SB 5523 — Concerning the role of students on the governing boards of institutions of higher education.

S-1463.2S-0840.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5523 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Riccelli, Lovelett, Slatter, Nobles, Kauffman, Warnick, Trudeau, Hasegawa, Saldaña, Valdez, Wellman, and C.

Wilson)Wilson READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/18/25.01/27/25.

Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

1 SSBSB 5523 on both the Washington student achievement council and the workforce education investment accountability and oversight board.

2 SSBSB 5523 expiration of any term shall be appointed only for the remainder of the term.

(3) Every trustee,trustee except the student trustee, shall be a resident and qualified elector of the college district.

((Three((Three)) members of the board)) A majority of appointedmembers trusteesof currentlythe servingboard shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner as prescribed in its bylaws, rules, or regulations.

The nominationstudent processmember mustshall includehold ahis representativeor fromher theoffice collegefor administration,a whoterm willof participateone inyear, anbeginning advisoryJuly capacity1st toand ensureending transparencyJune and30th, collaborationor inuntil the selectionstudent process.member's successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later.

ThisThe representativestudent maymember provideshall input,be buta mayfull-time notstudent interferein withgood standing at a college within the associatedcollege studentdistrict government'sat selectionthe time of candidates.appointment and throughout the student's term.

TheIf the student member shallfails holdto hisbe orenrolled herat officethe forcollege afull-time termor offorfeits onehis year,or her p.

3 SSBSB 5523 beginningacademic Julystanding, ((1st))the 1,student 2026,member andis everydisqualified July 1st thereafter, and endinga Junenew 30th, or until the student member'smember successormust isbe appointedappointed. and qualified, whichever is later.

The(2) A student memberappointed mustunder bethis atsection leastshall 18excuse yearshimself ofor ageherself atfrom participation or voting on matters relating to the timehiring, discipline, or tenure of appointment.faculty members and personnel or any other matters pertaining to collective bargaining agreements.

The student member shall be a ((full-time student in good standing at a college within the college district at the time of appointment and throughout the student's term.

If the student member fails to be enrolled at the college full-time)) student in good standing who is enrolled for at least 10 credits or the equivalent at a community or technical college at the time of appointment and throughout the student's term, not including summer quarter.

If the student member fails to be enrolled at the college for a minimum of 10 credits or the equivalent during his or her term, other than during summer quarter, or forfeits his or her academic standing, the student member is disqualified and a new student member must be appointed.

(2) State funding may not be used for student trustees to travel to meetings other than those that have been regularly scheduled by the college board.

Student trustees may receive funds from student and activities fees, local college funds, or private sources for travel to meetings other than those that have been regularly scheduled by the college board.

(3) A student appointed under this section shall excuse himself or herself from participation or voting on issues pertaining to pending litigation and matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel or any other matters pertaining to collective bargaining agreements.

(4) The college board may adopt rules to implement this section.

A student representativegovernment fromrepresentative each of the associated student governments or their equivalent from each college district shall be given an opportunity to provide an in-person report at each regular board of trustees meeting.

p.NEW SECTION.

4 SSB 5523 NEW SECTION.

A student representative from each undergraduate student government at each of the institution's campuses and a student representative from each graduate student government at each of the institution's campuses shall be given an opportunity to provide an in-person report at each regular board of regents meeting.

A student representative from each undergraduate student government at each of the institution's campuses and a student representative from each graduate student government at each of the institution's campuses shall be given an opportunity to provide an in-person report at each regular board of regents meeting.

54 SSBSB 5523