Brief Summary of Bill

Directs the Office of Financial Management to work with institutions of higher education, the Department of Enterprise Services, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Transportation to review the reporting requirements of institutions of higher education with the purpose of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations, and report recommendations by December 1, 2013.
Permits institutions of higher education and state higher education agencies to use or accept electronic signatures, as defined, for any human resource, benefits, or payroll processes that require a signature.
Permits the Washington Student Achievement Council to negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity agreements with other state or multistate entities regarding the operations of degree-granting institutions in the state.
Permits the Washington Student Achievement Council to enter into certain agreements for the purposes of ensuring consistent consumer protection in interstate distance delivery of higher education.
Permits a recognized student government organization at each public baccalaureate institution to form one student advisory committee with the purpose of advising and assisting the administration on issues that directly affect students’ ability to access and succeed in educational programs.

Background:

Reporting Requirements.

Similar to other state agencies, institutions of higher education are required to submit a variety of reports to the Governor, the Legislature, the Office of Financial Management, or other state agencies to demonstrate compliance with certain state laws or rules, or report progress toward certain state goals.

Electronic Signatures.

State agencies are permitted to use electronic signatures for certain operations. For example, legislation enacted in 2009 authorized the Department of Social and Health Services and the Health Care Authority to accept electronic signatures for all programs the agencies administer.

Authorization of Degree-Granting Institutions.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (Council) is responsible for authorizing degree-granting institutions to operate in the state. This mainly applies to out-of-state institutions that wish to advertise their programs in Washington to recruit students, operate a physical teaching site in Washington, or include an internship, an externship, clinical training, or a practical component that must take place in Washington. The following higher education institutions do not fall under the Council's authorization requirements: the state's public colleges and universities, longstanding private institutions, and higher education institutions whose degree programs are wholly religious in nature.

Student Participation in Higher Education Governance.

State Statute permits student participation in higher education governance. For example:

governing boards of public baccalaureate institutions must consult with student associations regarding the impacts of potential tuition increases before changing tuition rates;
the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges must consult with student associations regarding the impacts of potential tuition increases before changing tuition rates; and
students must hold at least a majority of the voting memberships on the services and activities fee committee that proposes to the governing board program priorities and budget levels for programs derived from the services and activities fees.

Students may also serve as governing members of higher education institutions. One member of the board of regents or trustees at public baccalaureate institutions is a student. Boards of trustees for each community college and technical college district may establish a sixth trustee filled by a student.

Summary of Bill:

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) is directed to work with institutions of higher education, the Department of Enterprise Services, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Transportation to review the reporting requirements of institutions of higher education with the purpose of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations. Reporting requirements specified relate to the following:

state energy code building standards;
high performance public buildings;
motor vehicle transportation services;
the Washington State Patrol retirement fund;
air contaminants; and
greenhouse gas emissions.

By December 1, 2013, the OFM must report to the Governor and the higher education committees of the Legislature with recommendations for coordinating and streamlining reporting, and promoting the most efficient use of state resources at institutions of higher education.

Public institutions of higher education and state higher education agencies are permitted to use or accept electronic signatures for any human resource, benefits, or payroll processes that require a signature. For these purposes electronic signature is defined as a signature in electronic form attached to, or logically associated with, an electronic record including, but not limited to, a digital signature.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (Council) is authorized to negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity agreements with other state or multistate entities regarding the operations of degree-granting institutions in the state. The Council is permitted to enter into agreements with degree-granting institutions based in Washington that are otherwise exempt from adhering to the minimum standards for degree granting institutions set by the Council, for the purposes of ensuring consistent consumer protection in interstate distance delivery of higher education.

A recognized student government organization at each public baccalaureate institution is permitted to form one student advisory committee with the purpose of advising and assisting the administration on issues that directly affect students’’ ability to access and succeed in educational programs. Issue that the advisory committee may consider include tuition and fee levels among others.

The administration of the higher education institution is required to make available all non-confidential information requested by the advisory committee and provide the committee an opportunity to present recommendations before final decisions are made. The advisory committee is required to make reasonable efforts to solicit feedback from students and keep student informed of deliberations and actions of the advisory committee.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This proposal was developed collaboratively between the public two-year and four-year institutions of higher education. Institutions of higher education fully support the state's goal to manage energy efficiently on campus and believe that the many reports with similar multiple requirements could be streamlined. Allowing the use of electronic signatures would prevent institutions from using up trees and other limited resources. Electronic signatures are a more efficient way of approaching human resources processes. The reciprocity proposal provides a way for schools in Washington to provide education in other parts of the country and have schools in other parts of the country offer programs here in way that makes sense for the schools and students, including a system for filing and processing complaints.

(Opposed) None.