This bill amends existing laws regarding cost-of-living adjustments for academic and classified employees of community and technical colleges in Washington State. It establishes that every fiscal year, each college district and technical college board of trustees will receive a cost-of-living allocation sufficient to increase employee salaries, including mandatory salary-related benefits, in accordance with the yearly increase in the cost-of-living index. The bill specifies that the state will fully fund these cost-of-living increases and introduces a new definition for the "cost-of-living index," which will now be based on the implicit price deflator for the previous calendar year, as compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, starting with the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.

Additionally, the bill removes outdated language that referenced specific fiscal years and definitions, streamlining the process for implementing these salary adjustments. It emphasizes the importance of these adjustments for maintaining the financial well-being of community and technical college employees and declares an emergency, making the act effective on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28B.50.465, 28B.50.468
Substitute Bill: 28B.50.465, 28B.50.468
Bill as Passed Legislature: 28B.50.465, 28B.50.468
Session Law: 28B.50.465, 28B.50.468