[Wsssc] WSSSC Legislative Updates: 1/19/2024

Fri Jan 19 06:41:13 PST 2024

Dear Vice Presidents of Student Services,

Today is the 12th day of the legislative session and boy have we been engaged! This week, thousands of bills were introduced, many assigned, analyzed, monitored, testimony and recommended modification occurred. Over the coming weeks many bills will die, some will evolve, and only a handful will make it to the Governor's desk to be signed into law.  As we navigate the legislative landscape, we know it's critical to keep you updated on bills that directly impact higher education and student services. The following bills have garnered our attention, and we want to ensure you are informed about their content and implications as they continue to be shaped over the next several weeks for our institutions.

This year, we've taken an even more proactive and collaborative approach to include expertise from VPSS's and area experts on high impact bills for consultation throughout the session. A special thank you to those individuals who providing their time, knowledge, and expertise throughout the session to shape legislative policy. Each of your insights, questions, and feedback on these matters are invaluable as we collectively strive to enhance the student experience and address evolving challenges. We look forward to sharing more with you at the Feb. 8/9 commissions meeting.

House Bill 1943<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1943&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Modifying the Washington national guard postsecondary education grant program.

  *   Expands eligibility for the Washington National Guard Postsecondary Education Grant to the spouse or dependent of a Washington National Guard member.
  *   Extends eligibility for the Washington National Guard Postsecondary Education Grant from five years or 125 percent of the published length of the student's program to six years or 150 percent of the published length of the student's program.

House Bill 2004<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2004&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Providing early registration at institutions of higher education for military students.

  *   Requires institutions of higher education that provide early course registration to allow students who are eligible veterans, national guard members, active duty military members, and their spouses, domestic partners, and dependents early course registration.

House Bill 2077<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2077&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Concerning participation in the Washington guaranteed admissions program. (pending)

House Bill 2112<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2112&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Concerning opioid and fentanyl prevention education and awareness at institutions of higher education.

(Special thanks to VPSS's Claire Peinado and Rob Cox consulting on this bill)

  *   Requires public and private institutions of higher education to provide opioid and fentanyl prevention education and awareness to all students.
  *   Requires public and private institutions of higher education to make naloxone and fentanyl strips available to students on campus.
  *   Requires public and private institutions of higher education to provide education and training on administering naloxone to staff working in residence halls.

House Bill 2214<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2214&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Permitting beneficiaries of public assistance programs to automatically qualify as income-eligible for the purpose of receiving the Washington college grant.

  *   Expands demonstration of financial need for Washington College Grant (WCG) eligibility to include students who participate in Washington's Basic Food Program (Basic Food) or the Food Assistance Program (FAP).

House Bill 2242<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2242&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Supporting sexual assault survivors at institutions of higher education.

(Special thanks to VPSS Michele Waltz Consulting on this bill)

  *   Establishes a list of rights to which survivors of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and gender-based violence are entitled at institutions of higher education.
  *   Requires certain public institutions of higher education to establish a Student Health and Safety Committee.
  *   Requires public institutions of higher education to provide education on the Title IX reporting process and other resources available to survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence.
  *   Provides that the Title IX process may not exceed 180 business days from the date a report of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or gender-based violence is reported.

House Bill 2309<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2309&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Establishing the Washington 13 free guarantee. (pending)

House Bill 2375<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2374&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Establishing the Washington promise program (pending)

2S Senate Bill 5670<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5670&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Permitting 10th grade students to participate in running start in online settings.

  *   Permits 10th grade students to participate in online-only Running Start courses.
  *   Requires that 10th grade Running Start students take no more than five quarter credits per term, or the semester equivalent.
  *   Defines online courses as those in which the entirety of the course time is spent in a virtual setting or not in person.

Senate Bill 5896<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5896&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Extending the terms of eligibility for financial aid programs. (pending)

Senate Bill 5913<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5913&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Concerning communication between employees of state institutions of higher education and student athletes regarding name, image, and likeness use.

(Special thanks to NWAC Director Marco and VPSS Rob Cox consulting on this bill).

  *   Provides that the Ethics in Public Service Act does not prohibit the use of public resources by an employee of a state higher education institution to benefit any student athlete in advising, facilitation, acknowledgment, or education related to a matter involving name, image, and likeness.

Senate Bill 5958<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5958&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Establishing the Washington career skills grant program.

  *   Establishes the Washington career skills grant program. Defines eligibility to include noncredit-bearing programs that are ineligible for federal or state aid.
  *   Requires an annual report that includes the types of programs served and pre- and post-credential wage data.
  *   Includes a sunset clause.

Senate Bill 5999<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5999&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Expanding financial aid eligibility.

  *   Increases eligibility for the maximum Washington College Grant (WCG) award up to 70 percent of median family income.
  *   Modifies WCG awards for students between 71 and 100 percent of median family income.
  *   Entitles WCG students who are receiving the maximum WCG award, but who are not College Bound Scholarship recipients, to a bridge grant, which is an additional annual stipend for expenses beyond tuition and fees.

Senate Bill 6053<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6053&Year=2023&Initiative=false> - Improving equitable access to postsecondary education.

  *   Requires the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) to enter into data-sharing agreements with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to facilitate the transfer of high school student directory information for informing high school students of postsecondary financial aid and educational opportunities available in the state.
  *   Allows a nonpublic university, college, school, or institute in the state of Washington that is a member institution of an accrediting association recognized by rule of the WSAC to enter into student data-sharing agreements with OSPI.

Senate Bill 6103 -<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6103&Initiative=false&Year=2023> Concerning free speech information for students at institutions of higher education.

  *   This would require incoming students to participate in a "free speech fundamentals workshop" offered by the college or university.

Senate Bill 6104<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6104&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Adopting free speech policy statements at public institutions of higher education.

  *   This would require regents and trustees to adopt a free speech policy statement articulating certain principles that the institution will uphold, comparable to the University of Chicago principles<https://freeexpression.uchicago.edu/>.
  *   The University of Washington created a "freedom of expression"<https://www.washington.edu/freespeech/#:~:text=We%20believe%20that%20upholding%20the,essential%20to%20every%20institution%20of> web page.
  *   The Chronical just put out this Fostering Students Free Expression brief, attached.

Senate Bill 6254<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6254&Initiative=false&Year=2023> - Providing student navigational supports to increase postsecondary enrollment.
(Special thanks to VPSS Sue Orchard for consulting on this bill)

  *   This expands on HB 1835's<https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1835&Year=2021> financial aid outreach work (5 pilot colleges) and adds a focus on outreach, enrollment, and persistence.

Your engagement on these legislative matters are invaluable and we encourage open dialogue and collaboration as we work towards shaping these policies throughout the session through March 8.

For those who want to take their learning one step further, here is a link to the Governors 2024 budget highlights<https://ofm.wa.gov/budget/state-budgets/gov-inslees-proposed-2024-supplemental-budgets/highlights-gov-inslees-proposed-2024-supplemental-budget> which includes summaries and graphs on education, economic revenue, behavior health, opioids, housing and homelessness, climate, human services, transportation and more.

As always, thank you for your ongoing commitment to student success.

[Compass]
Lauren Hibbs, Ed.D
Director, Student Services
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
lhibbs at sbctc.edu* o: 360-704-4334 *
sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> * Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> * Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

SBCTC Vision:

"Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice in service to our diverse communities."

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