2000 Legislative Sessions Ending April 27
Summaries of Legislation Tracked by Washington State University
Updated for Governor`s Bill Actions on May 10, 2000
Roundup of 60 days of regular session, 29 days of 1st Special Session,
and Four Days of 2nd Special Session
Purple letters indicate bill has been signed by governor and becomes law.
Green letters indicate bill appears to be dead.
Blue letters indicate additional status information.
HOUSE BILLS
(Followed by Senate Bills In Numerical Order)
2SHB 1071 Limited public works process
House Rules 3C 03-09-00 SG (Romero)
House and Senate passed different versions; bill appears dead.
Provides that work, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement projects estimated to cost less than thirty-five thousand dollars are limited public works exempt from the small works roster process and from the requirement that contracts be awarded after advertisement and competitive bid as provided in RCW 39.04.010.
SHB 1072 Alternative public works
H State Govt 01-11-00 SG (Romero)
Bill Died in committee
First introduced in 1999, this legislation allows contracts for the design, fabrication, and installation of building engineering systems of any cost to be let using the "design-build" alternative public works procedure.
2SHB 1074 Public works/job order contracting
H Rules R 02-15-00 SG (Schmidt, D.)
After passing out of the House State Government committee, the bill died in House Rules.
Authorizes public bodies to use a job order contract for public works projects when: (1) A public body has made a determination that the use of job order contracts will benefit the public by providing an effective means of reducing the total lead-time and cost for public works projects or repair required at public facilities through the use of unit price books and work orders by eliminating time-consuming, costly aspects of the traditional public works process, which require separate contracting actions for each small project; (2) the work order to be issued for a particular project does not exceed two hundred thousand dollars; (3) less than twenty percent of the dollar value of the work order consists of items of work not contained in the unit price book; and (4) at least eighty percent of the job order contract must be subcontracted to entities other than the job order contractor. One of several amendments require that a separate bond be provided for each year of the job order contact, each bond cover work orders issued while it is in effect, the initial bond to be effective for a one-year period commencing on the date the job order contract is awarded, and the surety`s aggregate liability shall not exceed the amount of that bond regardless of the number of work orders.
SHB 1693 Washington`s Promise
H Approp 02-04-00 HE (Kenney)
SUPPORT
Washington Promise bills were unsuccessful this session. However, the Senate budget, PSSB 6404, included additional funding for a continued program. The compromise legislative budget released April 27 provided an additional $1.442 million for the 2001 fiscal year. Seniors in the top 15 percent of their individual high school class in 2000 and whose family income does not exceed 135 percent of the state`s median family income (adjusted for size) qualify for a scholarship.
The Washington Promise Scholarship is established. This merit-based scholarship, implemented by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, is awarded to students based on three eligibility criteria. The award consists of two years` tuition at the community college full-time tuition rate.
HB 2228 Personal Information Collection
H Approp 02-04-00 Dunshee
WSU Opposed
After passing the House State Government committee, bill died in House Appropriations.
Requires the Department of Information Services to maintain a registry of
information systems or databases containing personally identifiable
information.
HB 2375 Information/tech literacy
C 166 L 00 03-27-00 Lantz
Governor signed into statute March 27; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
Establishes a work group to develop definitions, standards, strategies, and a financial assessment of information and technology literacy as part of a baccalaureate institution`s accountability program.
HB 2381 Supplemental capital budget
H Rules R 03-03-00 Murray
SUPPORT
Passed out of House Capital Budget Committee on a 13-3 vote but was later incorporated into House Bill 2487. .
Makes a technical adjustment to WSU`s health sciences building in Spokane.
HB 2387 Musculoskeltal disorders
H Commerce/Lab 01-12-00 Clements
Bill died in originating committee.
Limiting adoption of safety and health standards
for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The standards shall apply only to the department
of labor and industries and a state agency, designated by the governor.
EHB 2487 Supplemental Operating (and Capital) budget
C 1 14 L 00 E2 PV 04-27-00 Sommers, H.
Passed the state House of Representative 86-12 and the Senate 33-13, both on April 27. The governor signed the WSU section of the bill on Tuesday, May 2. A partial veto did not change higher education sections.
-- The WSU requested enrollment level is fully funded for all campuses without any "hold and release language." That language did apply to other campuses, but not WSU because of its decision to voluntarily lower its target levels in Pullman, Spokane and Vancouver.
-- Full funding of WSU Tri-Cities at the revised 616 FTE rate recommended by WSU. ($5.325 million)
-- $3.6 million for the Pullman steam boiler, one of the first higher education projects ever funded by Initiative 601`s "education construction account."
-- $450,000 for the Spokane Health Sciences Initiative and Cancer Prevention Research Center with House proviso language.
-- The technical fund shift to keep the Spokane Health Sciences Building construction on schedule (Section 1024).
-- Enhanced funding for the Washington Promise Program, expanding eligibility from 2,200 students to 3,600 students in the second year of the biennium. Maximum annual grants for the program will increase from $1,200 to $1,500.
-- WSU Pullman enrollment is set at 17,549 for next year. WSU`s overall budget is revised to $196.92 million in general fund-state monies for fiscal year 2001.
-- WSU Spokane enrollment is set at 551 for next year. ($7.51 million.)
--- WSU Vancouver enrollment is set at 1,071 for next year. ($9.67 million)
-- There is study language to consider shifting WSU from the semester to the quarter system. The study is not funded, however.
HB 2530 After-school care
H Education 01-17-00 Santos
Bill died in originating committee
Requires the department of social and health services to establish a grant program to be administered by the office of child care policy to provide funding for after-school care for middle school youth. Could have positive implications for the WSU 4-H program.
E HB 2559 Advanced Tuition Payment
C 14 L 00 03-17-00Carlson
SUPPORT
Governor signed into statute on March 17; law effective on June 8, 2000.
The time line for a GET program refund is changed so that the money needs only be in the account for two years prior to refund. It is no longer necessary to wait until the student reaches age 18. The governing board has some flexibility when making refund decisions. Program expenditures are no longer appropriated, though there is an Office of Financial Management allocation of funds, and OFM reports to the Legislature if the allocation are exceeded.
Singe
HB 2568 Civil Service Reform
H State Govt 01-17-00 Romero
See Senate Bill 6402
Gov. Gary Locke`s request legislation. Enacts the civil service reform act of 2000.
HB 2581 Education specialist certification
H Education 01-17-00 Schindler
Bill Died in Originating Committee
The Certification of Specialists program is established. Through the program, at the request of a school district or private school, the State Board of Education
(SBE) will provide a one year, renewable, provisional teaching certificate to individuals who meet the following requirements:
1. The individual has a minimum of five years of work experience in math, science, foreign language, or another area of need identified by the school or district.
2. The individual holds a bachelor`s degree, meets the age and character requirements established by the SBE, and has complied with the required background check.
3. The individual has completed a training program that includes direct classroom experience and requires the individual to pass a basic skills test and any subject matter test
required of all teacher candidates planning to teach the subject. The program may include instruction in classroom safety and management, teaching methods, and state child abuse reporting requirements.
HB 2622 State Trust Lands
H Natural Res 01-18-00 Regala
Bill died in Originating Committee
The Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee (LEAP)
must convene a workgroup to explore the feasibility of a central repository for
teacher education and experience information and make recommendations for
establishing a central repository.
SHB 2667 Goods and services/payment
H Rules 3C 03-09-00 SG (Veloria)
NEUTRAL
After passing the House and Senate State & Local Government Committee, bill missed Senate Ways & Means cut-off.
State agencies and local governments must make payments on contracts within 30 days of receiving an invoice unless: The contract is funded by federal money, in which case payment must be made within 30 days of receiving an invoice or 30 days of receiving the federal funds, whichever is later; or the contract is a public works contract and has been performed in an unsatisfactory manner.
HB2679 PERS early retirement
H Approp 01-18-00 Wolfe
Bill Died in House Appropriations Committee
Authorizes early retirement for certain members of the public
employees` retirement system.
HB 2722 Higher ed bargaining units
C 19 L 00 03-17-00 Kenney
Governor signed into statute on March 17; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
Allows the civil services exemption for those bargaining units at public institutions of higher ed opting to have full collective bargaining under the public bargaining law.
HB 2727 Public employees
H Approp 01-19-00 Romero
Bill died in originating committee.
Revises provisions pertaining to public employee benefits and work
schedules.
SHB 2729 Personal service contracts
H Rules 3C 03-09-00 SG (Clements)
Bill passed originating house, but died in Senate State and Local Government Committee.
Provides that all personal service and client service contracts entered into by an agency shall require the contractor to report the salaries, annual bonuses, travel allowances, commissions, or other forms of remuneration paid for personal services to the designated employees.
2SHB 2738 Personal service contracting
H Rules 3C 04-07-00 APP (Dickerson)
Bill passed House and Senate State & Local Government committee, but died in Senate Ways and Means.
Directs the office of financial management to by rule adopt uniform guidelines for the effective and efficient management of personal service contracts and client services contracts by all state agencies.
HB 2744 State retirement plan 2 and 3
H Approps 01-19-00 Sommers, H.
See Senate Bill 6530
HB 2760 Educator quality
C 39 L 00 03-22-00 Quall
WSU supports.
Governor signed into statute on March 22; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
Supported by Gov. Gary Locke, the House and Senate passed this K-12 reform bill on the last day of the regular session. The bill creates and gives rule making authority to the Professional Educator Standards Board to serve as the sole advisory body to the State Board of Education on issues related to educator certification and to develop and implement tests for newly certified educators. Of the twenty board members, two will represent public four-year institutions. The Board will also make recommendations on alternative certification. WSU`s College of Education Dean Judy Mitchell participated in discussions on the bill.
HB 2823 Higher education students
H Higher Educ 01-21-00 Murray
NO POSITION
Bill Died in Originating Committee.
No hearing was held on the bill.
Requires all public institutions of higher education to adopt rules regarding disruptive off-campus conduct of students, including sanctions. Declares that sanctions may include, but are not limited to, counseling, probation, suspension, or expulsion.
HB 2870 Higher education fees
H Higher Educ 01-21-00 Veloria
WSU AMENDMENT
Bill Died in Originating Committee
WSU Supported Budget Language To Address Issue
This bill allows employees to pay only for credits in excess of six per semester. Current WSU policy allows students to take up to six credits without paying tuition but requires employee students to pay for all credits if the semester total exceeds six hours. So, an employee taking seven credits would pay for only one credit under the terms of this bill. Current practice would require employees to pay for all seven credits.
HB 2891 Military personnel
H Approp 02-04-00 Lantz
SUPPORT
See Senate Bill 5330, which passed both House and Senate.
This bill classifies, as residents for tuition purposes, active duty military personnel stationed in this state. Currently, active duty military MAY receive a waiver (at the discretion of the institution).
HB 2904 Border county higher education
C 160 L 00 03-27-00 Carlson
SUPPORT
Governor signed into statute on March 27; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
The border county bill from last year HB 1016 is being amended to include one more Oregon county (Clackamas).
HB 2913 Criminal justice costs
H Local Govt 01-24-00 /wolfe
Opposed
Bill Died in Originating Committee
The state and each county, city, and town is responsible for the prosecution, adjudication, sentencing, and incarceration of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses committed by adults in their respective jurisdictions, and referred from their respective law enforcement agencies, whether filed under state law or city ordinance, and must carry out these responsibilities through the use of their own courts, staff, and facilities, or by entering into contracts or interlocal agreements under this chapter to provide these services.
HB 2916 Part-time faculty/SB6804
H Commerce/Lab 01-24-00 Conway
Bill Died in Originating Committee
Declares that "reasonable assurance" does not include an agreement that is contingent on enrollment, funding, or program changes. Has implications for unemployment insurance recipients.
EHB 2952 Requiring study of distance educ
C 113 L 00 03-24-00 Edmonds
Governor signed into statute on March 24; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
HECB to report on distance education in January 2001.
HB 2967 Economic analysis office
H Economic Dev 01-25-00 Veloria
Bill died in originating committee.
Creates an Office of Analysis in the
Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development to provide information on economic trends and indicators to businesses, industries, and communities
to assist them in their national and international marketing and business recruitment efforts.
EHB 2995 Apiaries
C 100 L 00 03-24-00 Chandler, G
Governor signed into statute on March 24; law becomes effective June 30, 2001.
Maintains registration requirements regarding apiaries and eliminates much of the apiary program of
the Department of Agriculture.
HB 3089 Salmon recovery information
H Natural Res 01-28-00 Stensen
Bill died in originating committee.
Requires the
governor`s salmon recovery office, in coordination with the University of Washington, Washington State University, and other salmon research institutions located in
the state, to develop and sponsor an annual salmon science conference.
HB 3145 Higher ed institutns/donatns
H Higher Educ 02-21-00 Constantine
Bill died in House Higher Education Committee
Declares that public baccalaureate institutions of higher
education are prohibited from accepting funds from any source that
places conditions or restrictions on the use of such funds in a
manner that may interfere with or otherwise limit the academic
freedom and integrity of a public baccalaureate institution. This
provision shall not be construed to prohibit a donor from
earmarking funds for a particular purpose or use including but not
limited to research, scholarships, construction, or development.
E HB 3169 Expenditure limit
C 2 L 00 E 2 04-27-00 Barlean
Legislation has passed both houses and has been signed by governor. Effective July 1, 2000.
This legislation amends Initiative 601 to change the spill from the emergency reserve und into the education construction fund. The "spill" was figured as a percentage on a biennial basis, this recalculates it annually. Because of this action, WSU received education construction account monies for the first time ever: used to purchase a new boiler for the Pullman power plant. Establishes a state expenditure limit committee to determine and adjust the expenditure limit. Transfers from the GF-S to another fund or account includes legislative action taken after 7-1-00, reduces the lid. Costs of programs shifted into the GF-S on or after 1-1-00, increases the expenditure limit.
HR 4744 Dr. Samuel H. Smith honored
H Adopted 02-24-00 Schoesler
Adopted by the House
A number of members of the state House of Representatives rose to speak and honor President Smith for his 15 years of service to Washington State University. The resolution passed unanimously and was signed by all members of the House.
SENATE BILLS
SSB 5330 Military/higher ed tuition
C 117 L 00 03-24-00 Brown
SUPPORT
Governor signed into statute on March 24; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
Provides that, for nonresident active duty military personnel stationed in the state of Washington, 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 shall waive the lesser of the nonresident tuition fee differential and that portion of nonresident tuition fees which exceed federal educational assistance.
3SSB 5598 WA promise scholarship
S Rules 3 03-09-00 HIE (McAuliffe)
SUPPORT
See HB 1693. After passing the Senate, bill died in House Appropriations committee. However, portions were incorporated in EHB 2487.
1999 Bill that directs the higher education coordinating board to design and implement a Washington promise scholarship program that incorporates both academic and financial requirements, and shall give the highest priority to designing and implementing the Washington`s promise scholarship program in a way that awards scholarships to the maximum number of potential recipients who qualify under this act.
2SSB 5953 Public interest attorneys
S Rules 3 03-09-00 HIE (Kohl-Welles)
After passing the Senate, bill died in House Higher Education committee.
Supported by the Washington Student Lobby
The loan repayment and scholarship endowment program for public interest attorneys is established. The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), with the guidance of at least two committees, administers the program.
SB 6010 Higher ed fee waivers
C 152 L 00 03-27-00 West
STRONGLY SUPPORT/WSU Testified
Governor signed into statute on March 27; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
Institutions may offer additional waivers for any student. The authority to waive a portion or all of tuition for students above the established limits is created. There is no state general fund support for these additional waivers.
SB 6088 Operating/Capital supp bdgt S Rules 3 04-07-00 WM (Loveland)
Support
See HB 2487. Third version of the Senate budget as it came out of committee, added to SB 6404 on the floor.
Not an active bill.
ESSB 6149 Sale of forest lands
C 148 L 00 03-27-00 NRPR (Jacobsen)
Governor signed into statute on March 27; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
The Board of Natural Resources is given the authority to sell forest board lands
to resolve trespass or condemnation. Up to ten contiguous acres of lands or lands having
a value of $25,000 or less are eligible. The lands must be sold at fair market value and the
funds received are deposited in the park land trust revolving account to be used to purchase
replacement lands in the same county as the property that was sold.
SB 6177 Computer/engr Phd programs
S Higher Educ 01-10-00 Jacobsen
NEUTRAL
Bill Died in Originating Committee
By June 30, 2001, the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) must make recommendations to the Legislature about the creation and institutional location of a doctoral program in computer science and engineering. The HECB must evaluate future and current job opportunities for doctoral degree holders in Washington State and the United States; the number of persons with doctoral degrees currently employed in Washington and the names of the doctoral granting institutions; and the number of Washington students who would be interested in pursuing doctoral degrees.
SB 6259 Credit Cards
S Rules 3C 03/09/00 CTHF (Patterson)
After passing the Senate, bill died in House.
Provides that a credit card issuer may not issue a credit card to a person domiciled in this state who is eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age unless: (1) Permission is obtained from the parent or other person who claimed the applicant as a dependent on their most recent federal income tax return; (2) the application includes a copy of the applicant`s most recent federal income tax return which indicates that the applicant claimed their personal exemption in the computation of their own tax liability.
SSB 6292 Timber sales
S Rules 3C 03-09-00 NRPR (Morton)
No position.
After passing the Senate, bill died in House policy committee.
Original bill Opposed by WSU: The Board of Natural Resources must offer 95 percent of the total volume of the year`s timber sales from state forests to qualified bidders. A qualified bidder is defined as a person who has neither processed timber outside of Washington nor sold to another person who has processed outside of Washington anymore than 5 percent of the accumulative total of timber from state forests. Amended bill: The Washington State Attorney General must take legal action in federal court against the state of Idaho`s Timber Stabilization Act, challenging its legality under the United States Constitution. The challenge is done in cooperation with the prosecuting attorneys of Stevens, Pend Oreille, Ferry and Okanogan counties.
SSB 6297 Graduate asst tuition exempt
S Rules 2 G 02-11-00 HIE (Kohl-Welles)
SUPPORT
After passing policy committee, bill died in Senate Rules Committee.
Faculty supported legislation. Students who hold a graduate service appointment involving not less than ten hours per week are eligible for a tuition waiver. Resident students holding a graduate service appointment involving not less than ten hours per week may be granted a waiver of all or a portion of resident tuition. Nonresident students holding a graduate service appointment involving not less than ten hours per week may be granted a waiver of all or a portion of the nonresident fee differential. Resident students who hold fellowships or trainee positions become eligible for waivers under this program.
SB 6298 Tuition waiver
S Rules 3 03-09-00 Kohl-Welles
OPPOSE
After passing the Senate, bill died in House Higher Education committee. Now in Senate Rules.
Permanent certificated instructional staff and permanent classified employees of school districts and educational service districts are added to the definition of eligible state employees who may attend state colleges and universities using space-available waivers.
SSB 6299 Resident tuition/aliens
S Rules 2 01-27-00 HIE (Kohl-Welles)
After passing out of committee, bill died in Senate Rules Committee.
Students are classified as nonimmigrant aliens with "H" visas are "resident students" if they have spent at least 75 percent of their junior and senior high school years in Washington, have parents who lived in Washington for at least one year during the last five years, and enroll at the postsecondary institution within six months of leaving high school is eliminated. (Language of the substitute bill)
SB 6346 Higher ed labor relations(Faculty)
S Ways & Means 02-01-00 Fairley
OPPOSE
After passing out of Senate Labor & Workforce Development committee, bill died in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Academic personnel and other non-classified staff at state four-year institutions of higher education are granted the right to bargain over wages, hours, and working conditions. These collective bargaining rights are not extended to chief executive or administrative officers, confidential employees, supervisors, or employees covered by the state civil service law or the Public Employees` Collective Bargaining Act.
ESSB 6347 Small works rosters C 138 L 00 03-27-00 SLG (Patterson)
Governor signed into statute on March 27; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
The threshold for use of the uniform small works roster process is $200,000 for
all units of state government and the following units of local government, except irrigation
districts, which are not affected by the bill: Counties, cities, towns, community and
technical colleges, county roads, fire protection districts, higher education, housing
authorities, port districts, public hospital districts, public utility districts, school districts and
water-sewer districts.
All included units of government must solicit contractors to put their names on a general list
or specialty list at least once per year.
Bids must be solicited from at least five contractors or in a manner that will equitably
distribute the opportunity among contractors with the capability of performing the work. If
the estimated cost of the work falls between $100,000 and $200,000, the state agency or
local government, except port districts, must notify the rest of the roster of the availability
of work. A list of contracts awarded by use of the small works roster must be posted at least once
year.
SSB 6396 CTED split
S Rules 3
03-09-00 WM (Patterson)
No position
Bill died in opposite house policy committee, however the Senate budget appropriates funds separately for community development and trade and economic development.
An act relating to splitting the department of community, trade, and economic development and reestablishing the department of community development and the department of trade and economic development.
E SB 6402 Civil service act reform
S Rules 3 04-07-00 Fairley
NEUTRAL
After passing the Senate, is currently being held in the House State Government Committee. Passed again by the Senate on March 14.
The state`s civil service system is reformed with new classification rules to be adopted by March 15, 2003. State agencies and institutions of higher education may contract out for services provided by classified employees. The scope of collective bargaining for state employees is expanded to include wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment but bargaining over management rights is prohibited and the right to strike is not granted.
SB 6403 Supplemental capital budget
S Ways & Means 01-14-00 Bauer
Not an active bill. Capital budget is in HB 2487.
The Senate included capital budget items in Senate Bill 6404.
2SSB 6404 Supplemental operating budget
S Rules 3 04-07-00 WM (Loveland)
Not an active bill. See HB 2487.
Passed the state Senate 32-16 on Sunday, March 5. A second changed version, supported by WSU, was passed on 27-18 on March 10. A third version passed the senate on March 22.The state House of Representatives put a striking amendment on the bill and passed its own version 85-13 on March 22.
Punitive "all or nothing" enrollment provisos opposed by WSU and passed during the regular session by the Senate were replaced in the special session rewrite with funding to support the exact number of students that will be enrolled at each campus. For instance, the original Senate budget, passed during the regular session, required WSU Pullman to grow by 287 students next year or lose $3.182 million from its existing budget. The new budget allows WSU to keep funding for any portion of the 287 students it enrolls, and receive additional funding in its budget for up to 377 more students. With this budget, WSU Pullman could be fully funded for up to 724 more students. The House version provides funding for 555 students. The Senate proposal still requires funding for enrollment shortfalls at all campuses to be returned to the state on June 30, 2001. The House budget has no such language. However, that language difference may be insignificant. The 2001 Legislature can be expected to address enrollment shortfalls even before the Senate language would take effect. Both House and Senate versions set a more generous enrollment formula for WSU Tri-Cities which addresses a long-standing funding inequity for that campus. Neither version provides for $272,000 in funding for a South Pullman Campus Electrical Facility that is not contained in the latest Senate budget. The Senate and House proposals provide a new $3.6 million boiler for the Pullman power plant and both provide $450,000 for the Spokane Health Sciences Initiative.
SB 6425 Advanced college tuition S Rules 2 G 02-04-00 HIE (McAuliffe)
SUPPORT
House Bill 2559 was the vehicle for this legislation.
The time line for a GET program refund is changed so that the money needs only be in the account for two years prior to refund. It is no longer necessary to wait until the student reaches age 18. The governing board has some flexibility when making refund decisions. Program expenditures are no longer appropriated, though there is an Office of Financial Management allocation of funds, and OFM reports to the Legislature if the allocation are exceeded.
SB 6461 TANF work activity
S Ways & Means 02-04-00 (HIE) Sheldon, B.
After passing Senate Higher Education committee, bill died in Senate Ways & Means.
A Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipient, within the ages of 18 and 21 years, who maintains satisfactory full-time participation in a vocational or two-year community college program providing job-specific education or training in a high demand field is considered engaged in the TANF required work activity.
SB 6480 Recreational use/Trust Lands
S Nat/Res/Parks 01-17-00 Jacobsen
No position
Bill died in originating committee
A trust land recreational lease program which authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to defer harvesting of timber in order to accommodate recreational uses is established. A program is established to compensate the trust for the value of deferred timber. The department establishes pilot leases for four areas: Tiger Mountain State Forest, Elbe Hills State Forest, the Yacolt State Forest, and Blanchard Hills.
SB 6526 Higher ed/bargaining units
S Rules 2 G 02-11-00 Kohl-Welles
SUPPORT
Companion measure, House Bill 2722 passed both houses. Delivered to governor.
Clarifies that exempt staff are exempt from collective bargaining. Under the state civil service system, classified employees of higher education institutions have limited bargaining rights. This means that bargaining units and institutions may only bargain over matters within an institution`s legal control. Certain higher education positions are exempt from the civil service law in RCW 41.06.070(2); for example, managerial or professional employees. A dispute arose between the University of Washington and the CSA about whether the civil service exemptions applied to the bargaining units which transferred to the collective bargaining law. The Executive Director of PERC ruled that they did not. The applicability of the civil service exemptions is reinstated in RCW 41.06.070 for bargaining units which have been transferred to the public employees collective bargaining law, Chapter 41.56 RCW.
ESSB 6530 PERS plan 2 & 3
C 247 L 00 03-31-00 WM (Fraser)
SUPPORT
Governor signed into statute on March 31; law becomes effective March 1, 2002.
Creates a new PERS 3 retirement system for new employees. Revises provisions relating PERS 2 of the state retirement systems. About 2,000 WSU employees could opt to participate in a new retirement program approved by the Washington Legislature that has split defined benefit/defined contribution provisions. It creates a new optional Public Employees Retirement System (PERS 3) for PERS 2 employees. It would allow existing PERS 2 employees to transfer to the new "PERS 3" between March 2002, and September 2002. The bill, unanimously approved by the Legislature with House amendments, is awaiting the governor`s signature. The bill also lowers the retirement age for members of the Law Enforcement Officer and Fire Fighters (LEOFF) retirement system from age 55 to age 53. The new optional PERS 3 system will be half "defined benefit" funded exclusively from the employer contribution. It will use 1 percent of the final average salary times the number years of service. The remainder of PERS 3 will be a "defined contribution" system funded by the employee contribution. The employee contribution choices range from 5 percent of salary to 15 percent of salary. The bill provides that 110 percent of employee`s accumulated contributions would transfer from PERS II to PERS III. TIAA-CREF employees are not affected.
SB 6619 Office of economic analysis
S Ways & Means 02-04-00 Prentice
WSU HAS CONCERNS
Bill died in the Senate Ways and Means Committee
An Office of Economic Analysis is created in the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. Its mission is to provide information on economic trends and indicators to businesses and communities to assist them in their marketing efforts and business recruitment.
SB 6668 Promoting Standards for Educator Quality
S Rules 3 03-09-00 McAuliffe
WSU SUPPORTS AMENDMENTS
See House Bill 2760.
Creates the Washington Educator Standards Board. WSU urging that two public universities to be represented on the board. WSU advocates a pilot project for one year.
SSB 6680 Fairs and youth shows
S Rules 3 03-09-00 ARED (Rasmussen)
Bill passed Senate, and ran into trouble in House Appropriations.
There is created a task force on funding of fairs and youth shows. The
task force is to become knowledgeable about the operation of fairs and youth shows and how
funding assistance has been used in recent decades to support these events. The task force
is to look at potential efficiencies in administrative activities that have been supported by the
tax on pari-mutuel wagering including the administration of the fair fund and the Horse
Racing Commission. The task force includes one member to be appointed by the WSU dean of agriculture.
E2SSB 6731 Lake Whatcom
C 205 L 00 03-29-00 WM (Spanel)
No position.
Governor signed into statute on March 29; law becomes effective June 8, 2000.
The Department of Natural Resources must develop a landscape management plan for state-owned forest land in the Lake Whatcom watershed area. This includes lands in the WSU Trusts. The department must consult with other major forest landowners and watershed residents in developing the plan. The plan must establish riparian management zones along all streams. The department must manage the lands within such zones to protect water quality and riparian habitat. Harvest and road construction on unstable slopes within the watershed must be carefully regulated. The department must create and implement a sustained yield model specific to Lake Whatcom consistent with the statewide model. The management plan must be completed and implemented by June 30, 2001. Timber harvest and road construction within the watershed must be delayed until the plan is completed. "Road construction" delay was added by a floor amendment by Sen. Spanel.
SB 6747 High tech/higher ed
S Rules 2 02-23-00 Kohl-Welles
NEUTRAL
After passing out of the Senate Higher Education committee, bill died in Senate Rules.
Addresses American Electronics Association Recommendations. Provides that, beginning in April 2000, the higher education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, and a representative of the technology industry shall convene a work group in consultation with the council of presidents and its member institutions, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the Washington federation of career schools and colleges, the Washington association of independent colleges and universities, representatives from the high technology industry, and other higher education providers. Among the duties is for a work group to review industry recommendations specific to higher education.
SB 6803 Sprinkler Study S Higher Educ
01-28-00 Kohl-Welles
NO POSITION
Bill died in committee of origin.
Directs the state building code council to study the feasibility of adopting rules requiring all existing congregate residences owned or operated by any institution of higher education to be provided with complete and approved automatic fire extinguishing sprinkler protection.
SB 6804 Reasonable Assurance/comp2916
S Labor & Workforfce 01-31-00 Fairley
Bill died in committee.
WSU is concerned that this bill could result in unemployment benefits temporary university faculty. The term "reasonable assurance" does not include an agreement that is contingent on enrollment, funding, or program changes.
SB 6826 Higher Ed Financial Aid
S Ways& Means
02-04-00 Kohl Welles
Bill died in Senate Ways & Means Committee.
Authorizes state financial aid to be used at Washington branch campuses of accredited out-of-state institutions of higher education recognized by rule of the HEC Board.
SB 6835 Higher Ed Supp Tuition Fees (Spokane)
Senate Ways and Means 02-07-00 Sheahan, Brown & West
STRONGLY SUPPORT
Bill Died in Senate Ways & Means
Provides that the tuition charged students enrolled in the
cooperative computer engineering program offered jointly by
Washington State University, Gonzaga University, and the University
of Idaho shall be equal for all students in the program from each
of the institutions, as negotiated by the participating
institutions. The board of regents of Washington State University
shall charge its students who participate in the cooperative
computer engineering program offered by Gonzaga University, the
University of Idaho, and Washington State University a supplemental
fee so that the tuition and fees charged them are equal to the
tuition charged by Gonzaga University for its students enrolled in
the program.
E SSCR 8425 HEC Board master plan
Filed w/Secr`y of State 03-09-00 HIE (Kohl Welles)
Resolution has been approved by both houses.
Approves many provisions of the HEC Board Master Plan. But the final version requires that the board "reexamine its assumptions with regard to projected upper division and graduate enrollments, and that the plan reexamine the role of the community and technical colleges in meeting the postsecondary needs of a significant portion of Washington`s population;" and states "That the board reexamine its assumptions with regard to the capital needs of the community and technical colleges and the four-year institutions of higher education, including their branch campuses;"
Hearing before S Hi Ed on 1/31/00 and H Hi Ed on 2/1/00.
SRC 8427 Higher ed student housing
S Rules 2 02-04-00 Kohl-Welles
Resolution died in Rules Committee.
Forms a joint select committee on fire suppression in student residence halls. The committee reports its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 2001.
SR 8726 Dr. Samuel H. Smith honored
S Adopted 02-16-00 Hale
Resolution adopted by State Senate unanimously
Numerous state senators rose on the floor to honor President Sam Smith for his 15 years of service to the state of Washington.
SGA 9023 Joe King
S Confirm Cal 03-01-00
Awaiting assignment to the Senate floor.
JOE KING, reappointed January 28, 1997, for a term ending September 30, 2000, as a Member of the Board of Regents of the Washington State University. Confirmation was passed out of Senate Rules Committee on a split partisan vote.
SGA9223 Bernadett Buchanan
S Confirm Cal 03-17-00
Confirmed by the state Senate.
BERNADETT BUCHANAN, appointed June 1, 1999, for a term ending May 31, 2000, as a Member of the Board of Regents of the Washington State University. Hearing held by the Senate Higher Educations Committee. The Senate vote was 48-0
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