FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   ESB 5824

                                  C 353 L 91

                              SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to the funding of community college summer courses.

SPONSORS:Senators Saling, Stratton, Patterson and Bauer.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

BACKGROUND:

In the early 1980s when the level of state-funded student enrollment at community colleges was severely reduced, some community colleges began a practice that is known as contemporary contracting.  Since then, the extent of contemporary contracting has greatly increased.

Contemporary contracting entails:  exceeding state-funded full-time equivalent enrollment limits (the enrollment lid) by essentially contracting with individual students; charging only statutory tuition and fees (23 percent of the direct and indirect costs); and retaining these monies at the local college level.

Given the reduced level of funding provided by contemporary contracting, concerns have been raised regarding the effect of contemporary contracting upon the quality of education.  Concerns have also been raised about the legality of the practice.

SUMMARY:

Community college districts may vary from the state-funded enrollment levels by plus or minus 2 percent unless otherwise provided in the budget.  If the community college chooses to over-enroll, it may retain the tuition and fees from the over-enrolled students.

By September 1, 1995, community colleges must phase out enrollments in excess of this limitation.  The phasing out must be in equal annual reductions.

If the community college fails to phase out the excess enrollments, it shall pay the full average state appropriation per full-time equivalent student for each full-time equivalent in excess of the phase out limit. 

The State Board for Community College Education must ensure compliance with the limitations.

Community college districts may operate self-supporting summer programs.  If a community college district chooses to operate a self-supporting summer program, it must charge enough to cover the direct cost of summer school which is defined as instructor salaries and benefits, summer school supplies, summer school publications and summer school records.

In the event a community college district chooses to operate a self-supporting summer program, it will continue to receive general fund state support for the following:  vocational programs requiring students to enroll in a four-quarter sequence of courses that includes summer quarter for clinical or laboratory requirements; and ungraded courses defined as vocational apprenticeships, adult basic education, aging and retirement, small business management, industrial first aid, and parent education.

Community college districts choosing to operate a self-supporting summer program are not required to follow the tuition schedule set by statute for summer sessions.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      32    17

House 92    5    (House amended)

Senate                  (Senate refused to concur)

House             (House refused to recede)

Conference Committee

House 98    0

Senate      30    11

EFFECTIVE:  June 15, 1991