Governor
Inslee called a second special session that began Friday, May 29. This second
round of overtime cannot go longer than 30 days. Legislators are still
negotiating a final budget that includes state employee compensation, a tuition
freeze, financial aid funding, and a number of other policy items related to
community and technical colleges.
Senate, House release
updated budget proposals
June 1 – House Democrats
released an updated budget proposal, 2SHB
1106, and held a public hearing Tuesday,
June 2 in the House Appropriations
Committee. The $38.4 billion proposal relies on incoming revenue from
numerous sources, but unlike the Senate, relies on new revenue from a capital
gains tax. Highlights for the community and technical college system include:
·
A
tuition freeze, with a modest inflation increase.
·
Cost
of living increase of 3% (2016) and 1.8% (2017) for all employees; allows for
funding of faculty increments using local funds in 2015-17.
·
Increased
funding for the State Need Grant.
·
Expansion
of the MESA Community College program in FY 2017 ($2.5M).
·
Expansion
of allied health programs at Seattle Central College ($425K).
·
Expansion
of aerospace and advanced manufacturing apprenticeships ($1.25M).
·
Funding
for the Labor Education and Research Center at South Seattle College ($500K).
·
Bachelor’s
degree in Computer Science at Bellevue College starting in FY 2017 ($750K).
·
Expansion
of the Year-Up program at Bellevue College to include one college in Eastern
Washington beginning in 2017 ($800K).
Nick Lutes, SBCTC operating
budget director, testified before the committee and shared information from the
community and technical college system perspective.
“Thank
you for continuing to fully fund collective bargaining agreements and the COLAs
contained within those agreements,” he said. “Freezing tuition and providing a
modest inflation increase in our budget helps keep college affordable for our students
and also recognizes that costs continue to increase for campuses.”
2SHB
1106 was voted out of committee on Wednesday, June 3 and has been referred to
the House Rules Committee for further action.
May 29 — Senate Republicans
released an updated budget proposal, SSB 6050
and held an executive session in the Senate
Ways and Means Committee. The new $37.9 proposal also relies on incoming
state revenue from a variety of sources including marijuana. Highlights for the
community and technical college system include:
·
Implementation
of ESSB
5954, reducing tuition by 1.8% backfilled with state funds. Tuition is
expected to increase by 2.6% the second year.
·
Cost
of living increase of 3% (2016) and 1.8% (2017) for all employees. Funding for
COLAs is tied to passage of SB
6126.
·
Composite
wing fabrication training at the WATR Center ($1.58M).
·
Feasibility
study for a potential two-year college in Graham ($300K).
·
Bachelor’s
degree in Computer Science at Bellevue College starting in FY 2017 ($750K).
·
Implementation
of E2SSB
5179, concerning paraeducators, if passed by both chambers ($115K).
SSB
6050 was voted out of committee and has been referred to the Senate Rules
Committee for further action.
Legislative action on
computer science bill
May 28 – During the waning
hours of the first special session, legislators passed SHB
1813 that expands computer science education through new K-12 standards, a
scholarship program, and better coordination between secondary and
postsecondary education systems.
Sponsored
by Rep. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge
Island, SHB 1813 aims to ultimately increase the number of computer science
degrees in Washington state. This bill has been delivered to the governor for a
signature.
