HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1180

BYRepresentatives Brough and Winsley

Providing residency for certain students who attended Washington high schools and enroll in a public institution of higher education within six months.

House Committe on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (20)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, H. Sommers and B. Williams.

House Staff:Bill Robinson (786-7142)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 18, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Current law establishes criteria for determining residency status for purposes of paying college tuition.  One of the distinctions is the difference between students who are dependent on parents for financial support and those who are financially independent.  A financially independent student who has established a permanent "domicile" or home in the state for at least a year before starting college is a resident student, as long as they established that home for purposes "other than educational". A dependent student is a resident if one or both of the student's parents or legal guardians have maintained a permanent home is the state for at least the year before the student begins college.

Longtime Washington residents who move to another state or country while leaving behind dependent children to attend high school and college in this state, may find their children classified as nonresident students.  As nonresidents, the students must pay the higher tuition rate.

SUMMARY:

For the purpose of paying tuition, the statutory definition of a resident student is expanded to include any student who has spent at least three-fourths of his or her junior and senior years in Washington high schools.  A student in this category must enroll in a public college or university within six months of leaving high school.  The student will maintain this resident status for as long as the student remains continuously enrolled for three quarters or two semesters in any calendar year.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.