wa-26-19-035: Bellevue College — WSR 26-19-035

WSR 26-19-035 (26-19)WSR 26-19-035PROPOSED RULESBELLEVUE COLLEGE[Filed September 10, 2026, 8:46 a.m.]Original Notice.Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 26-09-121.Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Bellevue College (BC) Policy 6120 and chapter 132H-142 WAC, Use of college property for expressive activities. Hearing Location(s): On October 29, 2026, at 1:30-2:30 p.m. Pacific, via Microsoft Teams meeting at https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/246736707862254?p=vcUPq5PURptjJqgrtL, Meeting ID 246 736 707 862 254, Passcode wv3k636T.Date of Intended Adoption: January 4, 2027.Submit Written Comments to: Loreen M. Keller, 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., Bellevue, WA 98007, email loreen.keller@bellevuecollege.edu, phone 425-564-6155, beginning September 16, 2026, by October 29, 2026.Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact BC disabilities resource center, TTY 425-564-6189, email drc@bellevuecollege.edu, by October 27, 2026.Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Supplemental edits: BC plans to update the current first amendment activities rules. Included are clarifications of limited public spaces.Reasons Supporting Proposal: See above.Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 34.05 RCW and RCW 28B.50.140.Statute Being Implemented: RCW 28B.50.140.Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.Name of Proponent: BC, governmental.Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Loreen M. Keller, 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., Bellevue, WA 98007, 425-564-6155.A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. BC is a community college/state agency.This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal: Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rules relate only to internal governmental operations that are not subject to violation by a nongovernment party.Scope of exemption for rule proposal:Is fully exempt.September 9, 2026Loreen M. Keller, DirectorPolicy and Government RelationsRDS-7367.1AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-14-120, filed 7/1/25, effective 8/1/25)WAC 132H-142-020Statement of purpose.Bellevue College is an institution of higher education provided and maintained by the people of the state of Washington. The college reserves its property for activities that are related to its broad educational mission. College property is reserved primarily for educational use including, but not limited to, instruction, research, public assembly of college groups, student activities and other activities directly related to the educational mission of the college. The public character of the college does not grant to individuals an unlimited license to engage in activity which limits, substantially interferes with, or otherwise disrupts the normal activities to which the college's property is dedicated. Accordingly, the college designates common areas (e.g., building courtyards, building lobbies) of the college as a limited public forum dedicated to the use of college groups, subject to the time, place, and manner limitations and restrictions set forth in this policy.The purpose of the time, place, and manner regulations set forth in this policy is to establish procedures and reasonable controls for the use of college property. It is intended to balance the college's responsibility to fulfill its mission as a state educational institution of Washington with the interests of college groups seeking to assemble in common areas of the campus for expressive activity. Bellevue College recognizes that college groups should be accorded the opportunity to utilize the property of the college to the fullest extent possible.The college designates the following public use area(s) for use by noncollege groups for expressive activities on campus:• Building C courtyard between building C and D extending east out from the fountain for groups less than 30; ((and))• South courtyard, just north of Carlson Theater if ((over))more than 30 participants are expected; and• Building R courtyard if for groups less than 50 participants are expected.AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-14-120, filed 7/1/25, effective 8/1/25)WAC 132H-142-030Time, place, and manner restrictions.(1) Subject to the regulations and requirements of this policy, groups may use limited public forums and public use areas for expressive activities ((between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m)).(2) Use of audio amplifying equipment is permitted only in locations and at times that will not disrupt, or disturb, or interfere with the normal conduct of college affairs including, but not limited to, the use of classrooms, offices, libraries, and laboratories; and previously scheduled college events or activities.(3) Groups are encouraged to notify the campus public safety department no later than 24 hours in advance of an event. However, unscheduled events are permitted so long as the event does not materially disrupt any other function occurring at the facility.(4) All sites used for expressive activity should be cleaned up and left in their original condition and may be subject to inspection by a representative of the college after the event. Reasonable charges may be assessed against the sponsoring organization for the costs of extraordinary clean up or for the repair of damaged property.(5) All fire, safety, sanitation, or special regulations specified for the event are to be obeyed. The college cannot and will not provide utility connections or hook-ups for purposes of expressive activity conducted pursuant to this policy.(6) The event must not be conducted in such a manner to obstruct vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian, or other traffic or otherwise interfere with ingress or egress to the college, or to college buildings or property, or to college activities or events. The event must not create safety hazards or pose unreasonable safety risks to college students, employees, or invitees to the college.(7) The event must not substantially and materially interfere with educational activities inside or outside any college building or otherwise prevent the college from fulfilling its mission and achieving its primary purpose of providing an education to its students. The event must not materially infringe on the rights and privileges of college students, employees, or invitees to the college.(8) There shall be no camping on college property. Camping is defined to include sleeping, carrying on cooking activities, or storing personal belongings for personal habitation, or the erection of tents or other shelters or structures used for purposes of personal habitation.(9) College property may not be used for commercial sales, solicitations, advertising, or promotional activities, unless:(a) Such activities serve educational purposes of the college; and(b) Such activities are under the sponsorship of a college department or office or officially chartered student club.(10) The event must also be conducted in accordance with any other applicable college policies and regulations, local ordinances, and state or federal laws.AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-14-120, filed 7/1/25, effective 8/1/25)WAC 132H-142-040Additional requirements for noncollege groups.Public use areas may not be used on the same date as any previously scheduled college event or activity at the site (aside from regularly scheduled classes) when it is reasonably anticipated that more than 500 people will attend the college event or activity.Noncollege groups may use public use areas identified in WAC 132H-142-020 for expressive activity ((between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m)).Noncollege groups that seek to engage in expressive activity on the designated public use area(s) are encouraged to provide notice to the campus public safety office no later than 24 hours prior to the event, along with the following information solely to ensure:(1) The area is not otherwise scheduled; and(2) To give the college an opportunity to assess any security needs:(a) The name, address, and telephone number of a contact person for the individual, group, entity, or organization sponsoring the event; and(b) The date, time, and requested location of the event; and(c) The nature and purpose of the event; and(d) The estimated number of people expected to participate in the event.