HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 87

BYRepresentatives Brough, Jacobsen, Allen, Heavey, May, Ferguson, Walker, Schoon and Betrozoff

Waiving the nonresident fee differential for certain students who attended in-state high schools.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

     Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Allen, Barnes, Basich, Jesernig, Miller, Nelson, Prince, Unsoeld and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION JANUARY 23, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Under state law, for the purpose of paying tuition, the definition of resident student is narrowly drawn.  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 in the state for at least the year before the student begins college.  Finally, a student who was classified as a resident on or before May 31, 1982, and who was enrolled during the 1982-83 academic year is considered to be a resident student for as long as that student remains continuously enrolled, excepting summer sessions.

The residency laws define the terms "dependent" and "domicile".  They also delineate the standards for determining whether a person has established a domicile in the state.  The residency laws stipulate that once a student has registered at an institution, the student's classification shall remain unchanged unless the student can prove that he or she should be reclassified.

Longtime Washington residents who move to another state or country leaving behind dependent children to attend high school and college in this state, may find their children classified as nonresident students under current law.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL: 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.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Rather than waiving the nonresident portion of tuition for students in this category, these students will become residents for the purpose of paying tuition and fees.

Fiscal Note:    Requested January 22, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Rep. Jean Marie Brough, Sponsor and Kyle Kolsky, UW student.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Students who have lived in Washington for most of their lives should not have to pay out of state tuition just because their parents leave the state during the students' final years in high school.  Although very few students are in this category, most of them have state drivers licenses, vehicle licenses, voters registration, and pay sales and - through rent - property taxes.  Most also intend to continue living in the state after they graduate.  They are state residents in every sense of the word, so should be allowed to pay resident tuition rates.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.