Senate Backs Plan To Link Colleges Electronically
The state Senate on Friday approved a bill that would set up a $34.7 million high-tech linkup among Washington’s universities and community colleges.
The 43-6 vote also sets up a major budget fight with the Republican-led House, whose members have balked at the price.
The bill, SB6705, authorizes the creation of the Washington Higher Education Network, or WHEN, which would allow students across the state to participate in “interactive” college classes through computer and television hookups.
The WHEN bill was among more than 200 measures on the Legislature’s agenda Friday. Lawmakers planned to continue plodding through the pile of bills today.
Other measures approved Friday by either the House or the Senate dealt with child support, child abuse and the effort to keep the USS Missouri in Bremerton, among other things.
The WHEN proposal will be a key component of the Senate’s proposed supplement this winter to the state’s two-year, $17.6 billion budget approved last year.
Supporters say the telecommunications network will give more people access to higher education, particularly in light of statistics that indicate a surge of students into the university system in the next 10 years.
The WHEN bill appeared to enjoy broad support when the legislative session opened last month. But GOP leaders in the House have backed away from the concept in recent weeks, citing concerns about the cost.
Key House Republicans have said they prefer to study the proposal for another year. But Appropriations Chairman Tom Huff, R-Gig Harbor, said this week that the House’s supplemental budget will include about $5 million for study and early implementation of the system.
In other developments, the Senate sent the House a controversial bill targeting “deadbeat” parents who are more than six months behind in child support payments.
SB5375, sponsored by Sen. Lorraine Wojahn, D-Tacoma, would allow the state to suspend their driver’s licenses, business and professional licenses, including law licenses.
Republicans who oppose the suspension of professional licenses initially succeeded in stripping that provision out of the bill, but Democrats later restored it.
The measure was approved on a 35-14 vote.
The Senate approved:
SB6720, which would prohibit Indian tribes from operating casinos off reservation lands.
SB6556, which directs state agencies to set procedures for making more government information available to the public electronically.
On the other side of the Capitol, the House approved:
HB2684, which would allow a judge to levy a $500 fine against parents who accuse a spouse of child abuse in order to influence a custody or visitation case.
HB2217, which would broaden the number of runaway youths who could be detained and treated by state and county social service systems. It would include youths who have not necessarily had drug or legal problems, but were showing signs of encountering such difficulties.