OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, introduced a bill today that would better position Washington to manage the critical demand for 3.2 million additional health-care workers within the next five years.
Senate Bill 5424 would change the mission of The Evergreen State College (TESC), which, as an institution of higher education, has declined in recent years. Its full-time enrollment of 2,386 in 2024 is identical to the enrollment in 1982 and less than half of what it was in 2009-11.
The bill would redirect state resources toward producing the intermediate health-care workers needed to respond to the “Silver Tsunami” of people whose medical needs are expected to overwhelm the current capacity of Washington’s health-care system.
“Washington is facing a significant challenge in meeting the demand for skilled health-care workers, and we need to act decisively,” said Braun.
“This proposal would transform existing resources into a solution that directly addresses our state’s growing health-care needs. By repurposing The Evergreen State College as a UW Health Sciences Campus, we can prepare a workforce capable of supporting communities across Washington. This is a strategic investment in our future health-care system and the well-being of our residents.”
Intermediate health-care workers include licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, paramedics, physician assistants, advance practice registered nurses, and allied health professionals (e.g. – respiratory therapists, physical therapists, and radiologic technicians.)
What the bill would do:
- Retires “The Evergreen State College” and transfers its powers and property to the University of Washington as the new “UW Health Sciences Campus”
- Immediately appoints a chancellor for the new institution and requires UW to conduct a search for permanent leadership
- Requires a formal review of all former TESC programs, phasing out any by 2030 that do not align with the new campus mission
- Establishes a coordinating council of health care, business and community leaders to set the strategic direction of the institution
- Requires the Board of Regents to adopt a policy awarding credit or course equivalencies for all credits earned at TESC
- Requires the Board to develop a financial sustainability plan and submit it to the Legislature by July 2028
SB 5424 has been assigned to the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee.