[Factc] FACTC Weekly Legislative Agenda

[Smith, Gerard]

Dear FACTC members,

I just finished a webinar with Jennifer Whetham and Arlen Harris, and here is a summary of items you should consider.   All bills must move out of policy committees next Wednesday, so if you want to express your opinion to you legislators, now's the time.

HB 1237<http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1237&Year=2017> which allows CTC faculty to bargain for local dollars is moving forward.  The bill passed the House 65-32.  It moves to the Senate next. The CTC college presidents are split on this issue; about 50/50, so reaching out to our president as well as contacting your senator would be a good thing.

HB 1168 <http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1237&Year=2017>  which had proposed to convert 600 part-time faculty to full-time faculty over the nest 3 biennium  has come out of committee revised downward to 135 conversions over the next six years:  35 the first year, and 50 per year thereafter.  So, again express your concern to your senators and representatives.

HB 1375<http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1375&Year=2017> if passed would require the college faculty to notify students of the cost of course marital within the online course schedule. Some faculty worry about the effect on academic freedom, and administrations worries about the cost of notifying students.  So, again reaching out to your legislators is essential early next week if you want your voice to be heard.

SB 5820 <http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5820&Year=2017>  changes the award of States Need Grants, so that applicants must have a 2.5 grade point average, up from a 2.0.  The bill is currently in committee.  The SBCTC estimates that this will affect the status of 5200 students who would otherwise qualify, and might hurt work force training the most.  With lower enrollments across the state, it might be a good idea to go to your legislator's town hall meeting (usually on March 11th) nest week and ask "What are you doing to help underserved students?" or "How do you plan to achieve the WASC Roadmap goals?"

HB 1129<http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1129&Year=2017>, the corrections education bill, has passed both the House and the Senate, so contact your legislators to thank them for their vote. The bill is currently in the Senate Law and Justice committee. So, again call or write your legislator if you want to express your opinion.

HB 1913<http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1913&Year=2017> the bill that proposes a leasehold excise tax exemptions is still moving forward.  Ramifications: if this is approved the cost will be passed cost on to the students. The SBCTC will have to pay the tax, a cost that it will pass on to the vendor, who will pass that cost on to the students.  Ultimately, the students will pay higher prices for their textbooks.   Another question you might ask at the town hall meeting "What are you doing to keep college affordable?"

HB 1130<http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1130&Year=2017> which will make the customized training program permanent has passed the house, so contact your senator to voice your opinion on this program.
After next week, congress will move onto the operational request. The system is still at 2007 levels, even after bearing budget cuts which still have not been made up.  So attend a town hall meeting on March 11th and ask your legislators, "What have done to help community and technical colleges this legislative session?".

For our spring meeting in Spokane, we will dedicate one session on evaluating our legislative agenda, so be ready to discuss how or if these calls to action affected your advocacy efforts.



Dr. Gerard Smith
President, FACTC
English Department, Clark College
225D Clark Center, WSU-V
360-992-6058

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