It’s the 58th day of this year’s 105 day legislative session. Yesterday we reached the first floor cutoff, an important milestone on the session schedule. That means all bills not necessary to implement the budget must have gained approval in their house of origin to remain alive.
Here’s how a series of WSU priorities are faring so far.
The Budget
Additional supplemental cuts were approved in House Bill 1086 earlier this session and the next forecast of state tax collections is due March 17. Lawmakers will use that forecast to draft their budget. Leaders in the House are hoping to announce their proposal the following week.
Tuition Policy
House Bill 1666 and House Bill 1795 are the primary vehicles under discussion this year. Both are considered necessary to implement the budget and remain alive despite today’s cutoff. The first is being fashioned into a bill that speaks to principles about funding higher education. The second would give universities four years of tuition setting authority, address financial aid concerns and establish performance and accountability measures. Both remain works in progress. Discussion has been more limited in the Senate, where Senate Bill 5717 is the vehicle.
North Puget Sound University Center
House Bill 1792 and Senate Bill 5636 both have been approved in their respective chambers with strong votes. Nearly identical, the bills would authorize WSU to begin offering an engineering program at the North Puget Sound University Center in Everett and begin writing an academic plan that would contemplate future baccalaureate expansion there. If blessed by the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Systems Design Review process, WSU would assume management of the center in 2014.
Regulatory Relief
A series of regulator relief bills remain alive and other concepts may yet be worked into the budget. Senate Bill 5516 would allow the university to purchase equipment maintenance services for up to five years after payment to achieve cost savings. House Bill 1663 removes the requirement universities purchase from Correctional Industries. Senate Bill 5519 eases restrictions on small contracts. All have been approved in their respective chamber. Another measure, Senate Bill 5520, would have provided WSU relief on its municipal stormwater costs but was not moved out of its policy committee.
Trust Land Revenues
Senate Bill 5576 would give WSU more control over its building fees and trust land revenues. In the near term it would all the university to bundle costs in paying for preservation and minor works projects, saving money while improving credit strength. In the long term it could fund design or even construction activities for new buildings, so long as revenue growth is adequate. The bill has been approved in the Senate and now goes to the House.