The bill aims to enhance the governance of the state board for community and technical colleges in Washington by adding a student member to the board. This addition recognizes the importance of student perspectives in decision-making processes that directly affect their education and experiences. The bill emphasizes that student involvement can provide valuable insights and foster a stronger relationship between the board and the student community, which is notably diverse. The student member will serve a one-year term and must be at least 18 years old at the time of appointment.

In terms of structural changes, the bill amends existing laws to increase the total number of board members from nine to ten, with the inclusion of the student member. It also specifies that the student member will not participate in discussions or votes related to hiring, discipline, personnel, or pending litigation. Additionally, the quorum requirement for board meetings is adjusted from five to six members. These changes are intended to ensure that the board's composition reflects the diverse student body and to facilitate more inclusive governance.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28B.50.050, 28B.10.500
Substitute Bill: 28B.50.050, 28B.50.070
Bill as Passed Legislature: 28B.50.050, 28B.50.070
Session Law: 28B.50.050, 28B.50.070