HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1726

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                      Higher Education

Title:  An act relating to tribally controlled colleges.

Brief Description:  Including certain tribally controlled colleges in definitions of institutions of higher education.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Spanel, Jacobsen, Kremen, Ogden, Prince, R. Johnson, Braddock and Wineberry.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Higher Education, February 25, 1991, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: That Substitute House Bill No. 1726 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 13 members:  Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Ogden, Vice Chair; Wood, Ranking Minority Member; May, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Dellwo; Fraser; Ludwig; Miller; Prince; Sheldon; Spanel; and Van Luven. 

Staff:  Susan Hosch (786-7120).

Background:  Current law limits the types of institutions of higher education that needy students may attend and still receive state funded student financial aid.  Under the State Need Grant program, needy students who attend state funded colleges, universities, community colleges and vocational-technical institutes may receive need grants.  Needy students attending other institutions that are members of an accrediting association recognized by the Higher Education Coordinating Board may also receive need grants.  The board recognizes the following accrediting associations: the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, the Association of Independent Colleges and Schools, the Cosmetology Accrediting Commission and the National Association of Trade and Technical Schools.

Students participating in the State Work Study program must attend either a public vocational-technical institute or an institution that is accredited by the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools.  The association is now called the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.

Students participating in conditional and endowed scholarship programs must attend an institution that is accredited by an association recognized by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Students attending the Northwest Indian College are not eligible to participate in state financial aid programs.  The college is not yet accredited.  It is a candidate for accreditation with the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.  Students attending the college may participate in federal financial aid programs.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Needy students attending certain tribally controlled colleges may be eligible to participate in various state funded financial aid programs.  These programs include the State Need Grant, State Work Study, Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship, Nurses Conditional Scholarship, and American Indian Endowed Scholarship programs.  The tribally controlled college attended by the student must meet the requirements of Public Law 95-471.  The college must also be established by a Washington state Indian tribe, and must be approved to administer federal Title IV financial aid.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Language defining eligible tribal college is clarified.  In addition to the Need Grant and Work Study programs, students attending these tribal colleges may participate in the following programs:  Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship, Nurses Conditional Scholarship, and American Indian Endowed Scholarship.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The Northwest Indian College is serving over 3,000 students.  Most of those students are first generation college students attending on a part-time basis.  Most of the students never finished high school.  They come from tribes where more than 50 percent of the members are alcoholics, and tribal members experience unemployment rates of 50 to 85 percent.  The average family income of the students is $8,000 per year.  Of the graduating students, 75 percent either continue in higher education or become employed.  Many of the students are eligible for federal financial aid, but they don't know how to apply.  They need a lot of support, and prefer small classes.  Public colleges have not been successful in serving this clientele because the colleges need to enroll a minimum of 25 in a class to be cost-effective.  Access to state funded financial aid would help the students stay in school and avoid loans during the early phase of their academic careers.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Carla Johnson, Northwest Indian College; Madeline Jefferson, Northwest Indian College; Juanita Jefferson, Northwest Indian College; Ina Lane, student, Northwest Indian College; Rory Julius, student, Northwest Indian College; Norm Dorpat, Northwest Indian College, Puyallup campus; Michelle Aguilar, Governor's Office, Director of Indian Affairs; and Larry Sanchez, Nisqually Indian Community (all pro).