CWU LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

February 23-28, 2010

A weekly report prepared by Ann Anderson and Linda Schactler to keep CWU trustees and personnel abreast of legislative activities.

TAX PLANS MOVE FORWARD

The legislature authorized and the governor has signed a bill that allows lawmakers to increase taxes with a simply majority instead of two-thirds, as required by I-960. Senate Bill 6130, which passed by a simply majority in the House and Senate, temporarily suspends most elements of I-960 and gets rid of statewide advisory votes on the November ballot for any tax increases. It also eliminates a requirement that lawmakers’ tax-vote records go into the state-paid voter pamphlet.

The House and Senate Democrats need to suspend I-960 in order to raise taxes and generate revenue to help fill the budget hole. The Senate tax package, topping $918 million, would include a three-tenths of a penny boost in the state sales tax, to 6.8 percent, raising over $300 million in the next year. Senate Democrats also propose a $1-a-pack addition to the cigarette tax and over $500 million worth of tax exemption/loophole closures.

The House has released a budget but has not unveiled their plan to fund it. The table below lays out the broad elements of the three budget proposals that will be combined for a final supplemental budget.

HOUSE & SENATE UNVEIL SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGETS

SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING BUDGET PROPOSALS
February 25, 2010
FUNCTIONAL AREA / GOVERNOR / SENATE / HOUSE
Total cut in state general funds / $6 million / $5 million / $6.33 million
  $1.4 million State General Fund
  One-year replacement of $4.93 million in state funds with building fee revenue
State Need Grant / $146.4 million
  Serves students up to 50% MFI;
  Grant amounts prorated for fund limits. / $136 million
  Serves students at 70% MFI
  Dependent on a sales tax increase / $140 million
  Assumes Pell will maintain service;
  Shifts some funding from GSF to Education Legacy Trust Fund.
State Work Study / Suspended / Current service level maintained; 30% savings assumed. / $7.7 million cut achieved by reducing the amount of money students may earn.

TUITION ALTERNATIVES FADE

The Chair of the House Higher Education suspended her dislike for the Senate tuition proposal long enough to hear the bill last Tuesday, the last day for policy bills to gain committee approval. The chair ended the hearing without voting on SB 6562. Although the legislative deadline for this bill to move out of a policy committee has passed, some House members continue to work the bill, hoping for a version that will earn the approval of the legislature. Time is running short for all bills, with only 11 days to go until the end of the regular legislative session.

A sure sign that the end of session is near are policy committee planning sessions for studies and meetings leading up to next session. The House Higher Education chair is planning a work session for next Friday, March 5, that will include discussions about continuing the policy discussion about tuition.

TRUSTEES JOIN FORCES IN MEETINGS WITH LEGISLATORS

Representatives of baccalaureate governing boards came to in Olympia on Thursday, February 25. After a breakfast meeting, CWU trustees Sid Morrison and Pat Notter joined President Gaudino, Ann Anderson, and Steve DuPont in meetings with about a dozen numerous legislators. Our trustees teamed up with EWU trustees, Bertha Ortega and Neil McReynolds for two meetings in the morning.

Highlights of Upcoming Legislative Activities

From now until the end of session legislators will be attempting to come to agreement on House and Senate versions of bills. The last day of regular session is March 11. Legislative leaders say making that deadline will be difficult, but is still not impossible.

CWU HIGHER EDUCATION BILL WATCH
Feb. 29, 2010
This table contains only legislation that may be of significant interest to CWU. Sandy Colson and the Council of Presidents maintain comprehensive bill tracking systems. A ü next to a bill means it has moved forward in the process since the previous week. The Legislative cut-off calendar lists the dates by which bills must move forward in order to stay "alive."
SUBJECT / BILL NUMBER / STATUS
Academic programs
Requires the University Center at Everett Community College to offer a BS in nursing program with capacity for at least 50 FTE. / HB 2694 / ü Senate Ways & Means
Exempts in-state institutions of higher education from laws that regulate providers of online learning in K-12 schools, as long as the online courses generate high school and college credit. Authorizes school districts to claim basic education funding for students enrolled in these courses. / HB 2852 / ü Senate Ways & Means
Authorizes state universities to develop 3-year degree programs. / SB 5237 / DEAD House Higher Ed
Budget
House Budget / HB 2824 / ü House Rules
Reducing the cost of state government operations by freezing wages. / SB 6382 / ü Governor signed
Closing state agencies on specified dates. / SB 6503 / House floor calendar
Designed to "capture early savings prior to the adoption of the 2010 supplemental omnibus appropriations act." / HB 2921 / ü Governor signed
Suspends monetary rewards for performance for exempt and civil service employees through June 30, 2011. / HB 2998 / ü Governor signed
Restricts the purchase of technology by state agencies. / HB 3178 / ü House Rules
Suspends the provisions of I-960 / SB 6130 / ü Governor signed
House tax package / HB 3176 / ü House Rules
Business & financial affairs
With the approval of the institution, allows the state treasurer to use tuition funds to manage state cash-flow. / HB 3174 / House Rules
Capital Budget
Creates jobs by issuing general obligation bonds for work to increase energy savings in public facilities. Effective only if voters approve certain sections of the act by Dec. 1, 2010. / HB 2561 / Senate Ways & Means
Financial Aid
Changes to Washington Higher Ed Loan program: sets loan limits; adjusts student eligibility; moves the program to state treasurer. / HB 2854 / Senate Ways & Means
K-12 Education
People seeking alternative teaching endorsement would have priority for award the Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship and Loan Repayment (Future Teachers) and the Alternate Route Conditional Scholarship. / HB 2930 / ü Senate Rules
Positioning K-12 education for Race to the Top funds. / SB 6696 / ü House Rules
Labor
Modifies collective bargaining provisions for employees of institutions of higher education. / HB 1560 / ü Senate Rules
Research
Requires the state universities to provide collaborative research and technology transfer opportunities. Amends the State Ethics Act to allow university research employees to make reasonable use of university facilities, services, and commercialization resources to benefit start-up companies that are formed from universities. / SB 6706 / ü House Rules
Tuition
Proposed House version of SB 6562: PBIs may increase tuition 9% per year for four years and must negotiate performance agreements with the state by Sept. 1. / SB 6562 / DEAD House Higher Ed
Tuition waivers for police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. / HB 2519 / Senate Rules
Authorizing honorary degrees for students who were ordered into internment camps. / SB 6467 / ü Sent to Governor