SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2327

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Higher Education & Workforce Development, February 25, 2020

Title: An act relating to addressing sexual misconduct at postsecondary educational institutions.

Brief Description: Addressing sexual misconduct at postsecondary educational institutions.

Sponsors: House Committee on College & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Pollet, Kilduff, Frame, Bergquist, Orwall, Wylie and Appleton).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/20, 94-4.

Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/20/20, 2/25/20 [DPA-WM, w/oRec].

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

Signed by Senators Randall, Chair; Stanford, Vice Chair; Liias.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Holy, Ranking Member; Brown.

Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)

Background: Public Records Act. Washington's Public Records Act (PRA) requires state and local agencies to disclose all public records upon request, unless the record is explicitly exempt under the PRA or by another law.

Non-Disclosure Agreements. A nondisclosure agreement (NDA) is a form of contract between two or more parties that restricts the disclosure of confidential material or information to third parties. There are certain limitations to NDAs under state and federal law.

Sexual Misconduct Policies at Higher Education Institutions. Every higher education institution that receives federal funds must comply with certain federal laws related to campus safety and sexual violence including the Clery Act and Title IX.

In 2015, the Legislature enacted two laws that created procedures to address and prevent campus sexual violence. As a result, certain disciplinary processes and confidentiality protocols were developed and a uniform campus climate survey was conducted at the public baccalaureate institutions and the community and technical colleges.

Summary of Amended Bill: Campus Climate Assessment. The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) must develop a standardized statewide campus climate assessment to be administered by postsecondary educational institutions (institutions) and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. The assessment must to capture certain information and must include, but is not limited to, questions related to where sexual misconduct occurs, options for reporting sexual misconduct, responses by institutions and law enforcement to sexual misconduct, prevalence of retaliation or pressure on survivors or witnesses not to report, and the attitudes and awareness of campus sexual misconduct issues and consent. As part of the assessment, institutions must review best practices for responding to, and preventing, sexual misconduct on campus. Institutions may make policy changes in response to certain assessment results and that WSAC may report on those changes to the governor and Legislature.

Institutions must submit the results to WSAC every five years beginning July 1, 2023. A summary of those reports is due to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 31st of each year an assessment is due. The institutions must make the report available to the campus community.

Use of Nondisclosure Agreements. Any agreement between an institution and an employee is against public policy and void and unenforceable if it prohibits the employee, institution, survivor, or another person from disclosing that the employee has been the subject of an investigation, allegation, or findings of sexual misconduct.

Investigations of Sexual Misconduct and Personnel Files. An institution must complete investigations of complaints or allegations of sexual misconduct committed by an employee against a student regardless of whether the employee voluntarily or involuntarily leaves employment with the institution, unless the victim requests otherwise. When the investigation is complete, the institution must make written findings of whether the complaint or allegation is substantiated. Institutions must use a preponderance of the evidence standard when determining whether findings are substantiated. An employee's personnel file or employment records must include any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct committed by the employee while employed with that institution.

Hiring Practices at Postsecondary Educational Institutions. Beginning October 1, 2020, before a postsecondary educational institution hires an applicant, the institution must request the applicant to sign a statement declaring whether they have been subject of any substantiates finding of sexual misconduct with a current or former employer with an explanation of the situation. The applicant must provide authorization to permit the applicant's current and past employers to disclose any sexual misconduct committed by the applicant and to make copies of all documents in the previous employer's personnel, investigative, or other files relating to sexual misconduct by the applicant available to the hiring institution. Additionally, the applicant must provide a release from liability for the applicant's current and past employers, and employees acting on behalf of the employer, for providing information regarding the applicant's previous or current employment. An institution may not hire an applicant who does not sign the statement attesting to any sexual misconduct findings or investigations.

Beginning July 1, 2021, an institution must request that the applicant's current and past employers provide copies of all documents, if any, related to sexual misconduct in an employee's personnel file before hiring the applicant. The request must include the signed statement by the applicant. The institution may only use the information received for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's qualifications for the position for which they applied.

All information on substantiated findings of sexual misconduct, or investigations into sexual misconduct about a current or previous employee, must be disclosed by the institution upon request. An institution must disclose information about substantiated findings of sexual misconduct to any employer conducting reference or background checks on a current or former employee, regardless of whether they specifically ask for such information. The institution is presumed to be acting in good faith, and are not liable for any cause of action arising from the disclosure of information.

Disclosure. Institutions must keep personal identifying information of the complainant and any witness confidential, unless the complainant or witness agree to disclose their identifying information. A person under investigation may not be considered a witness. The disclosure requirements do not restrict expungement from a personnel file or employment records of information about alleged sexual misconduct that has not been substantiated.

Definitions. Applicant, employee, employer, postsecondary educational institution, sexual misconduct, and student are all defined.

EFFECT OF HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AMENDMENT(S):

• Requires the assessment, administered by the postsecondary institutions, to review and consider best practices for responding to, and preventing, sexual misconduct on campus.

• Establishes that postsecondary institutions may make policy changes in response to certain assessment results and that WSAC report on those changes to the governor and Legislature.

• Removes an employee under investigation for allegations of sexual misconduct from being considered a witness.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed Substitute House Bill: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This is a serious problem. Sexual assault and harassment is prevalent on college campuses. The Seattle Times investigated a situation at the University of Washington between faculty and a student. That faculty member is now at a postsecondary educational institution in Arizona. If there are formal findings of sexual misconduct, that information must be shared with prospective employers. In this version of the bill, there was a change with the applicability of other laws. And definitions were tightened, to ensure it only effects employees in a supervisory role with students. The University of Washington has an amendment to lower to fiscal note. It is vital that this applies equally to public and private institutions.

This bill will cost money and necessitate the hiring of new staff. The climate assessment should be changed. Low student response the last time postsecondary educational institutions conducted a climate assessment allowed us to learn that there needs to be professional expertise while conducting these surveys to ensure the assessment is accessible to students. This will require funding. This is a top priority for students. One in ten college students will experience sexual assault. Graduate students are placed in clinical settings and labs and may not report sexual misconduct because of their relationship with their faculty members. This is a problem. Passing this bill will create a safe place for these students.

OTHER: Student safety is important to us. We are working to address the issues raised in the bill. There are two requests. The first is to make section 3, regarding climate assessments, be limited to public colleges. Second, in section 6, the requirement on hiring processes should be limited to public institutions unless there is access to funding for startup costs.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Gerry Pollet, Prime Sponsor; Joe Dacca, Director of State Relations, University of Washington; Chris Mulick, Director of State Relations, Washington State University; Ed McCallister, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges; Bengisu Cicek, Associated Students of the University of Washington Tacoma; Spencer Lively, Associated Students of UW. OTHER: Terri Standish-Kuon, Independent Colleges of Washington.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.