HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 138

BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Representatives Ebersole, Betrozoff, Grimm, Rasmussen, R. King, P. King, Rayburn, L. Smith, Grant, Wang and Miller; by request of Commission for Vocational Education)

Permitting a two-year tuition waiver under the Washington award for vocational excellence.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (16)

     Signed by Representatives Ebersole, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cole, Cooper, Fuhrman, Holm, P. King, Peery, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Rust, L. Smith, Taylor and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (29)

     Signed by Representatives Grimm, Chair; Bristow, Vice Chair; Allen, Appelwick, Basich, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Hine, Locke, Madsen, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Schoon, Silver, L. Smith, H. Sommers, Sprenkle, Taylor, Valle and B. Williams.

House Staff:    Janet Peterson (786-7143)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 18, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1984, the legislature created the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE).  The program was modeled after the Washington Scholars Award.  It recognizes outstanding achievements of three vocational students from each legislative district each year.  Currently, in order to qualify, a student must be graduating from high school or completing a vocational program at a community college or vocational-technical institute.  By comparison, recipients of the Washington Scholars Award qualify for two years tuition and fee waivers if they maintain a grade point average of at least 3.50.

SUMMARY:

The bill provides two years rather than one year of tuition and fee waivers for recipients of the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence.  The waiver is for undergraduate studies only.  During the first year, students would have to achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0, or an above average rating at a vocational-technical institute, in order to qualify for the second year waiver.  Also, eligibility for the award is changed to include any student who has finished one year of a vocational program at a community college or vocational-technical institute, as well as graduating high school seniors.  However, out of the three students chosen from each legislative district, at least two should be graduating high school students.

Revenue:   The bill has a revenue impact.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

Effective Date:The bill takes effect on January 1, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     (Education)  Merritt D. Long, Council for Vocational Excellence; John Terrey, Director, State Board of Community College Education; Ranier Houser, Principal, W.F. West High School, Chehalis, Washington; Barry Kirkeeng, Washington Vocational Association; Jan Carlson, Assistant Superintendent, Adult Vocational Education, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(Ways & Means)  Linda Broderick, Commission for Vocational Education; Ken Owen, State Board for Community College Education; Helen Sutton, Council on Vocational Education.

House Committee - Testified Against: (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     (Education)  The programs assume equal recognition for students who excel in vocational skills as well as students who excel in academic areas.  This program is a meaningful way to encourage students to achieve to the best of their ability.

(Ways & Means)  Same as testimony in Committee on Education.

House Committee - Testimony Against: (Education)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means)  None Presented.