BILL REQ. #:  H-3490.1 

Read first time 01/11/12.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to higher education registration priority for eligible veterans and national guard members; adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Institutions of higher education shall give students who are eligible veterans or national guard members priority during registration. "Eligible veterans and national guard members" includes those defined in RCW 28B.15.621 and veterans or national guard members who have fought in Afghanistan or Iraq during conflicts that arose following September 11, 2001. Priority registration may be given to a broader group of veterans or national guard members.
     (2) Private and independent institutions of higher education are encouraged to provide priority registration to eligible veterans and national guard members as defined in subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) This section expires July 1, 2022.