Tag Archives: Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee

Senate passes Holy bill aimed at helping high-school students attend college

A bipartisan bill from 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy that would help students decide about attending a university or college is moving through the Legislature.

The Senate yesterday voted 48-1 to pass Senate Bill 6053, which aims to remove a barrier to higher-education opportunities by providing students with information about postsecondary educational and financial-aid possibilities.

“This is a really good bill,” said Holy, the Republican leader on the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. “We’re moving forward on the idea that high-school students need to figure out exactly where they’re going to go for postsecondary education. Under this proposal, OSPI must share directory data of high school students with WSAC and higher education institutions within the state. WSAC and the higher ed institutions may only use that directory information to contact students to inform them about financial aid opportunities and higher ed opportunities. The benefit to the student is that WSAC will help them determine exactly what financial aid is available, and then the colleges will let them know which schools they qualify to attend.”

The proposal would require the WSAC to enter into data-sharing agreements with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction so high-school students have access to information about postsecondary educational and financial-aid opportunities available in Washington.

“Attending a college or university typically is very expensive. Many students need financial aid to pay for their higher education but aren’t aware what kinds of financial aid are available,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “This bill would help students by making it easier for the Washington Student Achievement Council to provide financial aid information to them.”

SB 6053 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate committee passes Holy bill to address nurse shortage

A bipartisan bill sponsored by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy that would help address Washington’s nursing shortage was approved today by the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.

Senate Bill 5582 aims to increase the number of nurses in the state by reducing barriers and expanding educational opportunities in that field.

“As is the case in many other states, Washington has a serious nursing shortage,” said Holy, the ranking Republican on the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. “The state Employment Security Department recently reported nursing is the occupation most in demand by employers in our state. The nurse shortage is a problem not only for hospitals but also nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. This bill is a good way to encourage more people to go into nursing.”

SB 5582 would give the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges until December 2024 to develop a plan to train more nurses. The plan must prioritize expanding or creating programs that increase capacity to train nurses at the Bachelor of Nursing level, expand training opportunities for rural and underserved students, and are in partnership with public four-year universities. The bill also would direct the SBCTC to develop an online curriculum to earn a licensed practical nurse (LPN) credential.

Holy’s proposal also would create a pilot project that brings high-school students in training to become certified nursing assistants together with understaffed rural hospitals, to help address workforce shortages while promoting nursing careers in rural hospitals.

“The nursing shortage is especially being felt in rural communities in our state,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “The lack of nurses in rural hospitals is forcing patients to drive long distances to see a nurse and receive treatment. If this bill becomes law, it can help ensure there will be enough nurses in rural hospitals.”

SB 5582 now goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.

Holy to resume serving on Senate higher education, law and justice committees

Sen. Jeff Holy will continue in his role as Republican leader on the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee when the Washington Legislature’s 2021 session begins Jan. 11.

Holy, a retired Spokane police officer, also will keep serving on the Senate Law and Justice Committee. The 6th District senator has added an assignment, to the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee.

“I’m very pleased with my committee assignments for the upcoming legislative session,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Higher education and workforce development are important issues for many Washingtonians, especially those coming out of high school and looking to enter college or the workforce. My years as a police officer in Spokane give me a unique perspective on how bills in the Law and Justice Committee might affect not only law enforcement but citizens.”

Holy said he is excited to join the Health and Long-Term Care Committee, even though it meant ending his service on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee.

“COVID-19 and its impact on Washington’s hospitals and health care system will be an important issue for this committee, so I look forward to being involved with this issue and working on solutions that will help our state overcome this pandemic,” said Holy.

The 105-day legislative session is scheduled to end April 25.