Two legislative proposals to help higher education institutions operate more efficiently cleared hurdles this week.
Each year a work group from higher ed institutions, made up of administrators and staff, meets to study and review efficiency efforts, and then recommends a range of efficiency measures to the state legislature that require changes to state law.
This year, those efficiency measures are contained in House Bill 2613, sponsored by Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-SeaTac) and Senate Bill 6362, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Bailey (R-Whidbey Island).
Both bills contain provisions that would help higher ed institutions save time and money, ranging from streamlining certain reporting requirements to allowing universities to move from semi-monthly payroll to bi-weekly payroll. For instance, UW estimates the latter provision alone would result in savings of $700,000 per year.
As of this writing, both bills have passed out of their respective policy committees, cleared fiscal committees, and are now moving closer to a floor vote in both chambers.
Stay tuned for more news as these two bills move through the process!