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                                          ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 5558

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State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Gaspard, Bauer, Bailey, Smitherman, Benitz, Barr, McDonald, Bender, Craswell, Conner, Rasmussen, Kreidler, Williams, Hayner, Nelson, West and von Reichbauer

Read first time 2/4/87 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to the Washington scholars program; amending RCW 28A.58.822; adding a new section to chapter 28B.80 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) No more than thirty-three percent of the total number of recipients of the Washington scholars award under RCW 28A.58.820 through 28A.58.830 may receive grants under this section in any given year to attend an independent college or university in this state, as defined in subsection (4) of this section.   The higher education coordinating board shall distribute grants to eligible students under this section from moneys appropriated for this purpose.  The individual grants shall not  exceed, on a yearly basis the average of, the yearly, full-time, resident, undergraduate  tuition and service and activities fees in effect at all state four-year institutions of higher education.  Grants shall be contingent upon the private institution matching on at least a dollar-for-dollar basis, either with actual money or by a waiver of fees, the amount of the grant received by the student from the state.  The higher education coordinating board shall establish procedures, by rule, to disburse the awards as direct grants to the students.

          (2) A student is not eligible for an award under this section if the student is pursuing a degree in theology.

          (3) To qualify for the grant, recipients shall meet the same requirements as students eligible for a waiver under RCW 28B.15.543.

          (4) As used in this section, "independent college or university" means a private, nonprofit educational institution, the main campus of which is permanently situated in the state, open to residents of the state, providing programs of education beyond the high school level leading at least to the baccalaureate degree, and accredited by the northwest association of schools and colleges as of the effective date of this section and other institutions as may be developed that are approved by the higher education coordinating board as meeting equivalent standards as those institutions accredited under this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     Section 1 of this act shall apply to persons holding the Washington scholars award as of the effective date of this section as well as persons holding the award after the effective date of this section.

        Sec. 3.  Section 2, chapter 54, Laws of 1981 and RCW 28A.58.822 are each amended to read as follows:

          There is established by the legislature of the state of Washington the Washington state scholars program.  The purposes of this program annually are to:

          (1) Provide for the selection of three seniors graduating from high schools in each legislative district who have distinguished themselves academically among their peers.

          (2) Maximize public awareness of the academic achievement, leadership ability, and community contribution of Washington state public and private high school seniors through appropriate recognition ceremonies and events at both the local and state level.

          (3) Provide a listing  of the Washington scholars to all Washington state public and private colleges and universities to facilitate communication regarding academic programs and scholarship availability.

          (4) Make available a state level mechanism for utilization of private funds for scholarship awards to outstanding high school seniors.

          (5) Provide, on written request and with student permission, a listing of the Washington scholars to private scholarship selection committees for notification of scholarship availability.

(6) Permit a waiver of tuition and services and activities fees as provided for in RCW 28B.15.543 and grants under section 1 of this 1987 act.