HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1186

BYRepresentatives Sayan, Ballard, Zellinsky, O'Brien, Prentice, Leonard, R. Meyers, Hargrove, Rayburn, Anderson, Jacobsen and Winsley

Waiving fees for national guard members.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Inslee, Jesernig, Miller, Prince and Wood.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Spanel, Vice Chair; and H. Myers.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION FEBRUARY 23, 1989

BACKGROUND:

From 1979 to 1985, The National Guard Assistance Program operated in Washington.  The program permitted enlisted members of the National Guard to receive grants of up to $1,000 per year to cover reimbursable educational costs at accredited public or private colleges.  The reimbursable costs included tuition, fees, books, institutional services, and laboratory supplies.  Recipients were limited to 12 academic quarters or the equivalent.  From 1979 to 1985, approximately $200,000 per biennium was appropriated for the program.

Under the 1983 Sunset Act, the program was scheduled to be terminated on June 30, 1985.  The Legislative Budget Committee (LBC) undertook a final program audit.  The Committee found that 27 states had tuition waivers or assistance for National Guard personnel.  Two states provided educational loans, eight states had selective scholarship programs, and six states provided educational assistance for dependents, usually under hardship conditions.  Seven states did not have any program.

The final LBC program audit concluded that the effectiveness of the assistance program "cannot be readily demonstrated as required under the provisions of the sunset act," and that the continuation of the program was not warranted at that time.  The LBC also commented that, "...if the Legislature decides to continue the program, it is additionally recommended that the program be targeted toward enhancing the manning of those national guard units most likely to be utilized in the event of natural or man made disasters."

Legislation was introduced in 1985 to continue the assistance program.  The legislation did not pass, and the program terminated on June 30, 1985.

SUMMARY:

State colleges and universities are permitted to waive tuition and service and activities fees for members of the Washington National Guard enrolled on a space available basis. These students will not be included in official enrollment reports, and the institutions will not receive any state funding for them.

Members of the National Guard will be charged a registration fee of $5 or more.  The institutions will adopt guidelines to implement these waivers.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Peter Lukevich; Pat McMahon; and Kevin Ryan, Washington Military Department.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Paul Telford.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Members of the Army National Guard are not eligible for educational benefits under the new GI Bill unless they assume a six year service obligation. Twenty-four states provide tuition waivers or scholarships for members of the National Guard.  Many members of the Guard are young men, with families.  They are not paid very much and cannot afford to attend college without assistance.  Passage of this legislation would help the Guard to recruit and retain new members.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      This waiver program grants something of value to the participant without asking anything of that person in return. Increasing the size of classes dilutes the quality of the educational experience for other students. If the legislature is going to have a policy of filling empty seats in classrooms, they should give those seats to people who cannot afford to attend otherwise, for example, the unemployed and underemployed.  If incentives are needed for Guardsmen, they should be funded through the federal defense budget.