Washington 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: Enacted 2 D cosponsors

SB 5166 — Providing religious accommodations for postsecondary students.

Last action — Effective date 7/28/2019.

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 15, 2019. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 80% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 5166 clarifies and strengthens the requirements for postsecondary educational institutions to accommodate students' religious beliefs. Notably, it now specifies that students can be absent for religious observances and ensures their grades are protected from the impact of these absences. Additionally, it emphasizes the confidentiality of accommodation requests and requires institutions to provide detailed policies and a list of major religious holidays on their websites. This matters because it fosters an inclusive educational environment where students can practice their faith without academic penalties.

→
Previous
Latest
S-0975.2SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5166State of Washington66th Legislature2019 Regular SessionBySenate Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Hasegawa, Carlyle, Frockt, Palumbo, and Nguyen)READ FIRST TIME 01/31/19.AN ACT Relating to providing religious accommodations for students at postsecondary educational institutions during exams or other requirements to successfully complete a program;
S-0589.1SENATE BILL 5166State of Washington66th Legislature2019 Regular SessionBySenators Hasegawa, Carlyle, Frockt, Palumbo, and NguyenRead first time 01/15/19.Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.AN ACT Relating to providing religious accommodations for students at postsecondary educational institutions during exams or other requirements to successfully complete a program;
RCW 28B.10.039 and 2014 c 168 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:((Institutions of higher education))(1) Postsecondary educational institutions must develop policies to accommodate student absences ((for up to two days per academic year,)) to allow students to take holidays for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization, so that students' grades are not adversely impacted by the absences.(2) Students' sincerely held religious beliefs and practices must be reasonably accommodated with respect to all examinations and other requirements to successfully complete a program.
RCW 28B.10.039 and 2014 c 168 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:((Institutions of higher education))(1) Postsecondary educational institutions must develop policies to accommodate student absences for up to two days per academic year, to allow students to take holidays for reasons of faith or conscience or for organized activities conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization, so that students' grades are not adversely impacted by the absences.(2) Students' sincerely held religious beliefs and practices must be reasonably accommodated with respect to all examinations and other requirements to successfully complete a program.
Instructors must accept at face value the sincerity of the students' religious beliefs and must keep requests for accommodation confidential unless disclosure of the request is required to facilitate the accommodation with campus administrators.
Instructors must accept at face value the sincerity of the students' religious beliefs and both instructors and students must keep requests for accommodation confidential.
The postsecondary educational institution must make alternative accommodations for a student when:(a) A student's sincerely held religious belief or practice materially impacts the student's ability to perform on an examination or meet a requirement to successfully complete a program;
The postsecondary educational institution must make alternative accommodations for examinations and other requirements to successfully complete a program when:(a) A student's sincerely held religious belief or practice severely affects the student's ability to perform on an examination or meet a requirement to successfully complete a program;
and(b) The student has provided written notice within the first two weeks of the beginning of the program of the specific dates the student requests alternative accommodations from the examination or requirement.(3) Postsecondary educational institutions must:(a) Distribute a copy of the postsecondary educational institution's policy to faculty, students, and administrators, and ensure the policy is published on its web site.
and(b) The student has provided written notice within the first two weeks of the beginning of the class of the specific dates the student requests alternative accommodations from the examination or requirement.(3) Postsecondary educational institutions must conspicuously post to their web site:(a) A copy of the postsecondary educational institution's religious accommodations policy, identifying the postsecondary educational institution's point of contact for further information;
Postsecondary educational institutions must also include the policy in any future publication of any publicly available handbook or other document regularly provided to faculty, students, and staff.(b) Provide instructors, faculty, school administrators, and other relevant staff a nonexhaustive list of major religious holy days or festivals for the following two academic years to facilitate planning.(4) Instructors at each postsecondary educational institution must include in each course syllabus a statement regarding the postsecondary educational institution's religious accommodation policy, including a description of the general procedure to request accommodations and informing students of the point of contact by which they may seek accommodation or further information about the policy.(5) Postsecondary educational institutions must provide a process for students to notify the Title IX coordinator, a Title IX coordinator's designee, or a designated staff member if there is no Title IX coordinator, of any grievances with regard to implementation of this section, and to seek redress.(6) No fees shall be imposed on students by postsecondary educational institutions as a result of seeking accommodation under this section.(7) For the purposes of this section, "postsecondary educational institution" means an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, a degree-granting institution as defined in RCW 28B.85.010, a private vocational school as defined in RCW 28C.10.020, school as defined in RCW 18.16.020, and any entity offering academic credit for an apprenticeship program under RCW 49.04.150.NEW SECTION.  Sec.
and(b) A nonexhaustive list of major religious holy days or festivals for the following two academic years.(4) Instructors at each postsecondary educational institution must include in each course syllabus a statement regarding the postsecondary educational institution's religious accommodation policy, including a description of the general procedure to request accommodations and informing students of the point of contact by which they may seek further information about the policy.(5) Postsecondary educational institutions must provide a process for students to notify the Title IX coordinator, or the coordinator's designee, of any grievances with regard to implementation of this section.(6) For the purposes of this section, "postsecondary educational institution" means an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, a degree-granting institution as defined in RCW 28B.85.010, a private vocational school as defined in RCW 28C.10.020, school as defined in RCW 18.16.020, and any entity offering academic credit for an apprenticeship program under RCW 49.04.150.NEW SECTION.  Sec.
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Effective date 7/28/2019.

  2. Chapter 182, 2019 Laws.

  3. Governor signed.

  4. Delivered to Governor.

  5. Speaker signed.

  6. President signed.

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 32; nays, 14; absent, 0; excused, 3.

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 64; nays, 28; absent, 0; excused, 6.

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  14. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on College & Workforce Development at 01:30 PM

  15. Minority; do not pass.

  16. CWD - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

  17. Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on College & Workforce Development at 01:30 PM

  18. First reading, referred to College & Workforce Development.

  19. Third reading, passed; yeas, 33; nays, 16; absent, 0; excused, 0.

  20. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  21. 1st substitute bill substituted.

  22. 1st substitute bill substituted.

  23. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

  24. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

  25. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  26. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  27. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 03:30 PM

  28. Minority; without recommendation.

  29. Minority; do not pass.

  30. WM - Majority; without recommendation.

  31. Minority; without recommendation.

  32. Minority; do not pass.

  33. WM - Majority; without recommendation.

  34. Referred to Ways & Means.

  35. Referred to Ways & Means.

  36. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 01:30 PM

  37. Minority; without recommendation.

  38. And refer to Ways & Means.

  39. HEWD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  40. Minority; without recommendation.

  41. And refer to Ways & Means.

  42. HEWD - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  43. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 01:30 PM

  44. First reading, referred to Higher Education & Workforce Development.

Sponsors

  • Bob Hasegawa · Primary
  • Carlyle · Cosponsor
  • Frockt · Cosponsor
  • Palumbo · Cosponsor
  • Joe Nguyen · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 23 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Final Passage as Amended by the House (#13)

Passed 32 Yea · 14 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 16902
Republican 4500
Democrat 12001
Total 321403
% of votes cast 65%29%0%6%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Bailey — Nay
Becker — Nay
Billig — Yea
Brown — Nay
Carlyle — Yea
Darneille — Yea
Das — Yea
Ericksen — Nay
Frockt — Yea
Hawkins — Nay
Hobbs — Not Voting
Honeyford — Nay
Keiser — Yea
Kuderer — Yea
McCoy — Yea
Mullet — Yea
O'Ban — Yea
Padden — Nay
Palumbo — Yea
Randall — Yea
Rivers — Nay
Rolfes — Yea
Sheldon — Yea
Takko — Yea
Wilson, L. — Nay
Zeiger — Not Voting
Van De Wege — Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Yea
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Not Voting
Joe Nguyen Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Nay
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Nay
Keith Wagoner Republican Nay
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Nay
Shelly Short Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Final Passage as Amended by the House (#29)

Passed 64 Yea · 28 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 161403
Republican 71401
Democrat 41002
Total 642806
% of votes cast 65%29%0%6%
How each member voted (98)
Member Party Vote
Appleton — Not Voting
Blake — Yea
Chambers — Nay
Chandler — Nay
Chopp — Yea
Cody — Yea
DeBolt — Nay
Dolan — Yea
Hoff — Nay
Hudgins — Yea
Irwin — Yea
Jenkin — Nay
Kirby — Yea
Klippert — Nay
Kraft — Nay
Kretz — Nay
Maycumber — Yea
McCaslin — Nay
Mead — Yea
Morris — Not Voting
Mosbrucker — Yea
Pellicciotti — Yea
Pettigrew — Yea
Sells — Yea
Shea — Nay
Smith — Yea
Sullivan — Yea
Sutherland — Nay
Tarleton — Yea
Vick — Nay
Wilcox — Nay
Young — Not Voting
Van Werven — Nay
Amy Walen Democrat Yea
Beth Doglio Democrat Yea
Bill Ramos Democrat Yea
Chris Kilduff Democrat Yea
Cindy Ryu Democrat Yea
Dave Paul Democrat Not Voting
Debra Entenman Democrat Yea
Debra Lekanoff Democrat Yea
Derek Stanford Democrat Yea
Drew Hansen Democrat Yea
Gerry Pollet Democrat Yea
Jake Fey Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Joe Fitzgibbon Democrat Yea
John Lovick Democrat Yea
June Robinson Democrat Yea
Kristine Reeves Democrat Yea
Larry Springer Democrat Yea
Lauren Davis Democrat Yea
Laurie Jinkins Democrat Yea
Lillian Ortiz-Self Democrat Yea
Lisa Callan Democrat Yea
Marcus Riccelli Democrat Yea
Mari Leavitt Democrat Yea
Melanie Morgan Democrat Yea
Mia Gregerson Democrat Yea
Mike Chapman Democrat Yea
Monica Jurado Stonier Democrat Yea
My-Linh Thai Democrat Yea
Nicole Macri Democrat Yea
Noel Frame Democrat Not Voting
Roger Goodman Democrat Yea
Sharon Shewmake Democrat Yea
Sharon Tomiko Santos Democrat Yea
Sharon Wylie Democrat Yea
Shelley Kloba Democrat Yea
Steve Bergquist Democrat Yea
Steve Tharinger Democrat Yea
Strom Peterson Democrat Yea
Tana Senn Democrat Yea
Timm Ormsby Democrat Yea
Tina Orwall Democrat Yea
Vandana Slatter Democrat Yea
Alex Ybarra Republican Nay
Andrew Barkis Republican Nay
Carolyn Eslick Republican Nay
Chris Corry Republican Yea
Chris Gildon Republican Yea
Dan Griffey Republican Nay
Drew MacEwen Republican Nay
Drew Stokesbary Republican Nay
Ed Orcutt Republican Yea
Jenny Graham Republican Nay
Jeremie Dufault Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Nay
Joe Schmick Republican Nay
Keith Goehner Republican Nay
Mary Dye Republican Nay
Matt Boehnke Republican Nay
Michelle Valdez Republican Yea
Mike Steele Republican Yea
Mike Volz Republican Nay
Paul Harris Republican Nay
Skyler Rude Republican Yea
Tom Dent Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#17)

Passed 33 Yea · 16 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 19800
Republican 1800
Democrat 13000
Total 331600
% of votes cast 67%33%0%0%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Bailey — Nay
Becker — Nay
Billig — Yea
Brown — Nay
Carlyle — Yea
Darneille — Yea
Das — Yea
Ericksen — Nay
Frockt — Yea
Hawkins — Nay
Hobbs — Yea
Honeyford — Nay
Keiser — Yea
Kuderer — Yea
McCoy — Yea
Mullet — Yea
O'Ban — Yea
Padden — Nay
Palumbo — Yea
Randall — Yea
Rivers — Yea
Rolfes — Yea
Sheldon — Yea
Takko — Yea
Wilson, L. — Nay
Zeiger — Yea
Van De Wege — Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Yea
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Yea
Joe Nguyen Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Curtis King Republican Nay
Jeff Holy Republican Nay
Jim Walsh Republican Nay
John Braun Republican Nay
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Nay
Mark Schoesler Republican Nay
Phil Fortunato Republican Nay
Shelly Short Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 5166?
SB 5166 is sponsored by Bob Hasegawa (Democrat), Carlyle, Frockt, Palumbo, and Joe Nguyen (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 5166?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 15, 2019. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 5166?
Track SB 5166 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 5166

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 5166

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →