This afternoon the House Ways & Means Committee held a public hearing and took action on three bills of interest to Evergreen.
Senate Bill 6409
Senate Bill 6409 creates the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account. Beginning in state fiscal year 2011, all net revenues from in-state lottery games that are not otherwise dedicated to debt service on the Safeco Stadium and Qwest Field and Exhibition Center are dedicated to the new account.
The Washington Opportunity Pathways Account is subject to appropriation by the Legislature, and may only be used for the following programs: recruitment of entrepreneurial researchers, innovation partnership zones, and research teams; the early childhood education and assistance program (ECAP); the State Need Grant; the State Work Study program; College Bound Scholarships; Washington Promise Scholarships; Washington Scholars; the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE); the Passport to College Promise; the Educational Opportunity Grant; and GET Ready for Math & Science Scholarships.
The Washington Student Association, the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), and the four-year public baccalaureates testified in support of the legislation. Students asked the Committee to support the bill as an opportunity to fund financial aid. The HECB and the four-year institutions also expressed support but reminded the committee that the funding source in the bill would not fully fund the financial aid programs listed and encouraged the committee to ensure that financial aid is funded as this option matures.
The Committee took no further action on the bill.
Senate Bill 6833
The Committee held a public hearing and took action on Senate Bill 6833. SB 6833 allows the Office of the State Treasurer to enter agreements with state agencies for investment by the Treasurer of funds not currently deposited with the Treasurer. At this time higher education is exempt from the bill.
The bill was amended in Committee to include, in addition to the existing requirments for monthly reporting on individuals accounts, the Office of the State Treasurer is directed to post the monthly report on the OST website and to include a graph displaying month end balances for the general fund, total funds in the treasury and treasurer’s trust fund, and total funds managed by the state treasurer.
Senate Bill 6833 now goes to the House floor for further consideration.
House Bill 3193
The House Ways & Means Committee held a public hearing and took action on House Bill 3193 . HB 3193 reduces the bonus for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (National Board)-certified teachers teaching in high poverty schools from $5,000 to $2,500 during the 2010-11 school year and requires persons receiving the National Board bonus to be in “instructional assignments” in a Washington public school.
In addition, the bill would revise the statutory definition of a “high poverty school” to conform with language currently used in the operating budget; this results in no change to current practice.
House Bill 3193 now goes to the floor for further consideration.