Money Committees Move Quickly to Advance Legislation

Posted on February 23, 2015 by jgarver

The appropriation committees in the House and Senate kicked off the week with long sessions of public hearings on dozens of bills. Friday, March 27 marks another major deadline in the legislative process. Bills that have been moved to an appropriations committee in either the House or the Senate must have moved from the committee to the floor by the end of the day.

The Senate Ways & Means Committee heard several higher education related bills this afternoon, including:

SB 5954: Creates the College Affordability Program (CAP). Removes tuition-setting authority for resident undergraduate students for the public baccalaureate institutions. Beginning in the 2015-16 academic year, tuition fees for resident undergraduates must be no more than the following: for community and technical colleges, 6 percent of the state’s average wage; for the regional universities and The Evergreen State College, 10 percent of the state’s average wage; and for the research universities, 14 percent of the state’s average wage. Beginning with the 2015-17 operating budget, the Legislature must appropriate to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and each four-year institution of higher education an amount that is at least equal to the total state funds appropriated in the 2013-15 biennium plus the reduction in revenues from resident undergraduate tuition operating fees received for the 2015-17 fiscal biennium under this act, adjusted for inflation. Additionally, the dollar value of the building fee must not be reduced below the level in the 2014-15 academic year, adjusted for inflation.
SB 5851: Advances recommendations to improve and enhance certain components of the program, including data collection, outreach and program outcomes.
SB 5561: A child of a veteran or National Guard member is eligible for a full tuition waiver at a Washington State institution of higher education if one of the child’s parents became totally disabled as a result of active service, was a prisoner of war, or lost their life as a result of serving in active duty, and the child: is a Washington domiciliary between the age of 17 and 26; or meets one of eight federal requirements for receiving education assistance.
SB 5547: SNG recipients must maintain a 2.5 GPA to be eligible for renewal, unless the student attends The Evergreen State College (TESC). Students enrolled at TESC must meet the requirements of the college’s satisfactory academic progress policy to remain
eligible for the SNG program.
SB 5355: Amends the definition of resident student to comply with federal requirements established by the veterans access, choice, and accountability act of 2014.

The House Appropriations committee is expected to take up a handful of higher education bills tomorrow including:

HB 1546: Makes change to the dual credit opportunities provided by Washington’s public institutions of higher education.
HB 1825: Amends the definition of resident student to comply with federal requirements established by the veterans access, choice, and accountability act of 2014.

Fast and Furious to the Deadline

Posted on February 20, 2015 by jgarver

Today marked the first major deadline of the 2015 legislative session. All policy bills, unless they are deemed necessary to implement the budget (NTIB), must have moved from their respective policy committees to either an appropriation committee or rules.

Both the Senate and House higher education committees have spent the last two weeks advancing bills to the next stage in the process.

Below is a brief glimpse of some of the bills that have advanced past today’s deadline.

HB 1500: Requires the Joint Higher Education Committee to conduct a study of higher education costs at the state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College – House Appropriations
HB 1696: Returns tuition-setting authority for resident undergraduate students to the operating budget – House Appropriations
HB 1973: Establishes the Washington Open Education Pilot Program at Eastern Washington University beginning in the 2015-16 academic year – House Appropriations
SB 5638: Students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least three quarter credits, or the equivalent semester hours, in a qualifying higher education program are eligible for the State Need Grant – Senate Rules
SB 5318: Establishes a wildlife college student loan program – Senate Rules
SB 5547: SNG recipients must maintain a 2.5 grade point average to be eligible for renewal, unless the student attends The Evergreen State College. Students enrolled at Evergreen must meet the requirements of the college’s satisfactory academic progress policy to remain eligible for the State Need Grant program – Senate Ways & Means

The bills that advanced this week from the policy committees, if moved to an appropriation committee, must move from committee to the floor by the end of the day on March 27. Stay tuned!

Week in Review

Posted on February 7, 2015 by jgarver

This week committees transitioned from work sessions to public hearings, even advancing some bills to the next step in the legislative process.

The Senate Higher Education Committee spent the week listening to testimony on a range of bills and moving forward trustee appointments. The Committee held public hearings on bills focusing on tuition policy, student veterans, and sexual assault prevention. Evergreen weighed in supporting bills to align state policy impacting student veterans with federal policy, provide support for sexual assault prevention, and eliminate tuition-setting authority for public baccalaureate institutions.

The Senate Higher Education also took action and advanced Nick Wootan, Student Trustee for The Evergreen State College to the full Senate for confirmation.

The House Higher Education Committee also spent the week taking public testimony on a range of bills. Legislation before the committee focused on student veterans, transparency and accountability, performance funding and tuition policy. Evergreen echoed testimony the College provided in the Senate to support legislation that would align state policy with federal policy for student veterans and eliminate tuition-setting authority for public baccalaureate institutions.

Evergreen also testified on a variety of bills that focused on transparency and accountability. The College asked the committee to not duplicate current reporting efforts and to clarify responsibilities within the legislation. Among the bills was legislation to create a performance incentive funding policy for the comprehensive institutions and Evergreen.

Finally, Evergreen testified in support of the Governor’s biennial capital budget before the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Evergreen asked the Committee to support funding for Evergreen’s capital priorities and to provide funding to maintain and preserve existing facilities.

Next week both the House and Senate Higher Education Committees will continue to hold public hearings. Bills will focus on financial aid policy and higher education funding.

Nearly a Month In…

Posted on February 4, 2015 by jgarver

Washington is nearly a month in to the 2015 legislative session. Activity abounds.

In the House, the 2015 supplemental budget passed off the floor late last week and the Appropriations Committee has held a public hearing on the Governor’s proposed biennial budget. In addition, the Capital Budget Committee took testimony on the Governor’s proposed biennial capital budget.

The House Higher Education Committee opened the legislative session with several work sessions focused on timely topics including access and affordability and areas of study that lead to good jobs – highlighting computer science, rural health care, and maritime industries. Beginning last week, the Committee began hold public hearings on legislation introduced this session. The focus of bills introduced this session have ranged from efficiencies and transparency within higher education to strategic planning to access and affordability policies.

The Committee will continue to hold public hearings and begin executive sessions through this week and likely most of next week as the first legislative deadline nears at the end of February.

The Senate has followed a similar path. The Senate Ways & Means Committee opened the session with a public hearing on the Governor’s biennial operating budget followed by two work sessions focused on higher education funding and capital construction. This week the Committee will hold a public hearing on the Governor’s proposed biennial capital budget.

The Senate Higher Education Committee also has taken time to focus on topics of the day in higher education, such as medical education, campus sexual assault prevention, and higher education funding. Beginning last week the committee focused on advancing legislation introduced this session, giving attention to a series of bills focused on financial aid and transparency. The committee will continue this work this week with hearings on sexual assault prevention legislation, tuition policy, and veterans.

Finally, the Committee has held a series of conversations with trustees and regents appointed by the Governor to serve on higher education related public boards.

Washington Senate Democrats Announce Commitee Assignments

Posted on December 19, 2014 by jgarver

This week the Washington Senate Democrats announced committee leadership and membership for the upcoming session.

Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles will be the ranking member on the Higher Education Committee. Kohl-Welles will be joined by Senators David Frockt and Marko Liias.

In addition, Senator Jim Hargrove will continue as the ranking member on Senate Ways & Means, Senator Karen Keiser will continue as assistant ranking on Ways & Means for capital, and Senator Kevin Ranker will continue as assistant ranking on Ways & Means for operating.

House Republicans Name Committee Leaders and Members

Posted on December 19, 2014 by jgarver

This week the Washington House Republicans announced committee leadership and membership for the upcoming session.

Representative Hans Zeiger (Puyallup) will be the ranking member and Representative Larry Haler (Richland) will be the assistant ranking leader on the Higher Education Committee. Zeiger and Haler will be joined by Representatives Hargrove, Holy, Stambaugh, and Van Werven.

In addition, Representative Richard DeBolt will continue as ranking leader of the House Capital Budget committee, Representative Bruce Chandler will continue as the ranking member on the Appropriations committee, and Representative Terry Nealey will be the ranking member on Finance.

WA House Democrats Announce Committee Leadership and Membership

Posted on December 11, 2014 by jgarver

This afternoon the Washington House Democrats announced committee chairs and vice chairs and membership for the upcoming session.

Representative Drew Hansen (Bainbridge Island) will chair and Representative Gerry Pollett (Seattle) will vice-chair the House Higher Education Committee. Hansen and Pollett will be joined by Representatives Bergquist, Reykdal, Sells, Tarleton and the to-be-named representative of the 30th district.

In addition, Representative Hans Dunshee (Snohomish) will continue as chair of the House Capital Budget committee, Representative Ross Hunter (Medina) will chair the Appropriations committee, and Representative Reuven Carlyle (Seattle) will chair the Finance committee.

WA Senate Releases Committee Leaders and Committee Structure

Posted on December 10, 2014 by jgarver

This week the Washington State Senate released the committee structure for the 2015 session. The committee structure will resemble the committees from the prior legislative session with the exception of a new committee.

The Senate Accountability and Reform Committee, to be chaired by newly elected Senator Mark Miloscia, will focus on issues involving the management of government including transparency, efficiency programs and strategic planning.

Committee leadership, in general, provides for continuity from last session. Senator Barbara Bailey will continue to chair the Senate Higher Education Committee. In addition, Senator Andy Hill will Chair the Senate Ways & Means Committee and Senator Jim Honeyford will continue as Vice Co-Chair focusing on the capital budget.

Some of the changes for the 2015 session include:

Senator Michael Baumgartner will replace Senator Randi Becker as Vice Chair on Higher Education
Senator John Braun as Vice Co-Chair replacing Senator Michael Baumgartner and the addition of Senator Bruce Dammeier as Vice Chair with a focus on education finance
Newly-elected Senator Judy Warnick will replace Senator Brian Hatfield as chair of Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development
Senator Mike Baumgartner will replace former Senator Holmquist Newbry as Chair of Commerce and Labor
Senator Don Benton will replace the former Co-Chair structure of the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee replacing Co-Chair Steve Hobbs and Senator Jan Angel will take on the role as Vice Chair
Senator Mark Miloscia will replace Senator Kirk Pearson as Vice Chair of Human Services and Corrections
Senator Brian Dansel will serve as Vice Chair for Natural Resources and Parks
Senator Sharon Brown will replace Senator John Braun as Chair of Trade and Economic Development and Senator John Braun will replace Senator Jan Angel as Vice Chair
Senator Joe Fain will join Transportation as Vice Chair for the transportation budget and Senator Don Benton as Vice Chair.

WA House Announces Committee Structure; Chairs and Committee Members to Follow

Posted on December 9, 2014 by jgarver

This week the House Democrats released a new committee structure for the 2015 session. The structure will eliminate, create and refocus committees. Overall the number of committees will shrink from 23 to 21.

Gone are two of the three appropriation subcommittees on health and human services and education as well as the government accountability and oversight panel.

A new committee will make its debut this session the House Commerce and Gaming Committee. The Committee will consider issues related to commerce in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and issues relating to the regulation and oversight of gaming.

Finally some committees will see a change in focus. The House State Government Committee will absorb the issues handled by the former Government Operations and Elections panel. The Labor and Workforce Development Committee will be changed to the Labor Committee and workforce development issues will be absorbed by the House Higher Education Committee. The former Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government will see a new title (General Government and Information Technology) and a revamped focus.

It is anticipated that the leaders and members of the House committees could be identified as early as this week in both the House and Senate. The Senate will also reveal its committee structure.

WA Senate Majority Coalition Caucus Elects Leadership

Posted on December 3, 2014 by jgarver

Earlier this week the Majority Coalition Caucus (MCC) elected Senator Mark Schoesler as the Senate Majority leader. Schoesler previously served as Senate GOP leader.

The Caucus retained three top leaders from the prior session. Linda Evans Parlette of Wenatchee will remain caucus chair, Joe Fain of Auburn floor leader and Ann Rivers of La Center whip. In addition the MCC supported retaining Tim Sheldon (D) as the Senate’s president pro tempore a position elected by the full Senate.
Finally, the MCC made some changes to leadership:

John Braun was elected deputy leader, replacing Don Benton
Jan Angel was elected caucus vice chair, replacing Bruce Dammeier
Mark Miloscia was elected, replacing John Braun as deputy whip

Read more here: http://www.theolympian.com/2014/12/01/3456017_mark-schoesler-elected-senate.html?sp=/99/101/112/&rh=1#storylink=cpy

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