SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 2671

        AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 27, 1992

Brief Description:  Notifying students at public institutions of higher education of the amount their education is supported by the state.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Silver, Jacobsen, Van Luven, Ludwig, Wood, Ogden, Prince, Ferguson, Padden and Carlson)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Bluechel, Cantu, Jesernig, and Stratton.

Minority Report: Do not pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators Bauer and Skratek.

Staff:  Jean Six (786‑7423)

Hearing Dates:  February 26, 1992; February 27, 1992

BACKGROUND:

In Washington, tuition is established in statute as a fixed percentage of educational costs.  The percentage, which has remained unchanged for a decade, varies according to type of student and type of institution attended.  

The educational cost formula used to calculate tuition does not include all state appropriations for higher education.  The formula does include 100 percent of state general fund and local fund expenditures for instruction, and proportional amounts for support programs.  Support programs include libraries, student services, institutional and primary support, and plant operations and maintenance.

For the 1991-93 biennium, the amount of tuition that students will pay equals about 18.3 percent of the state general fund appropriations for higher education.  Many students and their parents do not know how much the state is supporting each student's education.

SUMMARY:

Beginning on July 30, 1992, the Higher Education Coordinating Board will annually develop and distribute information on the amount of state support received by students at public and private colleges, universities, and proprietary schools.  The types of expenditures that may be included in the information are described.

Beginning with the fall 1992 academic term, public colleges and universities will provide students in each tuition category with information on the approximate amount of state support they receive.  Each private institution will inform its students about the amount of state funded financial aid provided to students at that institution.  Each institution may use any format appropriate for students, including posters, handouts and information in registration packets.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

State policy currently requires that an amount of one-half of 1 percent of the appropriation for the original construction of any public building is expended by the Washington State Arts Commission for the acquisition of works of art.  For institutions of higher education the process for selection is mandated to be consultative -- ensuring that the art is in harmony with the role and mission of the institutions, utilizing the expertise available at the institution, etc.  The Washington State Arts Commission and the governing board of the institution shall work in partnership.

TESTIMONY FOR:

It is important for both students and parents to recognize that the state provides significant support for the student's higher education.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Jean Silver, prime sponsor