SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2386

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Higher Education, February 28, 2002

Title:  An act relating to classifying members of the Washington national guard as resident students.

Brief Description:  Classifying members of the Washington national guard as resident students.

Sponsors:  Representatives Simpson, Schmidt, Hurst, Benson, Haigh, Barlean, Conway, Bush, Delvin, Miloscia, Linville, Campbell, Talcott, Lovick, Dunn, Esser and Jackley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  2/21/02, 2/28/02 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

Signed by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Carlson, Horn, Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Parlette, Sheahan and B. Sheldon.

Staff:  Jean Six (786‑7423)

Background:  Members of the Washington National Guard often live in bordering states and do not qualify for higher education tuition at resident rates.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Members of the Washington National Guard are included in the definition of "resident student" for tuition paying purposes.  If the guard member's spouse or dependent resides in Washington, that family member qualifies for in-state tuition.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  For the spouse or dependent of a Washington National Guard member to qualify for resident tuition, the family member must reside in Washington.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The Senate should restore the dependents and spouses to the definition of resident.  The prime sponsor wants the House version to prevail based on an equity argument.  Guard members interpret the law to include spouses and dependents of other military services even when they do not reside in Washington.  Find a way to include spouses and dependents for guard members as is done for other active duty military personnel.  The entire reciprocity issue needs to be reviewed.  There is a problem with the one-year waiting period.

There will be very few people who might want to take advantage of this residency provision.  The military is our first line of defense in these difficult, unstable times.  Is resident tuition an appropriate recruiting tool for the National Guard?  Has the HECB discussed the two versions?  Not specifically, but we support student-centered policies and will accept your priorities.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Geoff Simpson, prime sponsor; Major General Frank Scoggins, Col. Curtis N. Pintler, Washington National Guard; Russ Carver, EWU, WSL; Marc Gaspard, Executive Director, HECB.