and guidance
services, financial aid, recreational activities including club sports,
and intercollegiate athletics.
(1) With respect to higher education student employment, all
institutions shall be required to:
(a) Make no differentiation in pay scales on the basis of gender;
(b) Assign duties without regard to gender except where there is a
bona fide occupational qualification as approved by the Washington
human rights commission;
(c) Provide the same opportunities for advancement to males and
females; and
(d) Make no difference in the conditions of employment on the basis
of gender in areas including, but not limited to, hiring practices,
leaves of absence, and hours of employment.
(2) With respect to admission standards, admissions to academic
programs shall be made without regard to gender.
(3) Counseling and guidance services for students shall be made
available to all students without regard to gender. All academic and
counseling personnel shall be required to stress access to all career
and vocational opportunities to students without regard to gender.
(4) All academic programs shall be available to students without
regard to gender.
(5) With respect to recreational activities, recreational
activities shall be offered to meet the interests of students.
Institutions which provide the following shall do so with no
disparities based on gender: Equipment and supplies; medical care;
services and insurance; transportation and per diem allowances;
opportunities to receive coaching and instruction; laundry services;
assignment of game officials; opportunities for competition, publicity,
and awards; and scheduling of games and practice times, including use
of courts, gyms, and pools. Each institution which provides showers,
toilets, lockers, or training room facilities for recreational purposes
shall provide comparable facilities for both males and females.
(6) With respect to financial aid, financial aid shall be equitably
awarded by type of aid, with no disparities based on gender.
(7) With respect to intercollegiate athletics, institutions that
provide the following shall do so with no disparities based on gender:
(a) Benefits and services including, but not limited to, equipment
and supplies; medical services; services and insurance; transportation
and per diem allowances; opportunities to receive coaching and
instruction; scholarships and other forms of financial aid;
conditioning programs; laundry services; assignment of game officials;
opportunities for competition, publicity, and awards; and scheduling of
games and practice times, including use of courts, gyms, and pools.
Each institution which provides showers, toilets, lockers, or training
room facilities for athletic purposes shall provide comparable
facilities for both males and females.
(b) Opportunities to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Institutions shall provide equitable opportunities to male and female
students.
(c) Male and female coaches and administrators. Institutions shall
attempt to provide some coaches and administrators of each gender to
act as role models for male and female athletes.
(8) Each institution shall develop and distribute policies and
procedures for handling complaints of sexual harassment.
Sec. 567 RCW 28B.110.040 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 203 are each
amended to read as follows:
The executive director of the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council, in consultation with the council
of presidents and the state board for community and technical colleges,
shall monitor the compliance by institutions of higher education with
this chapter.
(1) The ((board)) council shall establish a timetable and
guidelines for compliance with this chapter.
(2) By November 30, 1990, each institution shall submit to the
((board)) council for approval a plan to comply with the requirements
of RCW 28B.110.030. The plan shall contain measures to ensure
institutional compliance with the provisions of this chapter by
September 30, 1994. If participation in activities, such as
intercollegiate athletics and matriculation in academic programs is not
proportionate to the percentages of male and female enrollment, the
plan should outline efforts to identify barriers to equal participation
and to encourage gender equity in all aspects of college and university
life.
(3) The ((board)) council may delegate to the state board for
community and technical colleges any or all responsibility for
community college compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Sec. 568 RCW 28B.116.010 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 214 are each
reenacted and amended to read as follows:
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in
this section apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Cost of attendance" means the cost associated with the
attendance of the institution of higher education as determined by the
office of student financial assistance, including but not limited to
tuition, room, board, and books.
(2) "Eligible student" means a student who:
(a) Is between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three;
(b) Has been in foster care in the state of Washington for a
minimum of six months since his or her fourteenth birthday;
(c) Is a financially needy student, as defined in RCW 28B.92.030;
(d) Is a resident student, as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2);
(e) Has entered or will enter an institution of higher education in
Washington state within three years of high school graduation or having
successfully completed his or her GED;
(f) Is not pursuing a degree in theology; and
(g) Makes satisfactory progress towards the completion of a degree
or certificate program.
(3) "Institution of higher education" means a college or university
in the state of Washington that is accredited by an accrediting
association recognized as such by rule of the ((higher education
coordinating board)) student achievement council.
(4) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.
Sec. 569 RCW 28B.116.030 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 216 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The office may award scholarships to eligible students from the
foster care scholarship endowment fund in RCW 28B.116.060, from funds
appropriated to the ((board)) student achievement council for this
purpose, from any private donations, or from any other funds given to
the office for the program.
(2) The office may award scholarships to eligible students from
moneys earned from the foster care scholarship endowment fund created
in RCW 28B.116.060, or from funds appropriated to the ((board)) council
for this purpose, or from any private donations, or from any other
funds given to the office for this program. For an undergraduate
student, the amount of the scholarship shall not exceed the student's
demonstrated financial need. For a graduate student, the amount of the
scholarship shall not exceed the student's demonstrated need; or the
stipend of a teaching assistant, including tuition, at the University
of Washington; whichever is higher. In calculating a student's need,
the office shall consider the student's costs for tuition, fees, books,
supplies, transportation, room, board, personal expenses, and child
care. The student's scholarship awarded under this chapter shall not
exceed the amount received by a student attending a state research
university. A student is eligible to receive a scholarship for a
maximum of five years. However, the length of the scholarship shall be
determined at the discretion of the office.
(3) Grants under this chapter shall not affect eligibility for the
state student financial aid program.
Sec. 570 RCW 28B.117.020 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 220 are each
amended to read as follows:
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Cost of attendance" means the cost associated with attending
a particular institution of higher education as determined by the
office, including but not limited to tuition, fees, room, board, books,
personal expenses, and transportation, plus the cost of reasonable
additional expenses incurred by an eligible student and approved by a
financial aid administrator at the student's school of attendance.
(2) "Emancipated from foster care" means a person who was a
dependent of the state in accordance with chapter 13.34 RCW and who was
receiving foster care in the state of Washington when he or she reached
his or her eighteenth birthday.
(3) "Financial need" means the difference between a student's cost
of attendance and the student's total family contribution as determined
by the method prescribed by the United States department of education.
(4) "Independent college or university" means a private, nonprofit
institution of higher education, open to residents of the state,
providing programs of education beyond the high school level leading to
at least the baccalaureate degree, and accredited by the Northwest
association of schools and colleges, and other institutions as may be
developed that are approved by the ((board)) council as meeting
equivalent standards as those institutions accredited under this
section.
(5) "Institution of higher education" means:
(a) Any public university, college, community college, or technical
college operated by the state of Washington or any political
subdivision thereof; or
(b) Any independent college or university in Washington; or
(c) Any other university, college, school, or institute in the
state of Washington offering instruction beyond the high school level
that is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized
by rule of the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council for the purposes of this section: PROVIDED, That
any institution, branch, extension, or facility operating within the
state of Washington that is affiliated with an institution operating in
another state must be a separately accredited member institution of any
such accrediting association, or a branch of a member institution of an
accrediting association recognized by rule of the ((board)) council for
purposes of this section, that is eligible for federal student
financial aid assistance and has operated as a nonprofit college or
university delivering on-site classroom instruction for a minimum of
twenty consecutive years within the state of Washington, and has an
annual enrollment of at least seven hundred full-time equivalent
students.
(6) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance.
(7) "Program" means the passport to college promise pilot program
created in this chapter.
Sec. 571 RCW 28B.120.010 and 2010 c 245 s 7 are each amended to
read as follows:
The Washington fund for innovation and quality in higher education
program is established. The ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council shall administer the program and shall work
in close collaboration with the state board for community and technical
colleges and other local and regional entities. Through this program
the ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council
may award on a competitive basis incentive grants to state public or
private nonprofit institutions of higher education or consortia of
institutions to encourage programs designed to address specific system
problems. Each institution or consortia of institutions receiving the
award shall contribute some financial support, either by covering part
of the costs for the program during its implementation, or by assuming
continuing support at the end of the grant period. Strong priority
will be given to proposals that involve more than one sector of
education. Institutions are encouraged to solicit nonstate funds to
support these cooperative programs.
Sec. 572 RCW 28B.120.020 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 235 are each
amended to read as follows:
The ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council shall have the following powers and duties in administering the
program for those proposals in which a four-year institution of higher
education is named as the lead institution and fiscal agent:
(1) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the program;
(2) To award grants no later than September 1st in those years when
funding is available by June 30th;
(3) To establish each biennium specific guidelines for submitting
grant proposals consistent with RCW 28B.120.005 and consistent with the
((strategic master)) ten-year plan for higher education, the system
design plan, the overall goals of the program and the guidelines
established by the state board for community and technical colleges
under RCW 28B.120.025.
After June 30, 2001, and each biennium thereafter, the ((board))
council shall determine funding priorities for proposals for the
biennium in consultation with the legislature, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and
technical colleges, the workforce training and education coordinating
board, higher education institutions, educational associations, and
business and community groups consistent with statewide needs;
(4) To solicit grant proposals and provide information to the
institutions of higher education about the program; and
(5) To establish reporting, evaluation, accountability, monitoring,
and dissemination requirements for the recipients of the grants awarded
by the office of financial management.
Sec. 573 RCW 28B.120.025 and 1999 c 169 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
The state board for community and technical colleges has the
following powers and duties in administering the program for those
proposals in which a community or technical college is named as the
lead institution and fiscal agent:
(1) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the program;
(2) To establish one or more review committees to assist in the
evaluation of proposals for funding. The review committee shall
include individuals with significant experience in higher education in
areas relevant to one or more of the funding period priorities and
shall include representatives from both the four-year and two-year
sectors of higher education;
(3) To award grants no later than September 1st in those years when
funding is available by June 30th;
(4) To establish each biennium specific guidelines for submitting
grant proposals consistent with the overall goals of the program and
consistent with the guidelines established by the ((higher education
coordinating board)) student achievement council under RCW 28B.120.020.
During the 1999-01 biennium the guidelines shall be consistent with the
following desired outcomes of:
(a) Minority and diversity initiatives that encourage the
participation of minorities in higher education, including students
with disabilities;
(b) K-12 teacher preparation models that encourage collaboration
between higher education and K-12 to improve the preparedness of
teachers, including provisions for higher education faculty involved
with teacher preparation to spend time teaching in K-12 schools;
(c) Collaborative instructional programs involving K-12, community
and technical colleges, and four-year institutions of higher education
to develop a three-year degree program, or reduce the time to degree;
(d) Contracts with public or private institutions or businesses to
provide services or the development of collaborative programs;
(e) Articulation and transfer activities to smooth the transfer of
students from K-12 to higher education, or from the community colleges
and technical colleges to four-year institutions;
(f) Projects that further the development of learner-centered,
technology-assisted course delivery; and
(g) Projects that further the development of competency-based
measurements of student achievement to be used as the basis for
awarding degrees and certificates;
(5) To solicit grant proposals and provide information to the
community and technical colleges and private career schools; and
(6) To establish reporting, evaluation, accountability, monitoring,
and dissemination requirements for the recipients of the grants awarded
by the state board for community and technical colleges.
Sec. 574 RCW 28B.120.030 and 1999 c 169 s 6 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council and the state board for community and technical colleges may
solicit and receive such gifts, grants, and endowments from public or
private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or
otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the program and
may expend the same or any income therefrom according to the terms of
the gifts, grants, or endowments.
Sec. 575 RCW 28B.120.040 and 1999 c 169 s 7 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council fund for innovation and quality is hereby established in the
custody of the state treasurer. The ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council shall deposit in the fund all
moneys received under RCW 28B.120.030. Moneys in the fund may be spent
only for the purposes of RCW 28B.120.010 and 28B.120.020.
Disbursements from the fund shall be on the authorization of the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council.
The fund is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter
43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.
Sec. 576 RCW 28C.10.030 and 1994 sp.s. c 9 s 723 are each amended
to read as follows:
This chapter does not apply to:
(1) Bona fide trade, business, professional, or fraternal
organizations sponsoring educational programs primarily for that
organization's membership or offered by that organization on a no-fee
basis;
(2) Entities offering education that is exclusively avocational or
recreational;
(3) Education not requiring payment of money or other consideration
if this education is not advertised or promoted as leading toward
educational credentials;
(4) Entities that are established, operated, and governed by this
state or its political subdivisions under Title 28A, 28B, or 28C RCW;
(5) Degree-granting programs in compliance with the rules of the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council;
(6) Any other entity to the extent that it has been exempted from
some or all of the provisions of this chapter under RCW 28C.10.100;
(7) Entities not otherwise exempt that are of a religious
character, but only as to those educational programs exclusively
devoted to religious or theological objectives and represented
accurately in institutional catalogs or other official publications;
(8) Entities offering only courses certified by the federal
aviation administration;
(9) Barber and cosmetology schools licensed under chapter 18.16
RCW;
(10) Entities which only offer courses approved to meet the
continuing education requirements for licensure under chapter 18.04,
18.79, or 48.17 RCW; and
(11) Entities not otherwise exempt offering only workshops or
seminars lasting no longer than three calendar days.
Sec. 577 RCW 28C.10.040 and 1994 c 38 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
The agency:
(1) Shall maintain a list of private vocational schools licensed
under this chapter;
(2) Shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW to carry
out this chapter;
(3) May investigate any entity the agency reasonably believes to be
subject to the jurisdiction of this chapter. In connection with the
investigation, the agency may administer oaths and affirmations, issue
subpoenas and compel attendance, take evidence, and require the
production of any books, papers, correspondence, memorandums, or other
records which the agency deems relevant or material to the
investigation. The agency, including its staff and any other
authorized persons, may conduct site inspections and examine records of
all schools subject to this chapter;
(4) Shall develop an interagency agreement with the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council to regulate
degree-granting private vocational schools with respect to degree and
nondegree programs.
Sec. 578 RCW 28C.18.030 and 1996 c 99 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
The purpose of the board is to provide planning, coordination,
evaluation, monitoring, and policy analysis for the state training
system as a whole, and advice to the governor and legislature
concerning the state training system, in cooperation with the state
training system and the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council.
Sec. 579 RCW 28C.18.060 and 2009 c 151 s 6 are each amended to
read as follows:
The board, in cooperation with the operating agencies of the state
training system and private career schools and colleges, shall:
(1) Concentrate its major efforts on planning, coordination
evaluation, policy analysis, and recommending improvements to the
state's training system;
(2) Advocate for the state training system and for meeting the
needs of employers and the workforce for workforce education and
training;
(3) Establish and maintain an inventory of the programs of the
state training system, and related state programs, and perform a
biennial assessment of the vocational education, training, and adult
basic education and literacy needs of the state; identify ongoing and
strategic education needs; and assess the extent to which employment,
training, vocational and basic education, rehabilitation services, and
public assistance services represent a consistent, integrated approach
to meet such needs;
(4) Develop and maintain a state comprehensive plan for workforce
training and education, including but not limited to, goals,
objectives, and priorities for the state training system, and review
the state training system for consistency with the state comprehensive
plan. In developing the state comprehensive plan for workforce
training and education, the board shall use, but shall not be limited
to: Economic, labor market, and populations trends reports in office
of financial management forecasts; joint office of financial management
and employment security department labor force, industry employment,
and occupational forecasts; the results of scientifically based
outcome, net-impact and cost-benefit evaluations; the needs of
employers as evidenced in formal employer surveys and other employer
input; and the needs of program participants and workers as evidenced
in formal surveys and other input from program participants and the
labor community;
(5) In consultation with the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council, review and make recommendations to
the office of financial management and the legislature on operating and
capital facilities budget requests for operating agencies of the state
training system for purposes of consistency with the state
comprehensive plan for workforce training and education;
(6) Provide for coordination among the different operating agencies
and components of the state training system at the state level and at
the regional level;
(7) Develop a consistent and reliable database on vocational
education enrollments, costs, program activities, and job placements
from publicly funded vocational education programs in this state;
(8)(a) Establish standards for data collection and maintenance for
the operating agencies of the state training system in a format that is
accessible to use by the board. The board shall require a minimum of
common core data to be collected by each operating agency of the state
training system;
(b) Develop requirements for minimum common core data in
consultation with the office of financial management and the operating
agencies of the training system;
(9) Establish minimum standards for program evaluation for the
operating agencies of the state training system, including, but not
limited to, the use of common survey instruments and procedures for
measuring perceptions of program participants and employers of program
participants, and monitor such program evaluation;
(10) Every two years administer scientifically based outcome
evaluations of the state training system, including, but not limited
to, surveys of program participants, surveys of employers of program
participants, and matches with employment security department payroll
and wage files. Every five years administer scientifically based net-impact and cost-benefit evaluations of the state training system;
(11) In cooperation with the employment security department,
provide for the improvement and maintenance of quality and utility in
occupational information and forecasts for use in training system
planning and evaluation. Improvements shall include, but not be
limited to, development of state-based occupational change factors
involving input by employers and employees, and delineation of skill
and training requirements by education level associated with current
and forecasted occupations;
(12) Provide for the development of common course description
formats, common reporting requirements, and common definitions for
operating agencies of the training system;
(13) Provide for effectiveness and efficiency reviews of the state
training system;
(14) In cooperation with the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council, facilitate transfer of credit
policies and agreements between institutions of the state training
system, and encourage articulation agreements for programs encompassing
two years of secondary workforce education and two years of
postsecondary workforce education;
(15) In cooperation with the ((higher education coordinating
board)) student achievement council, facilitate transfer of credit
policies and agreements between private training institutions and
institutions of the state training system;
(16) Develop policy objectives for the workforce investment act,
P.L. 105-220, or its successor; develop coordination criteria for
activities under the act with related programs and services provided by
state and local education and training agencies; and ensure that
entrepreneurial training opportunities are available through programs
of each local workforce investment board in the state;
(17) Make recommendations to the commission of student assessment,
the state board of education, and the superintendent of public
instruction, concerning basic skill competencies and essential core
competencies for K-12 education. Basic skills for this purpose shall
be reading, writing, computation, speaking, and critical thinking,
essential core competencies for this purpose shall be English, math,
science/technology, history, geography, and critical thinking. The
board shall monitor the development of and provide advice concerning
secondary curriculum which integrates vocational and academic
education;
(18) Establish and administer programs for marketing and outreach
to businesses and potential program participants;
(19) Facilitate the location of support services, including but not
limited to, child care, financial aid, career counseling, and job
placement services, for students and trainees at institutions in the
state training system, and advocate for support services for trainees
and students in the state training system;
(20) Facilitate private sector assistance for the state training
system, including but not limited to: Financial assistance, rotation
of private and public personnel, and vocational counseling;
(21) Facilitate the development of programs for school-to-work
transition that combine classroom education and on-the-job training,
including entrepreneurial education and training, in industries and
occupations without a significant number of apprenticeship programs;
(22) Include in the planning requirements for local workforce
investment boards a requirement that the local workforce investment
boards specify how entrepreneurial training is to be offered through
the one-stop system required under the workforce investment act, P.L.
105-220, or its successor;
(23) Encourage and assess progress for the equitable representation
of racial and ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities
among the students, teachers, and administrators of the state training
system. Equitable, for this purpose, shall mean substantially
proportional to their percentage of the state population in the
geographic area served. This function of the board shall in no way
lessen more stringent state or federal requirements for representation
of racial and ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities;
(24) Participate in the planning and policy development of governor
set-aside grants under P.L. 97-300, as amended;
(25) Administer veterans' programs, licensure of private vocational
schools, the job skills program, and the Washington award for
vocational excellence;
(26) Allocate funding from the state job training trust fund;
(27) Work with the director of ((community, trade, and economic
development)) commerce and the economic development commission to
ensure coordination among workforce training priorities, the long-term
economic development strategy of the economic development commission,
and economic development and entrepreneurial development efforts,
including but not limited to assistance to industry clusters;
(28) Conduct research into workforce development programs designed
to reduce the high unemployment rate among young people between
approximately eighteen and twenty-four years of age. In consultation
with the operating agencies, the board shall advise the governor and
legislature on policies and programs to alleviate the high unemployment
rate among young people. The research shall include disaggregated
demographic information and, to the extent possible, income data for
adult youth. The research shall also include a comparison of the
effectiveness of programs examined as a part of the research conducted
in this subsection in relation to the public investment made in these
programs in reducing unemployment of young adults. The board shall
report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 15,
2008, and every two years thereafter. Where possible, the data
reported to the legislative committees should be reported in numbers
and in percentages;
(29) Adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter.
The board may delegate to the director any of the functions of this
section.
Sec. 580 RCW 35.104.020 and 2007 c 251 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Authority" means a health sciences and services authority
created pursuant to this chapter.
(2) "Board" means the governing board of trustees of an authority.
(3) "Director" means (([the director of])) the executive director
of the ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council.
(4) "Health sciences and services" means biosciences that advance
new therapies and procedures to combat disease and promote public
health.
(5) "Local government" means a city, town, or county.
(6) "Sponsoring local government" means a city, town, or county
that creates a health sciences and services authority.
Sec. 581 RCW 35.104.040 and 2011 c 155 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council may approve applications submitted by local governments for an
area's designation as a health sciences and services authority under
this chapter. The director must determine the division to review
applications submitted by local governments under this chapter. The
application for designation must be in the form and manner and contain
such information as the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council may prescribe, provided the application:
(a) Contains sufficient information to enable the director to
determine the viability of the proposal;
(b) Demonstrates that an ordinance or resolution has been passed by
the legislative authority of a local government that delineates the
boundaries of an area that may be designated an authority;
(c) Is submitted on behalf of the local government, or, if that
office does not exist, by the legislative body of the local government;
(d) Demonstrates that the public funds directed to programs or
facilities in the authority will leverage private sector resources and
contributions to activities to be performed;
(e) Provides a plan or plans for the development of the authority
as an entity to advance as a cluster for health sciences education,
health sciences research, biotechnology development, biotechnology
product commercialization, and/or health care services; and
(f) Demonstrates that the state has previously provided funds to
health sciences and services programs or facilities in the applicant
city, town, or county.
(2) The director must determine the division to develop criteria to
evaluate the application. The criteria must include:
(a) The presence of infrastructure capable of spurring development
of the area as a center of health sciences and services;
(b) The presence of higher education facilities where undergraduate
or graduate coursework or research is conducted; and
(c) The presence of facilities in which health services are
provided.
(3) There may be no more than two authorities statewide.
(4) An authority may only be created in a county with a population
of less than one million persons and located east of the crest of the
Cascade mountains.
(5) The director may reject or approve an application. When
denying an application, the director must specify the application's
deficiencies. The decision regarding such designation as it relates to
a specific local government is final; however, a rejected application
may be resubmitted.
(6) Applications are due by December 31, 2010, and must be
processed within sixty days of submission.
(7) The director may, at his or her discretion, amend the
boundaries of an authority upon the request of the local government.
(8) The ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council may adopt any rules necessary to implement this chapter.
(9) The ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council must develop evaluation criteria that enables the local
governments to measure the effectiveness of the program.
Sec. 582 RCW 42.17A.705 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 109 are each
amended to read as follows:
For the purposes of RCW 42.17A.700, "executive state officer"
includes:
(1) The chief administrative law judge, the director of
agriculture, the director of the department of services for the blind,
the chief information officer of the office of chief information
officer, the director of the state system of community and technical
colleges, the director of commerce, the director of the consolidated
technology services agency, the secretary of corrections, the director
of early learning, the director of ecology, the commissioner of
employment security, the chair of the energy facility site evaluation
council, the director of enterprise services, the secretary of the
state finance committee, the director of financial management, the
director of fish and wildlife, the executive secretary of the forest
practices appeals board, the director of the gambling commission, the
secretary of health, the administrator of the Washington state health
care authority, the executive secretary of the health care facilities
authority, the executive secretary of the higher education facilities
authority, the executive secretary of the horse racing commission, the
human resources director, the executive secretary of the human rights
commission, the executive secretary of the indeterminate sentence
review board, the executive director of the state investment board, the
director of labor and industries, the director of licensing, the
director of the lottery commission, the director of the office of
minority and women's business enterprises, the director of parks and
recreation, the executive director of the public disclosure commission,
the executive director of the Puget Sound partnership, the director of
the recreation and conservation office, the director of retirement
systems, the director of revenue, the secretary of social and health
services, the chief of the Washington state patrol, the executive
secretary of the board of tax appeals, the secretary of transportation,
the secretary of the utilities and transportation commission, the
director of veterans affairs, the president of each of the regional and
state universities and the president of The Evergreen State College,
and each district and each campus president of each state community
college;
(2) Each professional staff member of the office of the governor;
(3) Each professional staff member of the legislature; and
(4) Central Washington University board of trustees, the boards of
trustees of each community college and each technical college, each
member of the state board for community and technical colleges, state
convention and trade center board of directors, Eastern Washington
University board of trustees, Washington economic development finance
authority, Washington energy northwest executive board, The Evergreen
State College board of trustees, executive ethics board, fish and
wildlife commission, forest practices appeals board, forest practices
board, gambling commission, Washington health care facilities
authority, ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council, higher education facilities authority, horse racing
commission, state housing finance commission, human rights commission,
indeterminate sentence review board, board of industrial insurance
appeals, state investment board, commission on judicial conduct,
legislative ethics board, life sciences discovery fund authority board
of trustees, liquor control board, lottery commission, Pacific
Northwest electric power and conservation planning council, parks and
recreation commission, Washington personnel resources board, board of
pilotage commissioners, pollution control hearings board, public
disclosure commission, public employees' benefits board, recreation and
conservation funding board, salmon recovery funding board, shorelines
hearings board, board of tax appeals, transportation commission,
University of Washington board of regents, utilities and transportation
commission, Washington State University board of regents, and Western
Washington University board of trustees.
Sec. 583 RCW 43.06.115 and 1998 c 245 s 47 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The governor may, by executive order, after consultation with
or notification of the executive-legislative committee on economic
development created by chapter . . . (Senate Bill No. 5300), Laws of
1993, declare a community to be a "military impacted area." A
"military impacted area" means a community or communities, as
identified in the executive order, that experience serious social and
economic hardships because of a change in defense spending by the
federal government in that community or communities.
(2) If the governor executes an order under subsection (1) of this
section, the governor shall establish a response team to coordinate
state efforts to assist the military impacted community. The response
team may include, but not be limited to, one member from each of the
following agencies: (a) The department of ((community, trade, and
economic development)) commerce; (b) the department of social and
health services; (c) the employment security department; (d) the state
board for community and technical colleges; (e) the ((higher education
coordinating board)) student achievement council; and (f) the
department of transportation. The governor may appoint a response team
coordinator. The governor shall seek to actively involve the impacted
community or communities in planning and implementing a response to the
crisis. The governor may seek input or assistance from the community
diversification advisory committee, and the governor may establish task
forces in the community or communities to assist in the coordination
and delivery of services to the local community. The state and
community response shall consider economic development, human service,
and training needs of the community or communities impacted.
Sec. 584 RCW 43.19.797 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 734 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) State agencies that are purchasing wireless devices or services
must make such purchases through the state master contract, unless the
state agency provides to the office of the chief information officer
evidence that the state agency is securing its wireless devices or
services from another source for a lower cost than through
participation in the state master contract.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "state agency" means any
office, department, board, commission, or other unit of state
government, but does not include a unit of state government headed by
a statewide elected official, an institution of higher education as
defined in RCW 28B.10.016, the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council, the state board for community and
technical colleges, or agencies of the legislative or judicial branches
of state government.
Sec. 585 RCW 43.41.400 and 2009 c 548 s 201 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) An education data center shall be established in the office of
financial management. The education data center shall jointly, with
the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee,
conduct collaborative analyses of early learning, K-12, and higher
education programs and education issues across the P-20 system, which
includes the department of early learning, the superintendent of public
instruction, the professional educator standards board, the state board
of education, the state board for community and technical colleges, the
workforce training and education coordinating board, the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council, public and
private nonprofit four-year institutions of higher education, and the
employment security department. The education data center shall
conduct collaborative analyses under this section with the legislative
evaluation and accountability program committee and provide data
electronically to the legislative evaluation and accountability program
committee, to the extent permitted by state and federal confidentiality
requirements. The education data center shall be considered an
authorized representative of the state educational agencies in this
section under applicable federal and state statutes for purposes of
accessing and compiling student record data for research purposes.
(2) The education data center shall:
(a) In consultation with the legislative evaluation and
accountability program committee and the agencies and organizations
participating in the education data center, identify the critical
research and policy questions that are intended to be addressed by the
education data center and the data needed to address the questions;
(b) Coordinate with other state education agencies to compile and
analyze education data, including data on student demographics that is
disaggregated by distinct ethnic categories within racial subgroups,
and complete P-20 research projects;
(c) Collaborate with the legislative evaluation and accountability
program committee and the education and fiscal committees of the
legislature in identifying the data to be compiled and analyzed to
ensure that legislative interests are served;
(d) Annually provide to the K-12 data governance group a list of
data elements and data quality improvements that are necessary to
answer the research and policy questions identified by the education
data center and have been identified by the legislative committees in
(c) of this subsection. Within three months of receiving the list, the
K-12 data governance group shall develop and transmit to the education
data center a feasibility analysis of obtaining or improving the data,
including the steps required, estimated time frame, and the financial
and other resources that would be required. Based on the analysis, the
education data center shall submit, if necessary, a recommendation to
the legislature regarding any statutory changes or resources that would
be needed to collect or improve the data;
(e) Monitor and evaluate the education data collection systems of
the organizations and agencies represented in the education data center
ensuring that data systems are flexible, able to adapt to evolving
needs for information, and to the extent feasible and necessary,
include data that are needed to conduct the analyses and provide
answers to the research and policy questions identified in (a) of this
subsection;
(f) Track enrollment and outcomes through the public centralized
higher education enrollment system;
(g) Assist other state educational agencies' collaborative efforts
to develop a long-range enrollment plan for higher education including
estimates to meet demographic and workforce needs;
(h) Provide research that focuses on student transitions within and
among the early learning, K-12, and higher education sectors in the P-20 system; and
(i) Make recommendations to the legislature as necessary to help
ensure the goals and objectives of this section and RCW 28A.655.210 and
28A.300.507 are met.
(3) The department of early learning, superintendent of public
instruction, professional educator standards board, state board of
education, state board for community and technical colleges, workforce
training and education coordinating board, ((higher education
coordinating board)) student achievement council, public four-year
institutions of higher education, and employment security department
shall work with the education data center to develop data-sharing and
research agreements, consistent with applicable security and
confidentiality requirements, to facilitate the work of the center.
Private, nonprofit institutions of higher education that provide
programs of education beyond the high school level leading at least to
the baccalaureate degree and are accredited by the Northwest
association of schools and colleges or their peer accreditation bodies
may also develop data-sharing and research agreements with the
education data center, consistent with applicable security and
confidentiality requirements. The education data center shall make
data from collaborative analyses available to the education agencies
and institutions that contribute data to the education data center to
the extent allowed by federal and state security and confidentiality
requirements applicable to the data of each contributing agency or
institution.
Sec. 586 RCW 43.41A.100 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 721 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) In overseeing the technical aspects of the K-20 network, the
office is not intended to duplicate the statutory responsibilities of
the ((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement
council, the superintendent of public instruction, the state librarian,
or the governing boards of the institutions of higher education.
(2) The office may not interfere in any curriculum or legally
offered programming offered over the K-20 network.
(3) The responsibility to review and approve standards and common
specifications for the K-20 network remains the responsibility of the
office under RCW 43.41A.025.
(4) The coordination of telecommunications planning for the common
schools remains the responsibility of the superintendent of public
instruction. Except as set forth in RCW 43.41A.025(2)(f), the office
may recommend, but not require, revisions to the superintendent's
telecommunications plans.
Sec. 587 RCW 43.88.090 and 2005 c 386 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) For purposes of developing budget proposals to the legislature,
the governor shall have the power, and it shall be the governor's duty,
to require from proper agency officials such detailed estimates and
other information in such form and at such times as the governor shall
direct. The governor shall communicate statewide priorities to
agencies for use in developing biennial budget recommendations for
their agency and shall seek public involvement and input on these
priorities. The estimates for the legislature and the judiciary shall
be transmitted to the governor and shall be included in the budget
without revision. The estimates for state pension contributions shall
be based on the rates provided in chapter 41.45 RCW. Copies of all
such estimates shall be transmitted to the standing committees on ways
and means of the house and senate at the same time as they are filed
with the governor and the office of financial management.
The estimates shall include statements or tables which indicate, by
agency, the state funds which are required for the receipt of federal
matching revenues. The estimates shall be revised as necessary to
reflect legislative enactments and adopted appropriations and shall be
included with the initial biennial allotment submitted under RCW
43.88.110. The estimates must reflect that the agency considered any
alternatives to reduce costs or improve service delivery identified in
the findings of a performance audit of the agency by the joint
legislative audit and review committee. Nothing in this subsection
requires performance audit findings to be published as part of the
budget.
(2) Each state agency shall define its mission and establish
measurable goals for achieving desirable results for those who receive
its services and the taxpayers who pay for those services. Each agency
shall also develop clear strategies and timelines to achieve its goals.
This section does not require an agency to develop a new mission or
goals in place of identifiable missions or goals that meet the intent
of this section. The mission and goals of each agency must conform to
statutory direction and limitations.
(3) For the purpose of assessing activity performance, each state
agency shall establish quality and productivity objectives for each
major activity in its budget. The objectives must be consistent with
the missions and goals developed under this section. The objectives
must be expressed to the extent practicable in outcome-based,
objective, and measurable form unless an exception to adopt a different
standard is granted by the office of financial management and approved
by the legislative committee on performance review. Objectives must
specifically address the statutory purpose or intent of the program or
activity and focus on data that measure whether the agency is achieving
or making progress toward the purpose of the activity and toward
statewide priorities. The office of financial management shall provide
necessary professional and technical assistance to assist state
agencies in the development of strategic plans that include the mission
of the agency and its programs, measurable goals, strategies, and
performance measurement systems.
(4) Each state agency shall adopt procedures for and perform
continuous self-assessment of each activity, using the mission, goals,
objectives, and measurements required under subsections (2) and (3) of
this section. The assessment of the activity must also include an
evaluation of major information technology systems or projects that may
assist the agency in achieving or making progress toward the activity
purpose and statewide priorities. The evaluation of proposed major
information technology systems or projects shall be in accordance with
the standards and policies established by the information services
board. Agencies' progress toward the mission, goals, objectives, and
measurements required by subsections (2) and (3) of this section is
subject to review as set forth in this subsection.
(a) The office of financial management shall regularly conduct
reviews of selected activities to analyze whether the objectives and
measurements submitted by agencies demonstrate progress toward
statewide results.
(b) The office of financial management shall consult with: (i) The
((higher education coordinating board and the state board for community
and technical colleges)) four-year institutions of higher education in
those reviews that involve four-year institutions of higher education;
and (ii) the state board for community and technical colleges in those
reviews that involve two-year institutions of higher education.
(c) The goal is for all major activities to receive at least one
review each year.
(d) The office of financial management shall consult with the
information services board when conducting reviews of major information
technology systems in use by state agencies. The goal is that reviews
of these information technology systems occur periodically.
(5) It is the policy of the legislature that each agency's budget
recommendations must be directly linked to the agency's stated mission
and program, quality, and productivity goals and objectives.
Consistent with this policy, agency budget proposals must include
integration of performance measures that allow objective determination
of an activity's success in achieving its goals. When a review under
subsection (4) of this section or other analysis determines that the
agency's objectives demonstrate that the agency is making insufficient
progress toward the goals of any particular program or is otherwise
underachieving or inefficient, the agency's budget request shall
contain proposals to remedy or improve the selected programs. The
office of financial management shall develop a plan to merge the budget
development process with agency performance assessment procedures. The
plan must include a schedule to integrate agency strategic plans and
performance measures into agency budget requests and the governor's
budget proposal over three fiscal biennia. The plan must identify
those agencies that will implement the revised budget process in the
1997-1999 biennium, the 1999-2001 biennium, and the 2001-2003 biennium.
In consultation with the legislative fiscal committees, the office of
financial management shall recommend statutory and procedural
modifications to the state's budget, accounting, and reporting systems
to facilitate the performance assessment procedures and the merger of
those procedures with the state budget process. The plan and
recommended statutory and procedural modifications must be submitted to
the legislative fiscal committees by September 30, 1996.
(6) In reviewing agency budget requests in order to prepare the
governor's biennial budget request, the office of financial management
shall consider the extent to which the agency's activities demonstrate
progress toward the statewide budgeting priorities, along with any
specific review conducted under subsection (4) of this section.
(7) In the year of the gubernatorial election, the governor shall
invite the governor-elect or the governor-elect's designee to attend
all hearings provided in RCW 43.88.100; and the governor shall furnish
the governor-elect or the governor-elect's designee with such
information as will enable the governor-elect or the governor-elect's
designee to gain an understanding of the state's budget requirements.
The governor-elect or the governor-elect's designee may ask such
questions during the hearings and require such information as the
governor-elect or the governor-elect's designee deems necessary and may
make recommendations in connection with any item of the budget which,
with the governor-elect's reasons therefor, shall be presented to the
legislature in writing with the budget document. Copies of all such
estimates and other required information shall also be submitted to the
standing committees on ways and means of the house and senate.
Sec. 588 RCW 43.105.825 and 2004 c 275 s 62 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) In overseeing the technical aspects of the K-20 network, the
information services board is not intended to duplicate the statutory
responsibilities of the ((higher education coordinating board)) student
achievement council, the superintendent of public instruction, the
information services board, the state librarian, or the governing
boards of the institutions of higher education.
(2) The board may not interfere in any curriculum or legally
offered programming offered over the network.
(3) The responsibility to review and approve standards and common
specifications for the network remains the responsibility of the
information services board under RCW 43.105.041.
(4) The coordination of telecommunications planning for the common
schools remains the responsibility of the superintendent of public
instruction. Except as set forth in RCW 43.105.041(1)(d), the board
may recommend, but not require, revisions to the superintendent's
telecommunications plans.
Sec. 589 RCW 43.215.090 and 2011 c 177 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The early learning advisory council is established to advise
the department on statewide early learning issues that would build a
comprehensive system of quality early learning programs and services
for Washington's children and families by assessing needs and the
availability of services, aligning resources, developing plans for data
collection and professional development of early childhood educators,
and establishing key performance measures.
(2) The council shall work in conjunction with the department to
develop a statewide early learning plan that guides the department in
promoting alignment of private and public sector actions, objectives,
and resources, and ensuring school readiness.
(3) The council shall include diverse, statewide representation
from public, nonprofit, and for-profit entities. Its membership shall
reflect regional, racial, and cultural diversity to adequately
represent the needs of all children and families in the state.
(4) Councilmembers shall serve two-year terms. However, to stagger
the terms of the council, the initial appointments for twelve of the
members shall be for one year. Once the initial one-year to two-year
terms expire, all subsequent terms shall be for two years, with the
terms expiring on June 30th of the applicable year. The terms shall be
staggered in such a way that, where possible, the terms of members
representing a specific group do not expire simultaneously.
(5) The council shall consist of not more than twenty-three
members, as follows:
(a) The governor shall appoint at least one representative from
each of the following: The department, the office of financial
management, the department of social and health services, the
department of health, the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council, and the state board for community and
technical colleges;
(b) One representative from the office of the superintendent of
public instruction, to be appointed by the superintendent of public
instruction;
(c) The governor shall appoint seven leaders in early childhood
education, with at least one representative with experience or
expertise in one or more of the areas such as the following: The K-12
system, family day care providers, and child care centers with four of
the seven governor's appointees made as follows:
(i) The head start state collaboration office director or the
director's designee;
(ii) A representative of a head start, early head start,
migrant/seasonal head start, or tribal head start program;
(iii) A representative of a local education agency; and
(iv) A representative of the state agency responsible for programs
under section 619 or part C of the federal individuals with
disabilities education act;
(d) Two members of the house of representatives, one from each
caucus, and two members of the senate, one from each caucus, to be
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the
president of the senate, respectively;
(e) Two parents, one of whom serves on the department's parent
advisory group, to be appointed by the governor;
(f) One representative of the private-public partnership created in
RCW 43.215.070, to be appointed by the partnership board;
(g) One representative designated by sovereign tribal governments;
and
(h) One representative from the Washington federation of
independent schools.
(6) The council shall be cochaired by one representative of a state
agency and one nongovernmental member, to be elected by the council for
two-year terms.
(7) The council shall appoint two members and stakeholders with
expertise in early learning to sit on the technical working group
created in section 2, chapter 234, Laws of 2010.
(8) Each member of the board shall be compensated in accordance
with RCW 43.03.240 and reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in
carrying out the duties of the board in accordance with RCW 43.03.050
and 43.03.060.
(9) The department shall provide staff support to the council.
Sec. 590 RCW 43.330.310 and 2010 c 187 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The legislature establishes a comprehensive green economy jobs
growth initiative based on the goal of, by 2020, increasing the number
of green economy jobs to twenty-five thousand from the eight thousand
four hundred green economy jobs the state had in 2004.
(2) The department, in consultation with the employment security
department, the state workforce training and education coordinating
board, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council,
shall develop a defined list of terms, consistent with current
workforce and economic development terms, associated with green economy
industries and jobs.
(3)(a) The employment security department, in consultation with the
department, the state workforce training and education coordinating
board, the state board for community and technical colleges, the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council,
Washington State University small business development center, and the
Washington State University extension energy program, shall conduct
labor market research to analyze the current labor market and projected
job growth in the green economy, the current and projected recruitment
and skill requirement of green economy industry employers, the wage and
benefits ranges of jobs within green economy industries, and the
education and training requirements of entry-level and incumbent
workers in those industries.
(i) The employment security department shall conduct an analysis of
occupations in the forest products industry to: (A) Determine key
growth factors and employment projections in the industry; and (B)
define the education and skill standards required for current and
emerging green occupations in the industry.
(ii) The term "forest products industry" must be given a broad
interpretation when implementing (a)(i) of this subsection and
includes, but is not limited to, businesses that grow, manage, harvest,
transport, and process forest, wood, and paper products.
(b) The University of Washington business and economic development
center shall: Analyze the current opportunities for and participation
in the green economy by minority and women-owned business enterprises
in Washington; identify existing barriers to their successful
participation in the green economy; and develop strategies with
specific policy recommendations to improve their successful
participation in the green economy. The research may be informed by
the research of the Puget Sound regional council prosperity
partnership, as well as other entities. The University of Washington
business and economic development center shall report to the
appropriate committees of the house of representatives and the senate
on their research, analysis, and recommendations by December 1, 2008.
(4) Based on the findings from subsection (3) of this section, the
employment security department, in consultation with the department and
taking into account the requirements and goals of chapter 14, Laws of
2008 and other state clean energy and energy efficiency policies, shall
propose which industries will be considered high-demand green
industries, based on current and projected job creation and their
strategic importance to the development of the state's green economy.
The employment security department and the department shall take into
account which jobs within green economy industries will be considered
high-wage occupations and occupations that are part of career pathways
to the same, based on family-sustaining wage and benefits ranges.
These designations, and the results of the employment security
department's broader labor market research, shall inform the planning
and strategic direction of the department, the state workforce training
and education coordinating board, the state board for community and
technical colleges, and the ((higher education coordinating board))
student achievement council.
(5) The department shall identify emerging technologies and
innovations that are likely to contribute to advancements in the green
economy, including the activities in designated innovation partnership
zones established in RCW 43.330.270.
(6) The department, consistent with the priorities established by
the state economic development commission, shall:
(a) Develop targeting criteria for existing investments, and make
recommendations for new or expanded financial incentives and
comprehensive strategies, to recruit, retain, and expand green economy
industries and small businesses; and
(b) Make recommendations for new or expanded financial incentives
and comprehensive strategies to stimulate research and development of
green technology and innovation, including designating innovation
partnership zones linked to the green economy.
(7) For the purposes of this section, "target populations" means
(a) entry-level or incumbent workers in high-demand green industries
who are in, or are preparing for, high-wage occupations; (b) dislocated
workers in declining industries who may be retrained for high-wage
occupations in high-demand green industries; (c) dislocated
agriculture, timber, or energy sector workers who may be retrained for
high-wage occupations in high-demand green industries; (d) eligible
veterans or national guard members; (e) disadvantaged populations; or
(f) anyone eligible to participate in the state opportunity grant
program under RCW 28B.50.271.
(8) The legislature directs the state workforce training and
education coordinating board to create and pilot green industry skill
panels. These panels shall consist of business representatives from:
Green industry sectors, including but not limited to forest product
companies, companies engaged in energy efficiency and renewable energy
production, companies engaged in pollution prevention, reduction, and
mitigation, and companies engaged in green building work and green
transportation; labor unions representing workers in those industries
or labor affiliates administering state-approved, joint apprenticeship
programs or labor-management partnership programs that train workers
for these industries; state and local veterans agencies; employer
associations; educational institutions; and local workforce development
councils within the region that the panels propose to operate; and
other key stakeholders as determined by the applicant. Any of these
stakeholder organizations are eligible to receive grants under this
section and serve as the intermediary that convenes and leads the
panel. Panel applicants must provide labor market and industry
analysis that demonstrates high demand, or demand of strategic
importance to the development of the state's clean energy economy as
identified in this section, for high-wage occupations, or occupations
that are part of career pathways to the same, within the relevant
industry sector. The panel shall:
(a) Conduct labor market and industry analyses, in consultation
with the employment security department, and drawing on the findings of
its research when available;
(b) Plan strategies to meet the recruitment and training needs of
the industry and small businesses; and
(c) Leverage and align other public and private funding sources.
(9) The green industries jobs training account is created in the
state treasury. Moneys from the account must be utilized to supplement
the state opportunity grant program established under RCW 28B.50.271.
All receipts from appropriations directed to the account must be
deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used
only for the activities identified in this subsection. The state board
for community and technical colleges, in consultation with the state
workforce training and education coordinating board, informed by the
research of the employment security department and the strategies
developed in this section, may authorize expenditures from the account.
The state board for community and technical colleges must distribute
grants from the account on a competitive basis.
(a)(i) Allowable uses of these grant funds, which should be used
when other public or private funds are insufficient or unavailable, may
include:
(A) Curriculum development;
(B) Transitional jobs strategies for dislocated workers in
declining industries who may be retrained for high-wage occupations in
green industries;
(C) Workforce education to target populations; and
(D) Adult basic and remedial education as necessary linked to
occupation skills training.
(ii) Allowable uses of these grant funds do not include student
assistance and support services available through the state opportunity
grant program under RCW 28B.50.271.
(b) Applicants eligible to receive these grants may be any
organization or a partnership of organizations that has demonstrated
expertise in:
(i) Implementing effective education and training programs that
meet industry demand; and
(ii) Recruiting and supporting, to successful completion of those
training programs carried out under these grants, the target
populations of workers.
(c) In awarding grants from the green industries jobs training
account, the state board for community and technical colleges shall
give priority to applicants that demonstrate the ability to:
(i) Use labor market and industry analysis developed by the
employment security department and green industry skill panels in the
design and delivery of the relevant education and training program, and
otherwise utilize strategies developed by green industry skill panels;
(ii) Leverage and align existing public programs and resources and
private resources toward the goal of recruiting, supporting, educating,
and training target populations of workers;
(iii) Work collaboratively with other relevant stakeholders in the
regional economy;
(iv) Link adult basic and remedial education, where necessary, with
occupation skills training;
(v) Involve employers and, where applicable, labor unions in the
determination of relevant skills and competencies and, where relevant,
the validation of career pathways; and
(vi) Ensure that supportive services, where necessary, are
integrated with education and training and are delivered by
organizations with direct access to and experience with the targeted
population of workers.
Sec. 591 RCW 43.330.375 and 2010 c 187 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The department and the workforce board must:
(a) Coordinate efforts across the state to ensure that federal
training and education funds are captured and deployed in a focused and
effective manner in order to support green economy projects and
accomplish the goals of the evergreen jobs initiative;
(b) Accelerate and coordinate efforts by state and local
organizations to identify, apply for, and secure all sources of funds,
particularly those created by the 2009 American recovery and
reinvestment act, and to ensure that distributions of funding to local
organizations are allocated in a manner that is time-efficient and
user-friendly for the local organizations. Local organizations
eligible to receive support include but are not limited to:
(i) Associate development organizations;
(ii) Workforce development councils;
(iii) Public utility districts; and
(iv) Community action agencies;
(c) Support green economy projects at both the state and local
level by developing a process and a framework to provide, at a minimum:
(i) Administrative and technical assistance;
(ii) Assistance with and expediting of permit processes; and
(iii) Priority consideration of opportunities leading to exportable
green economy goods and services, including renewable energy
technology;
(d) Coordinate local and state implementation of projects using
federal funds to ensure implementation is time-efficient and user-friendly for local organizations;
(e) Emphasize through both support and outreach efforts, projects
that:
(i) Have a strong and lasting economic or environmental impact;
(ii) Lead to a domestically or internationally exportable good or
service, including renewable energy technology;
(iii) Create training programs leading to a credential,
certificate, or degree in a green economy field;
(iv) Strengthen the state's competitiveness in a particular sector
or cluster of the green economy;
(v) Create employment opportunities for veterans, members of the
national guard, and low-income and disadvantaged populations;
(vi) Comply with prevailing wage provisions of chapter 39.12 RCW;
(vii) Ensure at least fifteen percent of labor hours are performed
by apprentices;
(f) Identify emerging technologies and innovations that are likely
to contribute to advancements in the green economy, including the
activities in designated innovation partnership zones established in
RCW 43.330.270;
(g) Identify barriers to the growth of green jobs in traditional
industries such as the forest products industry;
(h) Identify statewide performance metrics for projects receiving
agency assistance. Such metrics may include:
(i) The number of new green jobs created each year, their wage
levels, and, to the extent determinable, the percentage of new green
jobs filled by veterans, members of the national guard, and low-income
and disadvantaged populations;
(ii) The total amount of new federal funding secured, the
respective amounts allocated to the state and local levels, and the
timeliness of deployment of new funding by state agencies to the local
level;
(iii) The timeliness of state deployment of funds and support to
local organizations; and
(iv) If available, the completion rates, time to completion, and
training-related placement rates for green economy postsecondary
training programs;
(i) Identify strategies to allocate existing and new funding
streams for green economy workforce training programs and education to
emphasize those leading to a credential, certificate, or degree in a
green economy field;
(j) Identify and implement strategies to allocate existing and new
funding streams for workforce development councils and associate
development organizations to increase their effectiveness and
efficiency and increase local capacity to respond rapidly and
comprehensively to opportunities to attract green jobs to local
communities;
(k) Develop targeting criteria for existing investments that are
consistent with the economic development commission's economic
development strategy and the goals of this section and RCW 28C.18.170,
28B.50.281, and 49.04.200; and
(l) Make and support outreach efforts so that residents of
Washington, particularly members of target populations, become aware of
educational and employment opportunities identified and funded through
the evergreen jobs act.
(2) The department and the workforce board must provide semiannual
performance reports to the governor and appropriate committees of the
legislature on:
(a) Actual statewide performance based on the performance measures
identified in subsection (1)(h) of this section;
(b) How the state is emphasizing and supporting projects that lead
to a domestically or internationally exportable good or service,
including renewable energy technology;
(c) A list of projects supported, created, or funded in furtherance
of the goals of the evergreen jobs initiative and the actions taken by
state and local organizations, including the effectiveness of state
agency support provided to local organizations as directed in
subsection (1)(b) and (c) of this section;
(d) Recommendations for new or expanded financial incentives and
comprehensive strategies to:
(i) Recruit, retain, and expand green economy industries and small
businesses; and
(ii) Stimulate research and development of green technology and
innovation, which may include designating innovation partnership zones
linked to the green economy;
(e) Any information that associate development organizations and
workforce development councils choose to provide to appropriate
legislative committees regarding the effectiveness, timeliness, and
coordination of support provided by state agencies under this section
and RCW 28C.18.170, 28B.50.281, and 49.04.200; and
(f) Any recommended statutory changes necessary to increase the
effectiveness of the evergreen jobs initiative and state responsiveness
to local agencies and organizations.
(3) The definitions, designations, and results of the employment
security department's broader labor market research under RCW
43.330.010 shall inform the planning and strategic direction of the
department, the state workforce training and education coordinating
board, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council.
Sec. 592 RCW 47.80.090 and 2009 c 459 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) A regional transportation planning organization containing any
county with a population in excess of one million in collaboration with
representatives from the department of ecology, the department of
((community, trade, and economic development)) commerce, local
governments, and the office of regulatory assistance must seek federal
or private funding for the planning for, deployment of, or regulations
concerning electric vehicle infrastructure. These efforts should
include:
(a) Development of short-term and long-term plans outlining how
state, regional, and local government construction may include electric
vehicle infrastructure in publicly available off-street parking and
government fleet vehicle parking, including what ratios of charge spots
to parking may be appropriate based on location or type of facility or
building;
(b) Consultations with the state building code council and the
department of labor and industries to coordinate the plans with state
standards for new residential, commercial, and industrial buildings to
ensure that the appropriate electric circuitry is installed to support
electric vehicle infrastructure;
(c) Consultation with the workforce development council and the
((higher education coordinating board)) student achievement council to
ensure the development of appropriate educational and training
opportunities for citizens of the state in support of the transition of
some portion of vehicular transportation from combustion to electric
vehicles;
(d) Development of an implementation plan for counties with a
population greater than five hundred thousand with the goal of having
public and private parking spaces, in the aggregate, be ten percent
electric vehicle ready by December 31, 2018; and
(e) Development of model ordinances and guidance for local
governments for siting and installing electric vehicle infrastructure,
in particular battery charging stations, and appropriate handling,
recycling, and storage of electric vehicle batteries and equipment.
(2) These plans and any recommendations developed as a result of
the consultations required by this section must be submitted to the
legislature by December 31, 2010, or as soon as reasonably practicable
after the securing of any federal or private funding. Priority will be
given to the activities in subsection (1)(e) of this section and any
ordinances or guidance that is developed will be submitted to the
legislature, the department of ((community, trade, and economic
development)) commerce, and affected local governments prior to
December 31, 2010, if completed.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply ((through
[throughout])) throughout this section unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
(a) "Battery charging station" means an electrical component
assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to
charge batteries within electric vehicles, which meet or exceed any
standards, codes, and regulations set forth by chapter 19.28 RCW and
consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
(b) "Battery exchange station" means a fully automated facility
that will enable an electric vehicle with a swappable battery to enter
a drive lane and exchange the depleted battery with a fully charged
battery through a fully automated process, which meets or exceeds any
standards, codes, and regulations set forth by chapter 19.28 RCW and
consistent with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
(c) "Electric vehicle infrastructure" means structures, machinery,
and equipment necessary and integral to support an electric vehicle,
including battery charging stations, rapid charging stations, and
battery exchange stations.
(d) "Rapid charging station" means an industrial grade electrical
outlet that allows for faster recharging of electric vehicle batteries
through higher power levels, which meets or exceeds any standards,
codes, and regulations set forth by chapter 19.28 RCW and consistent
with rules adopted under RCW 19.27.540.
Sec. 593 RCW 70.180.110 and 1998 c 245 s 120 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The department, in consultation with at least the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council, the state
board for community and technical colleges, the superintendent of
public instruction, and state-supported education programs in medicine,
pharmacy, and nursing, shall develop a plan for increasing rural
training opportunities for students in medicine, pharmacy, and nursing.
The plan shall provide for direct exposure to rural health professional
practice conditions for students planning careers in medicine,
pharmacy, and nursing.
(2) The department and the medical, pharmacy, and nurse education
programs shall:
(a) Inventory existing rural-based clinical experience programs,
including internships, clerkships, residencies, and other training
opportunities available to students pursuing degrees in nursing,
pharmacy, and medicine;
(b) Identify where training opportunities do not currently exist
and are needed;
(c) Develop recommendations for improving the availability of rural
training opportunities;
(d) Develop recommendations on establishing agreements between
education programs to assure that all students in medical, pharmacist,
and nurse education programs in the state have access to rural training
opportunities; and
(e) Review private and public funding sources to finance rural-based training opportunities.
Sec. 594 RCW 74.13.570 and 2005 c 93 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The department shall establish an oversight committee composed
of staff from the children's administration of the department, the
office of the superintendent of public instruction, the ((higher
education coordinating board)) student achievement council, foster
youth, former foster youth, foster parents, and advocacy agencies to
develop strategies for maintaining foster children in the schools they
were attending at the time they entered foster care and to promote
opportunities for foster youth to participate in postsecondary
education or training.
(2) The duties of the oversight committee shall include, but are
not limited to:
(a) Developing strategies for school-based recruitment of foster
homes;
(b) Monitoring the progress of current pilot projects that assist
foster children to continue attending the schools they were attending
at the time they entered foster care;
(c) Overseeing the expansion of the number of pilot projects;
(d) Promoting the use of best practices, throughout the state,
demonstrated by the pilot projects and other programs relating to
maintaining foster children in the schools they were attending at the
time they entered foster care;
(e) Informing the legislature of the status of efforts to maintain
foster children in the schools they were attending at the time they
entered foster care;
(f) Assessing the scope and nature of statewide need among current
and former foster youth for assistance to pursue and participate in
postsecondary education or training opportunities;
(g) Identifying available sources of funding available in the state
for services to former foster youth to pursue and participate in
postsecondary education or training opportunities;
(h) Reviewing the effectiveness of activities in the state to
support former foster youth to pursue and participate in postsecondary
education or training opportunities;
(i) Identifying new activities, or existing activities that should
be modified or expanded, to best meet statewide needs; and
(j) Reviewing on an ongoing basis the progress toward improving
educational and vocational outcomes for foster youth.
Sec. 601 RCW 28A.175.135 and 2011 c 288 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, funds shall be
allocated as specified in the omnibus appropriations act to support the
PASS program through the following programs:
(1) The opportunity internship program under RCW 28C.18.160 through
28C.18.168;
(2) The jobs for America's graduates program administered through
the office of the superintendent of public instruction;
(3) The building bridges program under RCW 28A.175.025, to be used
to expand programs that have been implemented by building bridges
partnerships and determined by the building bridges work group to be
successful in reducing dropout rates, or to replicate such programs in
new partnerships; and
(4) Individualized student support services provided by a college
scholarship organization with expertise in managing scholarships for
low-income, high potential students and foster care youth under
contract with the ((higher education coordinating board)) office of
student financial assistance, including but not limited to college and
career advising, counseling, tutoring, community mentor programs, and
leadership development.
Sec. 602 RCW 28B.12.070 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 147 are each
amended to read as follows:
Each eligible institution shall submit to the office of student
financial assistance an annual report in accordance with such
requirements as are adopted by the ((board)) office.
Sec. 603 RCW 28B.15.764 and 1985 c 370 s 81 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((board)) office and institutions of higher education shall
work cooperatively to implement RCW 28B.15.762 and to publicize this
program to eligible students.
Sec. 604 RCW 28B.76.505 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 107 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The investment of funds from all scholarship endowment programs
administered by the office shall be managed by the state investment
board.
(2) The state investment board has the full power to invest,
reinvest, manage, contract, sell, or exchange investment money in
scholarship endowment funds. All investment and operating costs
associated with the investment of a scholarship endowment fund shall be
paid pursuant to RCW 43.33A.160 and 43.84.160. With the exception of
these expenses, the earnings from the investments of the fund belong to
the fund.
(3) Funds from all scholarship endowment programs administered by
the ((board)) office shall be in the custody of the state treasurer.
(4) All investments made by the state investment board shall be
made with the exercise of that degree of judgment and care pursuant to
RCW 43.33A.140 and the investment policies established by the state
investment board.
(5) As deemed appropriate by the state investment board, money in
a scholarship endowment fund may be commingled for investment with
other funds subject to investment by the state investment board.
(6) The authority to establish all policies relating to scholarship
endowment funds, other than the investment policies in subsections (2)
through (5) of this section, resides with the office.
(7) The office may request and accept moneys from the state
investment board. With the exception of expenses of the state
investment board in subsection (2) of this section, disbursements from
the fund shall be made only on the authorization of the office and
money in the fund may be spent only for the purposes of the endowment
programs as specified in the authorizing chapter of each program.
(8) The state investment board shall routinely consult and
communicate with the office on the investment policy, earnings of the
scholarship endowment funds, and related needs of the programs.
Sec. 605 RCW 28B.92.080 and 2009 c 238 s 9 are each amended to
read as follows:
Except for opportunity internship graduates whose eligibility is
provided under RCW 28B.92.084, for a student to be eligible for a state
need grant a student must:
(1) Be a "needy student" or "disadvantaged student" as determined
by the ((board)) office in accordance with RCW 28B.92.030 (((3))) (1)
and (4);
(2) Have been domiciled within the state of Washington for at least
one year;
(3) Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time
basis at an institution of higher education in Washington as defined in
RCW 28B.92.030(((1))) (3);
(4) Until June 30, 2011, to the extent funds are specifically
appropriated for this purpose, and subject to any terms and conditions
specified in the omnibus appropriations act, be enrolled or accepted
for enrollment for at least three quarter credits or the equivalent
semester credits at an institution of higher education in Washington as
defined in RCW 28B.92.030(((1))) (3); and
(5) Have complied with all the rules adopted by the ((board))
council for the administration of this chapter.
Sec. 606 RCW 28B.95.020 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 168 are each
amended to read as follows:
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter,
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Academic year" means the regular nine-month, three-quarter, or
two-semester period annually occurring between August 1st and July
31st.
(2) "Account" means the Washington advanced college tuition payment
program account established for the deposit of all money received by
the ((board)) office from eligible purchasers and interest earnings on
investments of funds in the account, as well as for all expenditures on
behalf of eligible beneficiaries for the redemption of tuition units
and for the development of any authorized college savings program
pursuant to RCW 28B.95.150.
(3) "Committee on advanced tuition payment" or "committee" means a
committee of the following members: The state treasurer, the director
of the office of financial management, the director of the office, or
their designees, and two members to be appointed by the governor, one
representing program participants and one private business
representative with marketing, public relations, or financial
expertise.
(4) "Contractual obligation" means a legally binding contract of
the state with the purchaser and the beneficiary establishing that
purchases of tuition units will be worth the same number of tuition
units at the time of redemption as they were worth at the time of the
purchase.
(5) "Eligible beneficiary" means the person for whom the tuition
unit will be redeemed for attendance at an institution of higher
education. The beneficiary is that person named by the purchaser at
the time that a tuition unit contract is accepted by the governing
body. Qualified organizations, as allowed under section 529 of the
federal internal revenue code, purchasing tuition unit contracts as
future scholarships need not designate a beneficiary at the time of
purchase.
(6) "Eligible purchaser" means an individual or organization that
has entered into a tuition unit contract with the governing body for
the purchase of tuition units for an eligible beneficiary. The state
of Washington may be an eligible purchaser for purposes of purchasing
tuition units to be held for granting Washington college bound
scholarships.
(7) "Full-time tuition charges" means resident tuition charges at
a state institution of higher education for enrollments between ten
credits and eighteen credit hours per academic term.
(8) "Governing body" means the committee empowered by the
legislature to administer the Washington advanced college tuition
payment program.
(9) "Institution of higher education" means an institution that
offers education beyond the secondary level and is recognized by the
internal revenue service under chapter 529 of the internal revenue
code.
(10) "Investment board" means the state investment board as defined
in chapter 43.33A RCW.
(11) "Office" means the office of student financial assistance as
defined in chapter 28B.76 RCW.
(12) "State institution of higher education" means institutions of
higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.
(13) "Tuition and fees" means undergraduate tuition and services
and activities fees as defined in RCW 28B.15.020 and 28B.15.041 rounded
to the nearest whole dollar. For purposes of this chapter, services
and activities fees do not include fees charged for the payment of
bonds heretofore or hereafter issued for, or other indebtedness
incurred to pay, all or part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, or
installing any lands, buildings, or facilities.
(14) "Tuition unit contract" means a contract between an eligible
purchaser and the governing body, or a successor agency appointed for
administration of this chapter, for the purchase of tuition units for
a specified beneficiary that may be redeemed at a later date for an
equal number of tuition units.
(15) "Unit purchase price" means the minimum cost to purchase one
tuition unit for an eligible beneficiary. Generally, the minimum
purchase price is one percent of the undergraduate tuition and fees for
the current year, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, adjusted for the
costs of administration and adjusted to ensure the actuarial soundness
of the account. The analysis for price setting shall also include, but
not be limited to consideration of past and projected patterns of
tuition increases, program liability, past and projected investment
returns, and the need for a prudent stabilization reserve.
Sec. 607 RCW 28B.103.030 and 1994 c 234 s 7 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Participants in the conditional scholarship program incur an
obligation to repay the conditional scholarship, with interest, unless
they serve in the Washington national guard for one additional year for
each year of conditional scholarship received, under rules adopted by
the office.
(2) The entire principal and interest of each yearly repayment
shall be forgiven for each additional year in which a participant
serves in the Washington national guard, under rules adopted by the
office.
(3) If a participant elects to repay the conditional scholarship,
the period of repayment shall be four years, with payments accruing
quarterly commencing nine months from the date that the participant
leaves the Washington national guard or withdraws from the institution
of higher education, whichever comes first. The interest rate on the
repayments shall be eight percent per year. Provisions for deferral
and forgiveness shall be determined by the office.
(4) The office is responsible for collection of repayments made
under this section. The office shall exercise due diligence in such
collection, maintaining all necessary records to ensure that maximum
repayments are made. Collection and servicing of repayments under this
section shall be pursued using the full extent of law, including wage
garnishment if necessary. The office is responsible to forgive all or
parts of such repayments under the criteria established in this
section, and shall maintain all necessary records of forgiven payments.
The office may contract with the ((higher education coordinating
board)) office of student financial assistance for collection of
repayments under this section.
(5) Receipts from the payment of principal or interest paid by or
on behalf of participants shall be deposited with the office and shall
be used to cover the costs of granting the conditional scholarships,
maintaining necessary records, and making collections under subsection
(4) of this section. The office shall maintain accurate records of
these costs, and all receipts beyond those necessary to pay such costs
shall be used to grant conditional scholarships to eligible students.
Sec. 608 RCW 28B.108.020 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 192 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The American Indian endowed scholarship program is created.
The program shall be administered by the office. In administering the
program, the ((board's)) office's powers and duties shall include but
not be limited to:
(((1))) (a) Selecting students to receive scholarships, with the
assistance of a screening committee composed of persons involved in
helping American Indian students to obtain a higher education. The
membership of the committee may include, but is not limited to
representatives of: Indian tribes, urban Indians, the governor's
office of Indian affairs, the Washington state Indian education
association, and institutions of higher education;
(((2) Adopting necessary rules and guidelines;)) (b) Publicizing the program;
(3)
(((4))) (c) Accepting and depositing donations into the endowment
fund created in RCW 28B.108.060;
(((5))) (d) Requesting from the state investment board and
accepting from the state treasurer moneys earned from the endowment
fund created in RCW 28B.108.060;
(((6))) (e) Soliciting and accepting grants and donations from
public and private sources for the program; and
(((7))) (f) Naming scholarships in honor of those American Indians
from Washington who have acted as role models.
(2) The student achievement council shall adopt necessary rules and
guidelines for the American Indian endowed scholarship program.
Sec. 609 RCW 28B.117.030 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 221 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) The office shall design and, to the extent funds are
appropriated for this purpose, implement, a program of supplemental
scholarship and student assistance for students who have emancipated
from the state foster care system after having spent at least one year
in care.
(2) The office shall convene and consult with an advisory committee
to assist with program design and implementation. The committee shall
include but not be limited to former foster care youth and their
advocates; representatives from the state board for community and
technical colleges, and from public and private agencies that assist
current and former foster care recipients in their transition to
adulthood; and student support specialists from public and private
colleges and universities.
(3) To the extent that sufficient funds have been appropriated for
this purpose, a student is eligible for assistance under this section
if he or she:
(a) Emancipated from foster care on or after January 1, 2007, after
having spent at least one year in foster care subsequent to his or her
sixteenth birthday;
(b) Is a resident student, as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2);
(c) Is enrolled with or will enroll on at least a half-time basis
with an institution of higher education in Washington state by the age
of twenty-one;
(d) Is making satisfactory academic progress toward the completion
of a degree or certificate program, if receiving supplemental
scholarship assistance;
(e) Has not earned a bachelor's or professional degree; and
(f) Is not pursuing a degree in theology.
(4) A passport to college scholarship under this section:
(a) Shall not exceed resident undergraduate tuition and fees at the
highest-priced public institution of higher education in the state; and
(b) Shall not exceed the student's financial need, less a
reasonable self-help amount defined by the ((board)) office, when
combined with all other public and private grant, scholarship, and
waiver assistance the student receives.
(5) An eligible student may receive a passport to college
scholarship under this section for a maximum of five years after the
student first enrolls with an institution of higher education or until
the student turns age twenty-six, whichever occurs first. If a student
turns age twenty-six during an academic year, and would otherwise be
eligible for a scholarship under this section, the student shall
continue to be eligible for a scholarship for the remainder of the
academic year.
(6) The office, in consultation with and with assistance from the
state board for community and technical colleges, shall perform an
annual analysis to verify that those institutions of higher education
at which students have received a scholarship under this section have
awarded the student all available need-based and merit-based grant and
scholarship aid for which the student qualifies.
(7) In designing and implementing the passport to college student
support program under this section, the office, in consultation with
and with assistance from the state board for community and technical
colleges, shall ensure that a participating college or university:
(a) Has a viable plan for identifying students eligible for
assistance under this section, for tracking and enhancing their
academic progress, for addressing their unique needs for assistance
during school vacations and academic interims, and for linking them to
appropriate sources of assistance in their transition to adulthood;
(b) Receives financial and other incentives for achieving
measurable progress in the recruitment, retention, and graduation of
eligible students.
Sec. 701 RCW 28B.15.069 and 2005 c 258 s 10 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage
of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the
((higher education coordinating board)) office of financial management
and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total
tuition for each tuition category in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded
up to the nearest half percent.
(2) The governing boards of each institution of higher education,
except for the technical colleges, shall charge to and collect from
each student a services and activities fee. A governing board may
increase the existing fee annually, consistent with budgeting
procedures set forth in RCW 28B.15.045, by a percentage not to exceed
the annual percentage increase in student tuition fees for resident
undergraduate students: PROVIDED, That such percentage increase shall
not apply to that portion of the services and activities fee previously
committed to the repayment of bonded debt. These rate adjustments may
exceed the fiscal growth factor. For the 2003-04 academic year, the
services and activities fee shall be based upon the resident
undergraduate services and activities fee in 2002-03. The services and
activities fee committee provided for in RCW 28B.15.045 may initiate a
request to the governing board for a fee increase.
(3) Tuition and services and activities fees consistent with
subsection (2) of this section shall be set by the state board for
community and technical colleges for community college summer school
students unless the community college charges fees in accordance with
RCW 28B.15.515.
(4) Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, each governing
board of a community college may charge such fees for ungraded courses,
noncredit courses, community services courses, and self-supporting
courses as it, in its discretion, may determine, consistent with the
rules of the state board for community and technical colleges.
(5) The governing board of a college offering an applied
baccalaureate degree program under RCW 28B.50.810 may charge tuition
fees for those courses above the associate degree level at rates
consistent with rules adopted by the state board for community and
technical colleges, not to exceed tuition fee rates at the regional
universities.
Sec. 702 RCW 28A.600.310 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 10 s 10 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) Eleventh and twelfth grade students or students who have not
yet received the credits required for the award of a high school
diploma and are eligible to be in the eleventh or twelfth grades may
apply to a participating institution of higher education to enroll in
courses or programs offered by the institution of higher education. A
student receiving home-based instruction enrolling in a public high
school for the sole purpose of participating in courses or programs
offered by institutions of higher education shall not be counted by the
school district in any required state or federal accountability
reporting if the student's parents or guardians filed a declaration of
intent to provide home-based instruction and the student received home-based instruction during the school year before the school year in
which the student intends to participate in courses or programs offered
by the institution of higher education. Students receiving home-based
instruction under chapter 28A.200 RCW and students attending private
schools approved under chapter 28A.195 RCW shall not be required to
meet the student learning goals, obtain a certificate of academic
achievement or a certificate of individual achievement to graduate from
high school, or to master the essential academic learning requirements.
However, students are eligible to enroll in courses or programs in
participating universities only if the board of directors of the
student's school district has decided to participate in the program.
Participating institutions of higher education, in consultation with
school districts, may establish admission standards for these students.
If the institution of higher education accepts a secondary school pupil
for enrollment under this section, the institution of higher education
shall send written notice to the pupil and the pupil's school district
within ten days of acceptance. The notice shall indicate the course
and hours of enrollment for that pupil.
(2)(a) In lieu of tuition and fees, as defined in RCW 28B.15.020
and 28B.15.041:
(i) Running start students shall pay to the community or technical
college all other mandatory fees as established by each community or
technical college and, in addition, the state board for community and
technical colleges may authorize a fee of up to ten percent of tuition
and fees as defined in RCW 28B.15.020 and 28B.15.041; and
(ii) All other institutions of higher education operating a running
start program may charge running start students a fee of up to ten
percent of tuition and fees as defined in RCW 28B.15.020 and 28B.15.041
in addition to technology fees.
(b) The fees charged under this subsection (2) shall be prorated
based on credit load.
(3)(a) The institutions of higher education must make available fee
waivers for low-income running start students. Each institution must
establish a written policy for the determination of low-income students
before offering the fee waiver. A student shall be considered low
income and eligible for a fee waiver upon proof that the student is
currently qualified to receive free or reduced-price lunch. Acceptable
documentation of low-income status may also include, but is not limited
to, documentation that a student has been deemed eligible for free or
reduced-price lunches in the last five years, or other criteria
established in the institution's policy.
(b) Institutions of higher education, in collaboration with
relevant student associations, shall aim to have students who can
benefit from fee waivers take advantage of these waivers. Institutions
shall make every effort to communicate to students and their families
the benefits of the waivers and provide assistance to students and
their families on how to apply. Information about waivers shall, to
the greatest extent possible, be incorporated into financial aid
counseling, admission information, and individual billing statements.
Institutions also shall, to the greatest extent possible, use all means
of communication, including but not limited to web sites, online
catalogues, admission and registration forms, mass e-mail messaging,
social media, and outside marketing to ensure that information about
waivers is visible, compelling, and reaches the maximum number of
students and families that can benefit.
(4) The pupil's school district shall transmit to the institution
of higher education an amount per each full-time equivalent college
student at statewide uniform rates for vocational and nonvocational
students. The superintendent of public instruction shall separately
calculate and allocate moneys appropriated for basic education under
RCW 28A.150.260 to school districts for purposes of making such
payments and for granting school districts seven percent thereof to
offset program related costs. The calculations and allocations shall
be based upon the estimated statewide annual average per full-time
equivalent high school student allocations under RCW 28A.150.260,
excluding small high school enhancements, and applicable rules adopted
under chapter 34.05 RCW. The superintendent of public instruction,
((the higher education coordinating board)) participating institutions
of higher education, and the state board for community and technical
colleges shall consult on the calculation and distribution of the
funds. The funds received by the institution of higher education from
the school district shall not be deemed tuition or operating fees and
may be retained by the institution of higher education. A student
enrolled under this subsection shall be counted for the purpose of
meeting enrollment targets in accordance with terms and conditions
specified in the omnibus appropriations act.
(5) The state board for community and technical colleges, in
collaboration with the other institutions of higher education that
participate in the running start program and the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, shall identify, assess, and
report on alternatives for providing ongoing and adequate financial
support for the program. Such alternatives shall include but are not
limited to student tuition, increased support from local school
districts, and reallocation of existing state financial support among
the community and technical college system to account for differential
running start enrollment levels and impacts. The state board for
community and technical colleges shall report the assessment of
alternatives to the governor and to the appropriate fiscal and policy
committees of the legislature by September 1, 2010.
Sec. 703 RCW 28B.15.380 and 2010 c 261 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards
of the state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen
State College shall exempt the following students from the payment of
all tuition fees and services and activities fees:
(1) Children of any law enforcement officer as defined in chapter
41.26 RCW, firefighter as defined in chapter 41.26 or 41.24 RCW, or
Washington state patrol officer who lost his or her life or became
totally disabled in the line of duty while employed by any public law
enforcement agency or full time or volunteer fire department in this
state: PROVIDED, That such persons may receive the exemption only if
they begin their course of study at a state-supported college or
university within ten years of their graduation from high school; and
(2) Surviving spouses of any law enforcement officer as defined in
chapter 41.26 RCW, firefighter as defined in chapter 41.26 or 41.24
RCW, or Washington state patrol officer who lost his or her life or
became totally disabled in the line of duty while employed by any
public law enforcement agency or full time or volunteer fire department
in this state.
(3) The governing boards of the state universities, the regional
universities, and The Evergreen State College shall report to the
((higher education coordinating board)) education data center on the
annual cost of tuition fees and services and activities fees waived for
surviving spouses and children under this section. The ((higher
education coordinating board)) education data center shall consolidate
the reports of the waived fees and annually report to the appropriate
fiscal and policy committees of the legislature.
Sec. 704 RCW 28B.15.730 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 27 are each amended
to read as follows:
Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the state board for
community and technical colleges and the governing boards of the state
universities, the regional universities, the community colleges, and
The Evergreen State College may waive all or a portion of the
nonresident tuition fees differential for residents of Oregon, upon
completion of and to the extent permitted by an agreement between the
governing boards of the respective individual institutions of higher
education ((coordinating board)) or the state board for community and
technical colleges and appropriate officials and agencies in Oregon
granting similar waivers for residents of the state of Washington.
Sec. 705 RCW 28B.15.734 and 1985 c 370 s 71 are each amended to
read as follows:
The ((higher education coordinating board)) governing boards of the
state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State
College, and the state board for community and technical colleges may
enter into an agreement with appropriate officials or agencies in
Oregon to implement the provisions of RCW 28B.15.730 through
28B.15.734.
Sec. 706 RCW 28B.15.750 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 29 are each amended
to read as follows:
Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards
of the state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen
State College and the state board for community and technical colleges
may waive all or a portion of the nonresident tuition fees differential
for residents of Idaho, upon completion of and to the extent permitted
by an agreement between the governing boards of the individual
institutions of higher education ((coordinating board)) or the state
board for community and technical colleges and appropriate officials
and agencies in Idaho granting similar waivers for residents of the
state of Washington.
Sec. 707 RCW 28B.15.756 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 30 are each amended
to read as follows:
Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards
of the state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen
State College and the state board for community and technical colleges
may waive all or a portion of the nonresident tuition fees differential
for residents of the Canadian province of British Columbia, upon
completion of and to the extent permitted by an agreement between the
governing boards of the individual institutions of higher education
((coordinating board)) or the state board for community and technical
colleges and appropriate officials and agencies in the Canadian
province of British Columbia providing for enrollment opportunities for
residents of the state of Washington without payment of tuition or fees
in excess of those charged to residents of British Columbia.
Sec. 708 RCW 43.330.280 and 2009 c 565 s 14 and 2009 c 72 s 2 are
each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(1) The Washington state economic development commission shall,
with the advice of an innovation partnership advisory group selected by
the commission:
(a) Provide information and advice to the department of commerce to
assist in the implementation of the innovation partnership zone
program, including criteria to be used in the selection of grant
applicants for funding;
(b) Document clusters of companies throughout the state that have
comparative competitive advantage or the potential for comparative
competitive advantage, using the process and criteria for identifying
strategic clusters developed by the working group specified in
subsection (2) of this section;
(c) Conduct an innovation opportunity analysis to identify (i) the
strongest current intellectual assets and research teams in the state
focused on emerging technologies and their commercialization, and (ii)
faculty and researchers that could increase their focus on
commercialization of technology if provided the appropriate technical
assistance and resources;
(d) Based on its findings and analysis, and in conjunction with the
((higher education coordinating board and)) research institutions:
(i) Develop a plan to build on existing, and develop new,
intellectual assets and innovation research teams in the state in
research areas where there is a high potential to commercialize
technologies. The commission shall present the plan to the governor
and legislature by December 31, 2009. The ((higher education
coordinating board)) publicly funded research institutions in the state
shall be responsible for implementing the plan ((in conjunction with
the publicly funded research institutions in the state)). The plan
shall address the following elements and such other elements as the
commission deems important:
(A) Specific mechanisms to support, enhance, or develop innovation
research teams and strengthen their research and commercialization
capacity in areas identified as useful to strategic clusters and
innovative firms in the state;
(B) Identification of the funding necessary for laboratory
infrastructure needed to house innovation research teams;
(C) Specification of the most promising research areas meriting
enhanced resources and recruitment of significant entrepreneurial
researchers to join or lead innovation research teams;
(D) The most productive approaches to take in the recruitment, in
the identified promising research areas, of a minimum of ten
significant entrepreneurial researchers over the next ten years to join
or lead innovation research teams;
(E) Steps to take in solicitation of private sector support for the
recruitment of entrepreneurial researchers and the commercialization
activity of innovation research teams; and
(F) Mechanisms for ensuring the location of innovation research
teams in innovation partnership zones;
(ii) Provide direction for the development of comprehensive
entrepreneurial assistance programs at research institutions. The
programs may involve multidisciplinary students, faculty,
entrepreneurial researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors in building
business models and evolving business plans around innovative ideas.
The programs may provide technical assistance and the support of an
entrepreneur-in-residence to innovation research teams and offer
entrepreneurial training to faculty, researchers, undergraduates, and
graduate students. Curriculum leading to a certificate in
entrepreneurship may also be offered;
(e) Develop performance measures to be used in evaluating the
performance of innovation research teams, the implementation of the
plan and programs under (d)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, and the
performance of innovation partnership zone grant recipients, including
but not limited to private investment measures, business initiation
measures, job creation measures, and measures of innovation such as
licensing of ideas in research institutions, patents, or other
recognized measures of innovation. The performance measures developed
shall be consistent with the economic development commission's
comprehensive plan for economic development and its standards and
metrics for program evaluation. The commission shall report to the
legislature and the governor by June 30, 2009, on the measures
developed; and
(f) Using the performance measures developed, perform a biennial
assessment and report, the first of which shall be due December 31,
2012, on:
(i) Commercialization of technologies developed at state
universities, found at other research institutions in the state, and
facilitated with public assistance at existing companies;
(ii) Outcomes of the funding of innovation research teams and
recruitment of significant entrepreneurial researchers;
(iii) Comparison with other states of Washington's outcomes from
the innovation research teams and efforts to recruit significant
entrepreneurial researchers; and
(iv) Outcomes of the grants for innovation partnership zones.
The report shall include recommendations for modifications of chapter
227, Laws of 2007 and of state commercialization efforts that would
enhance the state's economic competitiveness.
(2) The economic development commission and the workforce training
and education coordinating board shall jointly convene a working group
to:
(a) Specify the process and criteria for identification of substate
geographic concentrations of firms or employment in an industry and the
industry's customers, suppliers, supporting businesses, and
institutions, which process will include the use of labor market
information from the employment security department and local labor
markets; and
(b) Establish criteria for identifying strategic clusters which are
important to economic prosperity in the state, considering cluster
size, growth rate, and wage levels among other factors.
Sec. 801 RCW 28A.600.290 and 2009 c 450 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The superintendent of public instruction, the state board for
community and technical colleges, ((the higher education coordinating
board,)) and the public baccalaureate institutions shall jointly
develop and each adopt rules governing the college in the high school
program. The association of Washington school principals shall be
consulted during the rules development. The rules shall be written to
encourage the maximum use of the program and may not narrow or limit
the enrollment options.
(2) College in the high school programs shall each be governed by
a local contract between the district and the institution of higher
education, in compliance with the guidelines adopted by the
superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and
technical colleges, and the public baccalaureate institutions.
(3) The college in the high school program must include the
provisions in this subsection.
(a) The high school and institution of higher education together
shall define the criteria for student eligibility. The institution of
higher education may charge tuition fees to participating students.
(b) School districts shall report no student for more than one
full-time equivalent including college in the high school courses.
(c) The funds received by the institution of higher education may
not be deemed tuition or operating fees and may be retained by the
institution of higher education.
(d) Enrollment information on persons registered under this section
must be maintained by the institution of higher education separately
from other enrollment information and may not be included in official
enrollment reports, nor may such persons be considered in any
enrollment statistics that would affect higher education budgetary
determinations.
(e) A school district must grant high school credit to a student
enrolled in a program course if the student successfully completes the
course. If no comparable course is offered by the school district, the
school district superintendent shall determine how many credits to
award for the course. The determination shall be made in writing
before the student enrolls in the course. The credits shall be applied
toward graduation requirements and subject area requirements. Evidence
of successful completion of each program course shall be included in
the student's secondary school records and transcript.
(f) An institution of higher education must grant college credit to
a student enrolled in a program course if the student successfully
completes the course. The college credit shall be applied toward
general education requirements or major requirements. If no comparable
course is offered by the college, the institution of higher education
at which the teacher of the program course is employed shall determine
how many credits to award for the course and whether the course
fulfills general education or major requirements. Evidence of
successful completion of each program course must be included in the
student's college transcript.
(g) Eleventh and twelfth grade students or students who have not
yet received a high school diploma or its equivalent and are eligible
to be in the eleventh or twelfth grades may participate in the college
in the high school program.
(h) Participating school districts must provide general information
about the college in the high school program to all students in grades
ten, eleven, and twelve and to the parents and guardians of those
students.
(i) Full-time and part-time faculty at institutions of higher
education, including adjunct faculty, are eligible to teach program
courses.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this
section.
(a) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning in RCW
28B.10.016 and also includes a public tribal college located in
Washington and accredited by the Northwest commission on colleges and
universities or another accrediting association recognized by the
United States department of education.
(b) "Program course" means a college course offered in a high
school under the college in the high school program.
Sec. 802 RCW 28A.700.020 and 2008 c 170 s 102 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in
consultation with the workforce training and education coordinating
board, the Washington state apprenticeship and training council, and
the state board for community and technical colleges, shall develop a
list of statewide high-demand programs for secondary career and
technical education. The list shall be developed using the high-demand
list maintained by workforce development councils in consultation with
the employment security department, and the high employer demand
programs of study identified by the workforce training and education
coordinating board((, and the high employer demand programs of study
identified by the higher education coordinating board)). Local school
districts may recommend additional high-demand programs in consultation
with local career and technical education advisory committees by
submitting evidence of local high demand.
(2) As used in this section and in RCW 28A.700.040, 28A.700.050,
and 28A.700.060, and section 307 of this act:
(a) "High-demand program" means a career and technical education
program that prepares students for either a high employer demand
program of study or a high-demand occupation, or both.
(b) "High employer demand program of study" means an apprenticeship
or an undergraduate or graduate certificate or degree program in which
the number of students per year prepared for employment from in-state
programs is substantially fewer than the number of projected job
openings per year in that field, either statewide or in a substate
region.
(c) "High-demand occupation" means an occupation with a substantial
number of current or projected employment opportunities.
Sec. 803 RCW 28A.700.060 and 2008 c 170 s 107 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, the
workforce training and education coordinating board, the state board
for community and technical colleges, ((the higher education
coordinating board,)) and the council of presidents shall work with
local school districts, workforce education programs in colleges, tech
prep consortia, and four-year institutions of higher education to
develop model career and technical education programs of study as
described by this section.
(2) Career and technical education programs of study:
(a) Incorporate secondary and postsecondary education elements;
(b) Include coherent and rigorous academic content aligned with
state learning standards and relevant career and technical content in
a coordinated, nonduplicative progression of courses that are aligned
with postsecondary education in a related field;
(c) Include opportunities for students to earn dual high school and
college credit; and
(d) Lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the
postsecondary level, or an associate or baccalaureate degree.
(3) During the 2008-09 school year, model career and technical
education programs of study shall be developed for the following
high-demand programs: Construction, health care, and information
technology. Each school year thereafter, the office of the
superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and
technical colleges, ((the higher education coordinating board,)) and
the workforce training and education coordinating board shall select
additional programs of study to develop, with a priority on high-demand
programs as identified under RCW 28A.700.020.
Sec. 804 RCW 28B.20.130 and 2010 c 51 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
General powers and duties of the board of regents are as follows:
(1) To have full control of the university and its property of
various kinds, except as otherwise provided by law.
(2) To employ the president of the university, his or her
assistants, members of the faculty, and employees of the institution,
who except as otherwise provided by law, shall hold their positions
during the pleasure of said board of regents.
(3) Establish entrance requirements for students seeking admission
to the university which meet or exceed the standards specified under
((RCW 28B.76.290(2))) section 104 of this act. Completion of
examinations satisfactory to the university may be a prerequisite for
entrance by any applicant at the university's discretion. Evidence of
completion of public high schools and other educational institutions
whose courses of study meet the approval of the university may be
acceptable for entrance.
(4) Establish such colleges, schools, or departments necessary to
carry out the purpose of the university and not otherwise proscribed by
law.
(5) With the assistance of the faculty of the university, prescribe
the course of study in the various colleges, schools, and departments
of the institution and publish the necessary catalogues thereof.
(6) Grant to students such certificates or degrees as recommended
for such students by the faculty. The board, upon recommendation of
the faculty, may also confer honorary degrees upon persons other than
graduates of this university in recognition of their learning or
devotion to literature, art, or science: PROVIDED, That no degree
shall ever be conferred in consideration of the payment of money or the
giving of property of whatsoever kind.
(7) Accept such gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises,
whether real or personal property, or both, in trust or otherwise, for
the use or benefit of the university, its colleges, schools,
departments, or agencies; and sell, lease or exchange, invest or expend
the same or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income thereof except as
limited by the terms of said gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and
devises. The board shall adopt proper rules to govern and protect the
receipt and expenditure of the proceeds of all fees, and the proceeds,
rents, profits, and income of all gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests,
and devises above-mentioned.
(8) Except as otherwise provided by law, to enter into such
contracts as the regents deem essential to university purposes.
(9) To submit upon request such reports as will be helpful to the
governor and to the legislature in providing for the institution.
(10) ((Subject to the approval of the higher education coordinating
board pursuant to RCW 28B.76.230,)) To offer new degree programs, offer
off-campus programs, participate in consortia or centers, contract for
off-campus educational programs, and purchase or lease major off-campus
facilities in accordance with RCW 28B.76.230 (as recodified by this
act).
(11) To confer honorary degrees upon persons who request an
honorary degree if they were students at the university in 1942 and did
not graduate because they were ordered into an internment camp. The
honorary degree may also be requested by a representative of deceased
persons who meet these requirements. For the purposes of this
subsection, "internment camp" means a relocation center to which
persons were ordered evacuated by Presidential Executive Order 9066,
signed February 19, 1942.
Sec. 805 RCW 28B.30.150 and 2010 c 51 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
The regents of Washington State University, in addition to other
duties prescribed by law, shall:
(1) Have full control of the university and its property of various
kinds, except as otherwise provided by law.
(2) Employ the president of the university, his or her assistants,
members of the faculty, and employees of the university, who, except as
otherwise provided by law, shall hold their positions during the
pleasure of said board of regents.
(3) Establish entrance requirements for students seeking admission
to the university which meet or exceed the standards specified under
((RCW 28B.76.290(2))) section 104 of this act. Completion of
examinations satisfactory to the university may be a prerequisite for
entrance by any applicant, at the university's discretion. Evidence of
completion of public high schools and other educational institutions
whose courses of study meet the approval of the university may be
acceptable for entrance.
(4) Establish such colleges, schools, or departments necessary to
carry out the purpose of the university and not otherwise proscribed by
law.
(5) ((Subject to the approval of the higher education coordinating
board pursuant to RCW 28B.76.230,)) Offer new degree programs, offer
off-campus programs, participate in consortia or centers, contract for
off-campus educational programs, and purchase or lease major off-campus
facilities in accordance with RCW 28B.76.230 (as recodified by this
act).
(6) With the assistance of the faculty of the university, prescribe
the courses of instruction in the various colleges, schools, and
departments of the institution and publish the necessary catalogues
thereof.
(7) Collect such information as the board deems desirable as to the
schemes of technical instruction adopted in other parts of the United
States and foreign countries.
(8) Provide for holding agricultural institutes including farm
marketing forums.
(9) Provide that instruction given in the university, as far as
practicable, be conveyed by means of laboratory work and provide in
connection with the university one or more physical, chemical, and
biological laboratories, and suitably furnish and equip the same.
(10) Provide training in military tactics for those students
electing to participate therein.
(11) Establish a department of elementary science and in connection
therewith provide instruction in elementary mathematics, including
elementary trigonometry, elementary mechanics, elementary and
mechanical drawing, and land surveying.
(12) Establish a department of agriculture and in connection
therewith provide instruction in physics with special application of
its principles to agriculture, chemistry with special application of
its principles to agriculture, morphology and physiology of plants with
special reference to common grown crops and fungus enemies, morphology
and physiology of the lower forms of animal life, with special
reference to insect pests, morphology and physiology of the higher
forms of animal life and in particular of the horse, cow, sheep, and
swine, agriculture with special reference to the breeding and feeding
of livestock and the best mode of cultivation of farm produce, and
mining and metallurgy, appointing demonstrators in each of these
subjects to superintend the equipment of a laboratory and to give
practical instruction therein.
(13) Establish agricultural experiment stations in connection with
the department of agriculture, including at least one in the western
portion of the state, and appoint the officers and prescribe
regulations for their management.
(14) Grant to students such certificates or degrees, as recommended
for such students by the faculty.
(15) Confer honorary degrees upon persons other than graduates of
the university in recognition of their learning or devotion to
literature, art, or science when recommended thereto by the faculty:
PROVIDED, That no degree shall ever be conferred in consideration of
the payment of money or the giving of property of whatsoever kind.
(16) Adopt plans and specifications for university buildings and
facilities or improvements thereto and employ skilled architects and
engineers to prepare such plans and specifications and supervise the
construction of buildings or facilities which the board is authorized
to erect, and fix the compensation for such services. The board shall
enter into contracts with one or more contractors for such suitable
buildings, facilities, or improvements as the available funds will
warrant, upon the most advantageous terms offered at a public
competitive letting, pursuant to public notice under rules established
by the board. The board shall require of all persons with whom they
contract for construction and improvements a good and sufficient bond
for the faithful performance of the work and full protection against
all liens.
(17) Except as otherwise provided by law, direct the disposition of
all money appropriated to or belonging to the state university.
(18) Receive and expend the money appropriated under the act of
congress approved May 8, 1914, entitled "An Act to provide for
cooperative agricultural extension work between the agricultural
colleges in the several States receiving the benefits of the Act of
Congress approved July 2, 1862, and Acts supplemental thereto and the
United States Department of Agriculture" and organize and conduct
agricultural extension work in connection with the state university in
accordance with the terms and conditions expressed in the acts of
congress.
(19) Except as otherwise provided by law, to enter into such
contracts as the regents deem essential to university purposes.
(20) Acquire by lease, gift, or otherwise, lands necessary to
further the work of the university or for experimental or
demonstrational purposes.
(21) Establish and maintain at least one agricultural experiment
station in an irrigation district to conduct investigational work upon
the principles and practices of irrigational agriculture including the
utilization of water and its relation to soil types, crops, climatic
conditions, ditch and drain construction, fertility investigations,
plant disease, insect pests, marketing, farm management, utilization of
fruit by-products, and general development of agriculture under
irrigation conditions.
(22) Supervise and control the agricultural experiment station at
Puyallup.
(23) Establish and maintain at Wenatchee an agricultural experiment
substation for the purpose of conducting investigational work upon the
principles and practices of orchard culture, spraying, fertilization,
pollenization, new fruit varieties, fruit diseases and pests, by-products, marketing, management, and general horticultural problems.
(24) Accept such gifts, grants, conveyances, devises, and bequests,
whether real or personal property, in trust or otherwise, for the use
or benefit of the university, its colleges, schools, or departments;
and sell, lease or exchange, invest or expend the same or the proceeds,
rents, profits, and income thereof except as limited by the terms of
said gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises; and adopt
proper rules to govern and protect the receipt and expenditure of the
proceeds of all fees, and the proceeds, rents, profits, and income of
all gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises.
(25) Construct when the board so determines a new foundry and a
mining, physical, technological building, and fabrication shop at the
university, or add to the present foundry and other buildings, in order
that both instruction and research be expanded to include permanent
molding and die casting with a section for new fabricating techniques,
especially for light metals, including magnesium and aluminum; purchase
equipment for the shops and laboratories in mechanical, electrical, and
civil engineering; establish a pilot plant for the extraction of
alumina from native clays and other possible light metal research;
purchase equipment for a research laboratory for technological research
generally; and purchase equipment for research in electronics,
instrumentation, energy sources, plastics, food technology, mechanics
of materials, hydraulics, and similar fields.
(26) Make and transmit to the governor and members of the
legislature upon request such reports as will be helpful in providing
for the institution.
(27) Confer honorary degrees upon persons who request an honorary
degree if they were students at the university in 1942 and did not
graduate because they were ordered into an internment camp. The
honorary degree may also be requested by a representative of deceased
persons who meet these requirements. For the purposes of this
subsection, "internment camp" means a relocation center to which
persons were ordered evacuated by Presidential Executive Order 9066,
signed February 19, 1942.
Sec. 806 RCW 28B.20.308 and 2009 c 466 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) A global Asia institute is created within the Henry M. Jackson
School of International Studies. The mission of the institute is to
promote the understanding of Asia and its interactions with Washington
state and the world. The institute shall host visiting scholars and
policymakers, sponsor programs and learning initiatives, engage in
collaborative research projects, and facilitate broader understanding
and cooperation between the state of Washington and Asia through
general public programs and targeted collaborations with specific
communities in the state.
(2) Within existing resources, a global Asia institute advisory
board is established. The director of the Henry M. Jackson School of
International Studies shall appoint members of the advisory board and
determine the advisory board's roles and responsibilities. The board
shall include members representing academia, business, and government.
(((3) The higher education coordinating board may solicit, accept,
receive, and administer federal funds or private funds, in trust or
otherwise, and contract with foundations or with for-profit or
nonprofit organizations to support the purposes of this section.))
Sec. 807 RCW 28B.20.478 and 2009 c 465 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
(((1))) A University of Washington center for human rights is
created. The mission of the center is to expand opportunities for
Washington residents to receive a world-class education in human
rights, generate research data and expert knowledge to enhance public
and private policymaking, and become an academic center for human
rights teaching and research in the nation. The center shall align
with the founding principles and philosophies of the United States of
America and engage faculty, staff, and students in service to enhance
the promise of life and liberty as outlined in the Preamble of the
United States Constitution. Key substantive issues for the center
include: The rights of all persons to security against violence; the
rights of immigrants, native Americans, and ethnic or religious
minorities; human rights and the environment; health as a human right;
human rights and trade; the human rights of working people; and women's
rights as human rights. State funds may not be used to support the
center for human rights created in this section.
(((2) The higher education coordinating board and the University of
Washington may solicit, accept, receive, and administer federal funds
or private funds, in trust or otherwise, and contract with foundations
or with for-profit or nonprofit organizations to support the purposes
of this section.))
Sec. 808 RCW 28B.30.530 and 2010 c 165 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The board of regents of Washington State University shall
establish the Washington State University small business development
center.
(2) The center shall provide management and technical assistance
including but not limited to training, counseling, and research
services to small businesses throughout the state. The center shall
work with the department of commerce, the state board for community and
technical colleges, ((the higher education coordinating board,)) the
workforce training and education coordinating board, the employment
security department, the Washington state economic development
commission, associate development organizations, and workforce
development councils to:
(a) Integrate small business development centers with other state
and local economic development and workforce development programs;
(b) Target the centers' services to small businesses;
(c) Tailor outreach and services at each center to the needs and
demographics of entrepreneurs and small businesses located within the
service area;
(d) Establish and expand small business development center
satellite offices when financially feasible; and
(e) Coordinate delivery of services to avoid duplication.
(3) The administrator of the center may contract with other public
or private entities for the provision of specialized services.
(4) The small business development center may accept and disburse
federal grants or federal matching funds or other funds or donations
from any source when made, granted, or donated to carry out the
center's purposes. When drawing on funds from the business assistance
account created in RCW 28B.30.531, the center must first use the funds
to make increased management and technical assistance available to
existing small businesses and start-up businesses at satellite offices.
The funds may also be used to develop and expand assistance programs
such as small business planning workshops and small business
counseling.
(5) By December 1, 2010, the center shall provide a written
progress report and a final report to the appropriate committees of the
legislature with respect to the requirements in subsection (2) of this
section and the amount and use of funding received through the business
assistance account. The reports must also include data on the number,
location, staffing, and budget levels of satellite offices;
affiliations with community colleges, associate development
organizations or other local organizations; the number, size, and type
of small businesses assisted; and the types of services provided. The
reports must also include information on the outcomes achieved, such as
jobs created or retained, private capital invested, and return on the
investment of state and federal dollars.
(6)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this
specific purpose, by December 1, 2010, the center, in conjunction with
the department of commerce, must prepare and present to the governor
and appropriate legislative committees a specific, actionable plan to
increase access to capital and technical assistance to small businesses
and entrepreneurs beginning with the 2011-2013 biennium. In developing
the plan, the center and the department may consult with the Washington
state microenterprise association, and with other government,
nonprofit, and private organizations as necessary. The plan must
identify:
(i) Existing sources of capital and technical assistance for small
businesses and entrepreneurs;
(ii) Critical gaps and barriers to availability of capital and
delivery of technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs;
(iii) Workable solutions to filling the gaps and removing barriers
identified in (a)(ii) of this subsection; and
(iv) The financial resources and statutory changes necessary to put
the plan into effect beginning with the 2011-2013 biennium.
(b) With respect to increasing access to capital, the plan must
identify specific, feasible sources of capital and practical mechanisms
for expanding access to it.
(c) The center and the department must include, within the analysis
and recommendations in (a) of this subsection, any specific gaps,
barriers, and solutions related to rural and low-income communities and
small manufacturers interested in exporting.
Sec. 809 RCW 28B.35.120 and 2011 c 336 s 728 are each amended to
read as follows:
In addition to any other powers and duties prescribed by law, each
board of trustees of the respective regional universities:
(1) Shall have full control of the regional university and its
property of various kinds, except as otherwise provided by law.
(2) Shall employ the president of the regional university, his or
her assistants, members of the faculty, and other employees of the
institution, who, except as otherwise provided by law, shall hold their
positions, until discharged therefrom by the board for good and lawful
reason.
(3) With the assistance of the faculty of the regional university,
shall prescribe the course of study in the various schools and
departments thereof and publish such catalogues thereof as the board
deems necessary: PROVIDED, That the Washington professional educator
standards board shall determine the requisites for and give program
approval of all courses leading to teacher certification by such board.
(4) May establish such divisions, schools, or departments necessary
to carry out the purposes of the regional university and not otherwise
proscribed by law.
(5) Except as otherwise provided by law, may establish and erect
such new facilities as determined by the board to be necessary for the
regional university.
(6) May acquire real and other property as provided in RCW
28B.10.020, as now or hereafter amended.
(7) Except as otherwise provided by law, may purchase all supplies
and purchase or lease equipment and other personal property needed for
the operation or maintenance of the regional university.
(8) May establish, lease, operate, equip, and maintain self-supporting facilities in the manner provided in RCW 28B.10.300 through
28B.10.330, as now or hereafter amended.
(9) Except as otherwise provided by law, ((to)) shall enter into
such contracts as the trustees deem essential to regional university
purposes.
(10) May receive such gifts, grants, conveyances, devises, and
bequests of real or personal property from whatsoever source, as may be
made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, whenever the terms and
conditions thereof will aid in carrying out the regional university
programs; sell, lease, or exchange, invest or expend the same or the
proceeds, rents, profits, and income thereof except as limited by the
terms and conditions thereof; and adopt regulations to govern the
receipt and expenditure of the proceeds, rents, profits, and income
thereof.
(11) ((Subject to the approval of the higher education coordinating
board pursuant to)) In accordance with RCW 28B.76.230 (as recodified by
this act), may offer new degree programs, offer off-campus programs,
participate in consortia or centers, contract for off-campus
educational programs, and purchase or lease major off-campus
facilities.
(12) May promulgate such rules and regulations, and perform all
other acts not forbidden by law, as the board of trustees may in its
discretion deem necessary or appropriate to the administration of the
regional university.
Sec. 810 RCW 28B.35.202 and 2011 c 136 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
The board of trustees of Eastern Washington University may offer
educational specialist degrees ((subject to review and approval by the
higher education coordinating board)).
Sec. 811 RCW 28B.35.205 and 2010 c 51 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) In addition to all other powers and duties given to them by
law, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and
Western Washington University are hereby authorized to grant any degree
through the master's degree to any student who has completed a program
of study and/or research in those areas which are determined by the
faculty and board of trustees of the college to be appropriate for the
granting of such degree((: PROVIDED, That before any degree is
authorized under this section it shall be subject to the review and
approval of the higher education coordinating board)).
(2) The board of trustees, upon recommendation of the faculty, may
also confer honorary bachelor's, master's, or doctorate level degrees
upon persons in recognition of their learning or devotion to education,
literature, art, or science. No degree may be conferred in
consideration of the payment of money or the donation of any kind of
property.
(3) The board of trustees may also confer honorary degrees upon
persons who request an honorary degree if they were students at the
university in 1942 and did not graduate because they were ordered into
an internment camp. The honorary degree may also be requested by a
representative of deceased persons who meet these requirements. For
the purposes of this subsection, "internment camp" means a relocation
center to which persons were ordered evacuated by Presidential
Executive Order 9066, signed February 19, 1942.
Sec. 812 RCW 28B.35.215 and 2001 c 252 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
The board of trustees of Eastern Washington University may offer
applied, but not research, doctorate level degrees in physical therapy
subject to review ((and approval by the higher education coordinating
board)).
Sec. 813 RCW 28B.40.120 and 2011 c 336 s 734 are each amended to
read as follows:
In addition to any other powers and duties prescribed by law, the
board of trustees of The Evergreen State College:
(1) Shall have full control of the state college and its property
of various kinds, except as otherwise provided by law.
(2) Shall employ the president of the state college, his or her
assistants, members of the faculty, and other employees of the
institution, who, except as otherwise provided by law, shall hold their
positions, until discharged therefrom by the board for good and lawful
reason.
(3) With the assistance of the faculty of the state college, shall
prescribe the course of study in the various schools and departments
thereof and publish such catalogues thereof as the board deems
necessary: PROVIDED, That the Washington professional educator
standards board shall determine the requisites for and give program
approval of all courses leading to teacher certification by such board.
(4) May establish such divisions, schools, or departments necessary
to carry out the purposes of the college and not otherwise proscribed
by law.
(5) Except as otherwise provided by law, may establish and erect
such new facilities as determined by the board to be necessary for the
college.
(6) May acquire real and other property as provided in RCW
28B.10.020, as now or hereafter amended.
(7) Except as otherwise provided by law, may purchase all supplies
and purchase or lease equipment and other personal property needed for
the operation or maintenance of the college.
(8) May establish, lease, operate, equip, and maintain self-supporting facilities in the manner provided in RCW 28B.10.300 through
28B.10.330, as now or hereafter amended.
(9) Except as otherwise provided by law, ((to)) shall enter into
such contracts as the trustees deem essential to college purposes.
(10) May receive such gifts, grants, conveyances, devises, and
bequests of real or personal property from whatsoever source, as may be
made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, whenever the terms and
conditions thereof will aid in carrying out the college programs; sell,
lease, or exchange, invest or expend the same or the proceeds, rents,
profits, and income thereof except as limited by the terms and
conditions thereof; and adopt regulations to govern the receipt and
expenditure of the proceeds, rents, profits, and income thereof.
(11) ((Subject to the approval of the higher education coordinating
board pursuant to)) In accordance with RCW 28B.76.230 (as recodified by
this act), may offer new degree programs, offer off-campus programs,
participate in consortia or centers, contract for off-campus
educational programs, and purchase or lease major off-campus
facilities.
(12) May promulgate such rules and regulations, and perform all
other acts not forbidden by law, as the board of trustees may in its
discretion deem necessary or appropriate to the administration of the
college.
Sec. 814 RCW 28B.40.206 and 1991 c 58 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
In addition to all other powers and duties given to them by law,
the board of trustees of The Evergreen State College is hereby
authorized to grant any degree through the master's degree to any
student who has completed a program of study and/or research in those
areas which are determined by the faculty and board of trustees of the
college to be appropriate for the granting of such degree((: PROVIDED,
That any degree authorized under this section shall be subject to the
review and approval of the higher education coordinating board)).
The board of trustees, upon recommendation of the faculty, may also
confer honorary bachelor's or master's degrees upon persons other than
graduates of the institution, in recognition of their learning or
devotion to education, literature, art, or science. No degree may be
conferred in consideration of the payment of money or the donation of
any kind of property.
Sec. 815 RCW 28B.45.060 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 7 are each
amended to read as follows:
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)).
Sec. 816 RCW 28B.50.810 and 2010 c 245 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The college board may select community or technical colleges to
develop and offer programs of study leading to applied baccalaureate
degrees. Colleges may submit applications to the college board. The
college board ((and the higher education coordinating board)) shall
review the applications and select the colleges using objective
criteria, including, but not limited to:
(a) The college demonstrates the capacity to make a long-term
commitment of resources to build and sustain a high quality program;
(b) The college has or can readily engage faculty appropriately
qualified to develop and deliver a high quality curriculum at the
baccalaureate level;
(c) The college can demonstrate demand for the proposed program
from a sufficient number of students within its service area to make
the program cost-effective and feasible to operate;
(d) The college can demonstrate that employers demand the level of
technical training proposed within the program, making it cost-effective for students to seek the degree; and
(e) The proposed program fills a gap in options available for
students because it is not offered by a public four-year institution of
higher education in the college's geographic area.
(2) A college selected under this section may develop the
curriculum for and design and deliver courses leading to an applied
baccalaureate degree. However, degree programs developed under this
section are subject to approval by the college board under RCW
28B.50.090 ((and by the higher education coordinating board under RCW
28B.76.230 before a college may enroll students in upper division
courses)).
Sec. 817 RCW 43.09.440 and 2005 c 385 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The board and the state auditor shall collaborate with the
joint legislative audit and review committee regarding performance
audits of state government.
(a) The board shall establish criteria for performance audits
consistent with the criteria and standards followed by the joint
legislative audit and review committee. This criteria shall include,
at a minimum, the auditing standards of the United States government
accountability office, as well as legislative mandates and performance
objectives established by state agencies and the legislature. Mandates
include, but are not limited to, agency strategies, timelines, program
objectives, and mission and goals as required in RCW 43.88.090.
(b) Using the criteria developed in (a) of this subsection, the
state auditor shall contract for a statewide performance review to be
completed as expeditiously as possible as a preliminary to a draft work
plan for conducting performance audits. The board and the state
auditor shall develop a schedule and common methodology for conducting
these reviews. The purpose of these performance reviews is to identify
those agencies, programs, functions, or activities most likely to
benefit from performance audits and to identify likely areas warranting
early review, taking into account prior performance audits, if any, and
prior fiscal audits.
(c) The board and the state auditor shall develop the draft work
plan for performance audits based on input from citizens, state
employees, including front-line employees, state managers, chairs and
ranking members of appropriate legislative committees, the joint
legislative audit and review committee, public officials, and others.
The draft work plan may include a list of agencies, programs, or
systems to be audited on a timeline decided by the board and the state
auditor based on a number of factors including risk, importance, and
citizen concerns. When putting together the draft work plan, there
should be consideration of all audits and reports already required. On
average, audits shall be designed to be completed as expeditiously as
possible.
(d) Before adopting the final work plan, the board shall consult
with the legislative auditor and other appropriate oversight and audit
entities to coordinate work plans and avoid duplication of effort in
their planned performance audits of state government agencies. The
board shall defer to the joint legislative audit and review committee
work plan if a similar audit is included on both work plans for
auditing.
(e) The state auditor shall contract out for performance audits.
In conducting the audits, agency front-line employees and internal
auditors should be involved.
(f) All audits must include consideration of reports prepared by
other government oversight entities.
(g) The audits may include:
(i) Identification of programs and services that can be eliminated,
reduced, consolidated, or enhanced;
(ii) Identification of funding sources to the state agency, to
programs, and to services that can be eliminated, reduced,
consolidated, or enhanced;
(iii) Analysis of gaps and overlaps in programs and services and
recommendations for improving, dropping, blending, or separating
functions to correct gaps or overlaps;
(iv) Analysis and recommendations for pooling information
technology systems used within the state agency, and evaluation of
information processing and telecommunications policy, organization, and
management;
(v) Analysis of the roles and functions of the state agency, its
programs, and its services and their compliance with statutory
authority and recommendations for eliminating or changing those roles
and functions and ensuring compliance with statutory authority;
(vi) Recommendations for eliminating or changing statutes, rules,
and policy directives as may be necessary to ensure that the agency
carry out reasonably and properly those functions vested in the agency
by statute;
(vii) Verification of the reliability and validity of agency
performance data, self-assessments, and performance measurement systems
as required under RCW 43.88.090;
(viii) Identification of potential cost savings in the state
agency, its programs, and its services;
(ix) Identification and recognition of best practices;
(x) Evaluation of planning, budgeting, and program evaluation
policies and practices;
(xi) Evaluation of personnel systems operation and management;
(xii) Evaluation of state purchasing operations and management
policies and practices; and
(xiii) Evaluation of organizational structure and staffing levels,
particularly in terms of the ratio of managers and supervisors to
nonmanagement personnel.
(h) The state auditor must solicit comments on preliminary
performance audit reports from the audited state agency, the office of
the governor, the office of financial management, the board, the chairs
and ranking members of appropriate legislative committees, and the
joint legislative audit and review committee for comment. Comments
must be received within thirty days after receipt of the preliminary
performance audit report unless a different time period is approved by
the state auditor. All comments shall be incorporated into the final
performance audit report. The final performance audit report shall
include the objectives, scope, and methodology; the audit results,
including findings and recommendations; conclusions; and identification
of best practices.
(i) The board and the state auditor shall jointly release final
performance audit reports to the governor, the citizens of Washington,
the joint legislative audit and review committee, and the appropriate
standing legislative committees. Final performance audit reports shall
be posted on the internet.
(j) For institutions of higher education, performance audits shall
not duplicate, and where applicable, shall make maximum use of existing
audit records, accreditation reviews, and performance measures required
by the office of financial management((, the higher education
coordinating board,)) and nationally or regionally recognized
accreditation organizations including accreditation of hospitals
licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW and ambulatory care facilities.
(2) The citizen board created under RCW 44.75.030 shall be
responsible for performance audits for transportation related agencies
as defined under RCW 44.75.020.
Sec. 818 RCW 43.43.934 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 45 are each
amended to read as follows:
The director of fire protection shall:
(1)(a)(i) With the state board for community and technical
colleges, provide academic, vocational, and field training programs for
the fire service; and (ii) with the ((higher education coordinating
board and the)) state colleges and universities, provide instructional
programs requiring advanced training, especially in command and
management skills;
(b) Cooperate with the common schools, technical and community
colleges, institutions of higher education, and any department or
division of the state, or of any county or municipal corporation in
establishing and maintaining instruction in fire service training and
education in accordance with any act of congress and legislation
enacted by the legislature in pursuance thereof and in establishing,
building, and operating training and education facilities.
Industrial fire departments and private fire investigators may
participate in training and education programs under this chapter for
a reasonable fee established by rule;
(c) Develop and adopt a master plan for constructing, equipping,
maintaining, and operating necessary fire service training and
education facilities subject to the provisions of chapter 43.19 RCW;
(d) Develop and adopt a master plan for the purchase, lease, or
other acquisition of real estate necessary for fire service training
and education facilities in a manner provided by law; and
(e) Develop and adopt a plan with a goal of providing firefighter
one and wildland training to all firefighters in the state. Wildland
training reimbursement will be provided if a fire protection district
or a city fire department has and is fulfilling their interior attack
policy or if they do not have an interior attack policy. The plan will
include a reimbursement for fire protection districts and city fire
departments of not less than three dollars for every hour of
firefighter one or wildland training. The Washington state patrol
shall not provide reimbursement for more than two hundred hours of
firefighter one or wildland training for each firefighter trained.
(2)(a) Promote mutual aid and disaster planning for fire services
in this state;
(b) Assure the dissemination of information concerning the amount
of fire damage including that damage caused by arson, and its causes
and prevention; and
(c) Implement any legislation enacted by the legislature to meet
the requirements of any acts of congress that apply to this section.
(3) In carrying out its statutory duties, the office of the state
fire marshal shall give particular consideration to the appropriate
roles to be played by the state and by local jurisdictions with fire
protection responsibilities. Any determinations on the division of
responsibility shall be made in consultation with local fire officials
and their representatives.
To the extent possible, the office of the state fire marshal shall
encourage development of regional units along compatible geographic,
population, economic, and fire risk dimensions. Such regional units
may serve to: (a) Reinforce coordination among state and local
activities in fire service training, reporting, inspections, and
investigations; (b) identify areas of special need, particularly in
smaller jurisdictions with inadequate resources; (c) assist the state
in its oversight responsibilities; (d) identify funding needs and
options at both the state and local levels; and (e) provide models for
building local capacity in fire protection programs.
Sec. 819 RCW 43.43.938 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 46 are each
amended to read as follows:
(1) Wherever the term state fire marshal appears in the Revised
Code of Washington or the Washington Administrative Code it shall mean
the director of fire protection.
(2) The chief of the Washington state patrol shall appoint an
officer who shall be known as the director of fire protection.
(3) The director of fire protection may designate one or more
deputies and may delegate to those deputies his or her duties and
authorities as deemed appropriate.
(4) The director of fire protection shall prepare a biennial budget
pertaining to fire protection services. Such biennial budget shall be
submitted as part of the Washington state patrol's budget request.
(5) The director of fire protection, shall implement and
administer, within constraints established by budgeted resources, all
duties of the chief of the Washington state patrol that are to be
carried out through the director of fire protection, and all of the
duties of the director of fire protection. Such administration shall
include negotiation of agreements with the state board for community
and technical colleges((, the higher education coordinating board,))
and the state colleges and universities as provided in RCW 43.43.934.
Programs covered by such agreements shall include, but not be limited
to, planning curricula, developing and delivering instructional
programs and materials, and using existing instructional personnel and
facilities. Where appropriate, such contracts shall also include
planning and conducting instructional programs at the state fire
service training center.
Sec. 820 RCW 43.60A.151 and 2007 c 451 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The department shall assist veterans enrolled in the veterans
conservation corps with obtaining employment in conservation programs
and projects that restore Washington's natural habitat, maintain and
steward local, state, and federal forest lands and other outdoor lands,
maintain and improve urban and suburban storm water management
facilities and other water management facilities, and other
environmental maintenance, stewardship, and restoration projects. The
department shall consult with the workforce training and education
coordinating board, the state board for community and technical
colleges, ((the higher education coordinating board,)) the employment
security department, and other state agencies administering
conservation corps programs, to incorporate training, education, and
certification in environmental restoration and management fields into
the program. The department may enter into agreements with community
colleges, private schools, state or local agencies, or other entities
to provide training and educational courses as part of the enrollee
benefits from the program.
(2) The department may receive gifts, grants, federal funds, or
other moneys from public or private sources, for the use and benefit of
the veterans conservation corps program. The funds shall be deposited
to the veterans conservation corps account created in RCW 43.60A.153.
(3) The department shall submit a report to the appropriate
committees of the legislature by December 1, 2008, on the status of the
veterans conservation corps program, including the number of enrollees
employed in projects, training provided, certifications earned,
employment placements achieved, program funding provided from all
sources, and the results of the pilot project authorized in section 4,
chapter 451, Laws of 2007.
Sec. 821 RCW 43.88D.010 and 2010 c 245 s 9 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) By October 1st of each even-numbered year, the office of
financial management shall complete an objective analysis and scoring
of all capital budget projects proposed by the public four-year
institutions of higher education and submit the results of the scoring
process to the legislative fiscal committees((, the higher education
coordinating board,)) and the four-year institutions. Each project
must be reviewed and scored within one of the following categories,
according to the project's principal purpose. Each project may be
scored in only one category. The categories are:
(a) Access-related projects to accommodate enrollment growth at
main and branch campuses, at existing or new university centers, or
through distance learning. Growth projects should provide significant
additional student capacity. Proposed projects must demonstrate that
they are based on solid enrollment demand projections, more
cost-effectively provide enrollment access than alternatives such as
university centers and distance learning, and make cost-effective use
of existing and proposed new space;
(b) Projects that replace failing permanent buildings. Facilities
that cannot be economically renovated are considered replacement
projects. New space may be programmed for the same or a different use
than the space being replaced and may include additions to improve
access and enhance the relationship of program or support space;
(c) Projects that renovate facilities to restore building life and
upgrade space to meet current program requirements. Renovation
projects should represent a complete renovation of a total facility or
an isolated wing of a facility. A reasonable renovation project should
cost between sixty to eighty percent of current replacement value and
restore the renovated area to at least twenty-five years of useful
life. New space may be programmed for the same or a different use than
the space being renovated and may include additions to improve access
and enhance the relationship of program or support space;
(d) Major stand-alone campus infrastructure projects;
(e) Projects that promote economic growth and innovation through
expanded research activity. The acquisition and installation of
specialized equipment is authorized under this category; and
(f) Other project categories as determined by the office of
financial management in consultation with the legislative fiscal
committees.
(2) The office of financial management, in consultation with the
legislative fiscal committees, shall establish a scoring system and
process for each four-year project category that is based on the
framework used in the community and technical college system of
prioritization. Staff from the state board for community and technical
colleges((, the higher education coordinating board,)) and the four-year institutions shall provide technical assistance on the development
of a scoring system and process.
(3) The office of financial management shall consult with the
legislative fiscal committees in the scoring of four-year institution
project proposals, and may also solicit participation by independent
experts.
(a) For each four-year project category, the scoring system must,
at a minimum, include an evaluation of enrollment trends,
reasonableness of cost, the ability of the project to enhance specific
strategic master plan goals, age and condition of the facility if
applicable, and impact on space utilization.
(b) Each four-year project category may include projects at the
predesign, design, or construction funding phase.
(c) To the extent possible, the objective analysis and scoring
system of all capital budget projects shall occur within the context of
any and all performance agreements between the office of financial
management and the governing board of a public, four-year institution
of higher education that aligns goals, priorities, desired outcomes,
flexibility, institutional mission, accountability, and levels of
resources.
(4) In evaluating and scoring four-year institution projects, the
office of financial management shall take into consideration project
schedules that result in realistic, balanced, and predictable
expenditure patterns over the ensuing three biennia.
(5) The office of financial management shall distribute common
definitions, the scoring system, and other information required for the
project proposal and scoring process as part of its biennial budget
instructions. The office of financial management, in consultation with
the legislative fiscal committees, shall develop common definitions
that four-year institutions must use in developing their project
proposals and lists under this section.
(6) In developing any scoring system for capital projects proposed
by the four-year institutions, the office of financial management:
(a) Shall be provided with all required information by the four-year institutions as deemed necessary by the office of financial
management;
(b) May utilize independent services to verify, sample, or evaluate
information provided to the office of financial management by the four-year institutions; and
(c) Shall have full access to all data maintained by the ((higher
education coordinating board and the)) joint legislative audit and
review committee concerning the condition of higher education
facilities.
(7) By August 1st of each even-numbered year each public four-year
higher education institution shall prepare and submit prioritized lists
of the individual projects proposed by the institution for the ensuing
six-year period in each category. The lists must be submitted to the
office of financial management and the legislative fiscal committees.
The four-year institutions may aggregate minor works project proposals
by primary purpose for ranking purposes. Proposed minor works projects
must be prioritized within the aggregated proposal, and supporting
documentation, including project descriptions and cost estimates, must
be provided to the office of financial management and the legislative
fiscal committees.
Sec. 901 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 244 (uncodified) is amended to
read as follows:
The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter
amended, are each repealed, effective July 1, 2012:
(1) RCW 28B.76.010 (Board created) and 1985 c 370 s 1;
(2) RCW 28B.76.030 (Purpose) and 2004 c 275 s 1;
(3) RCW 28B.76.040 (Members -- Appointment) and 2002 c 348 s 1, 2002
c 129 s 1, & 1985 c 370 s 10;
(4) RCW 28B.76.050 (Members -- Terms) and 2007 c 458 s 101, 2004 c
275 s 3, 2002 c 129 s 2, & 1985 c 370 s 11;
(5) RCW 28B.76.060 (Members -- Vacancies) and 1985 c 370 s 12;
(6) RCW 28B.76.070 (Bylaws -- Meetings) and 1985 c 370 s 13;
(7) RCW 28B.76.080 (Members -- Compensation and travel expenses) and
1985 c 370 s 16, 1984 c 287 s 65, 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 34 s 77, & 1969
ex.s. c 277 s 12;
(8) RCW 28B.76.200 (Statewide strategic master plan for higher
education -- Institution-level strategic plans) and 2007 c 458 s 201,
2004 c 275 s 6, & 2003 c 130 s 2;
(9) RCW 28B.76.260 (Statewide system of course equivalency -- Work
group) and 2004 c 55 s 3;
(10) ((RCW 28B.76.280 (Data collection and research -- Privacy
protection) and 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 58 & 2004 c 275 s 12;)) RCW 28B.76.330 (Coordination, articulation, and transitions
among systems of education -- Biennial updates to legislature) and 2004
c 275 s 17 & 1994 c 222 s 3; and
(11)
(((12))) (11) RCW 28B.76.530 (Board may develop and administer
demonstration projects) and 1989 c 306 s 2.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 902 The following acts or parts of acts are
each repealed:
(1) RCW 28B.10.682 (Precollege coursework -- Adoption of definitions)
and 1995 c 310 s 2;
(2) RCW 28B.15.732 (Washington/Oregon reciprocity tuition and fee
program -- Reimbursement when greater net revenue loss) and 2011 1st
sp.s. c 11 s 153, 1985 c 370 s 70, & 1979 c 80 s 2;
(3) RCW 28B.15.752 (Washington/Idaho reciprocity tuition and fee
program -- Reimbursement when greater net revenue loss) and 2011 1st
sp.s. c 11 s 154, 1985 c 370 s 74, & 1983 c 166 s 2;
(4) RCW 28B.15.796 (Effective communication -- Task force to improve
communication and teaching skills of faculty and teaching assistants)
and 1991 c 228 s 4;
(5) RCW 28B.20.280 (Masters and doctorate level degrees in
technology authorized -- Review by higher education coordinating board)
and 1985 c 370 s 82 & 1983 1st ex.s. c 72 s 10;
(6) RCW 28B.30.500 (Masters and doctorate level degrees in
technology authorized -- Review by higher education coordinating board)
and 1985 c 370 s 83 & 1983 1st ex.s. c 72 s 12; and
(7) RCW 43.88D.005 (Findings -- Intent) and 2008 c 205 s 1.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 903 Sections 1 and 102 through 108 of this act
are each added to chapter
NEW SECTION. Sec. 904 RCW 28B.76.110, 28B.76.210, 28B.76.230,
28B.76.235, 28B.76.240, 28B.76.2401, 28B.76.250, 28B.76.270,
28B.76.280, 28B.76.325, 28B.76.510, and 28B.76.695 are each recodified
as sections in chapter 28B.77 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 905 RCW 28B.76.310 is recodified as a section
in chapter 43.41 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 906 RCW 28B.10.125 is decodified.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 907 Sections 570 and 609 of this act expire
June 30, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 908 Sections 101, 117, 401, 402, 501 through
594, 601 through 609, 701 through 708, 801 through 821, 902, and 904 of
this act take effect July 1, 2012.