| BILL# |
TITLE |
STATUS |
DATE |
WSU POSITION |
| Substitute House Bill 1015 |
Western undergrad exchange waivers |
S Passed |
04-02-99 |
Support |
| The Senate this week approved this House bill 42-0 that allows for some expanded tuition waivers for students in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) undergraduate exchange program. This extends authority that was given to Eastern Washington University last year to WSU. The House passed the original bill 94-0. |
| Substitute House Bill 1016 |
Border co. higher ed tuition pilot |
S Passed |
04-02-99 |
Support |
| The Senate this week approved a pilot program 44-0 that allows Oregon residents in the Portland-Vancouver area to take a limited number of credits at WSU Vancouver at in-state tuition rates. The proposal will allow WSU to jointly develop some programs to serve our students with shared faculty at Portland State University and other Oregon institutions. Oregon has approved similar language for Washington residents. Earlier in the session, the House passed the bill 94-0. |
| Substitute House Bill 1165 |
Capital budget |
S Ways & Means |
04-02-99 |
Support |
| This is the House-passed capital budget that was approved 93-2. It is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The Senate is expected to offer its own proposal this week. WSU concerns with the House proposal include the funding formula for minor works construction, the funding source for the Spokane Health Sciences building, and funding for the Child Care Facility. |
| 2nd Substitute House Bill 1184 |
Real Estate Research (Also ESB 5720) |
S Calendar |
04-05-99 |
Support |
| This legislation, supported by the Washington Association of Realtors, will assess a $5 per year broker's fee which could provide funding for the Washington State University Center for Real Estate Research. The House approved the bill 95-1. A similar bill, Engrossed Senate Bill 5720, passed the state Senate 40-7 and is now in the House. Another similar bill passed the Legislature last year but was vetoed by the governor. Gov. Locke's staff has indicated he will sign either of these bills. |
| House Bill 1186 |
Operating budget |
H Approp |
01-18-99 |
|
| While House Republican and House Democratic caucuses have each released their partisan version of the biennial operating budget, neither House has yet unveiled a budget proposal. This will be key legislation to allow timely adjournment of the Legislature. |
| Senate Bill 5125 (also House Bill 1054) |
Pesticide Commission |
H Passed |
04-02-99 |
Support |
| This is legislation that passed the House 89-0 yesterday. It is necessary to implement Washington State University's Safe Food Initiative. It is largely housekeeping legislation which will give the commission authority to spend state funds on non-chemical solutions to pest management issues as well as its clear authority to pursue safe chemical alternatives. The Senate passed a similar version 48-0 but now must agree to House amendments that are supported by WSU. |
| Senate Bill 5180 |
Operating budget |
S Ways & Means |
01-15-99 |
|
| This could be the bill which the Senate uses to announce its biennial operating budget. So far no biennial budget has been made public in the Senate. The Senate may wait for the House to pass a bill. |
| Substitute Senate Bill 5277 |
Higher ed student child care |
H Approp |
04-02-99 |
|
| Senate-passed legislation, supported by the Washington Student Lobby, provides funding for day care to institutions of higher education. The Senate approved the bill 45-3. It appears to be in trouble in the House. |
| Substitute Senate Bill 5363 |
Civil Service Reform |
H State Govt |
03-11-99 |
Neutral |
| This is Senate-passed legislation, originally proposed by the Governor, to reform the state civil service system and provide for additional collective bargaining benefits for state employees. The bill passed the Senate 29-18 on March 9. |
| Engrossed Senate Bill 5789 |
K-20 telecommunications/ |
H Rules R |
04-05-99 |
Support |
| This is Senate-passed legislation which changes the governance structure of the K-20 telecommunications system. The system provides the fiber optics background for WSU's Washington Higher Education Telecommunications System or WHETS. Language suggested by WSU was added to the Senate bill. The Senate approved the bill 48-0. |
| Substitute Senate Bill 5963 |
Revised Operating Supplemental Budget |
H Approps |
03-25-99 |
|
| This bill allocates some surplus funds for the current biennium. The Senate version contains a $20 million appropriation to reimburse WSU's agri. trust for management fees improperly taken from the trust by the state Department of Natural Resources. This is seen by some legislators as part of the financing package to fund the Riverpoint Health Sciences building in Spokane. |
| Senate Bill 6010 |
Removal of waiver caps |
H Approps |
04-02-99 |
Oppose |
| A Senate-passed bill that could lead to creation of operating fees waivers not supported by state general fund appropriations, this bill appears to be in trouble in the House Appropriations Committee. The Senate approved the bill 44-0. WSU prefers that it receive authority to lower tuition to certain students rather than receive unlimited waiver authority that can raise false expectations among students. Most other institutions support the bill, however. |
| Substitute Senate Bill 6090 |
Agricultural college lands |
S Rules 2 |
04-02-99 |
Support |
| This bill, approved by the Senate Ways and Means Committee, would end the practice of the state Department of Natural Resources charging improper management fees of up to 25 percent against WSU trust lands. |
