SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1052

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Higher Education, March 24, 2015

Title: An act relating to early registration at institutions of higher education for spouses or domestic partners of military members.

Brief Description: Requiring institutions of higher education to make an early registration process available to spouses and domestic partners of active members of the military.

Sponsors: House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Hayes, Fey, Klippert, Orwall, Appleton, Muri, MacEwen, Gregerson, Haler, Bergquist, Moeller, Riccelli and Magendanz).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/02/15, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 3/19/15, 3/24/15 [DP].

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Bailey, Chair; Kohl-Welles, Ranking Minority Member; Becker, Frockt, Liias and Miloscia.

Staff: Evan Klein (786-7483)

Background: Early Course Registration. Public institutions of higher education sometimes order student course registration based on the number of credits a student has been awarded or based on a student's class standing. Early course registrations vary depending on each institution's policies. Some institutions do not offer early course registration.

Institutions that offer an early course registration period for any segment of the student population must also have a process in place to offer students who are eligible veterans or National Guard members early course registration. New students that completed all of their admission processes must be offered an early course registration period. Continuing and returning former students who meet enrollment requirements must be offered early course registration among continuing students with the same level of class standing or credit as determined by the attending institution and the institutional policies.

Eligible Veteran or National Guard Member. In order to be eligible, a veteran or National Guard member must be residing in Washington and have been an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a National Guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and who, if discharged from service, received an honorable discharge.

Summary of Bill: Beginning in the 2015-16 academic year, institutions of higher education that offer any early course registration to students must have a process in place to offer early course registration to students who are the spouses of eligible veterans or National Guard members who are receiving veteran's education benefits.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Spouses of active members of the military are under the same scheduling constraints as their spouses serving in the military. Washington State does a lot for its veterans and this bill is an extension to ensure military members that their spouses are being served at home. With most benefits, there is a limited timeframe and you must take certain courses that apply to your certificate or degree. This adds about 1000 students to the current group that receive early registration.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Hayes, prime sponsor; Scott Copeland, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Christian Arciniega, University of WA Bothell; Justin Nygard, Associated Students of the University of WA Bothell.

Persons Signed in to Testify But Not Testifying: No one.