Z-1410

AN ACT Relating to the higher education quality enhancement fund; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that Washington's higher education system contributes significantly to the economic vitality of the state and requires a dedicated source of funds to maintain and enhance the quality of educational programs offered at the state colleges and universities. The purpose of this chapter is to make available higher education quality enhancement funds for appropriation to state colleges and universities. The revenues shall be generated from a fixed tuition surcharge charged to selective categories of students. The established tuition surcharge rates are equal to the difference between the 1992-93 regular tuition and fee charges at each institution, and the average tuition and required fee charges established at their peer institutions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, "colleges and universities" means:

(1) The University of Washington in Seattle, and its branch campuses located in Tacoma and Bothell;

(2) Washington State University in Pullman, and its branch campuses located in Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and southwest Washington;

(3) Central Washington University at Ellensburg, Eastern Washington University at Cheney, Western Washington University at Bellingham, and The Evergreen State College in Thurston county; and

(4) The state system of community colleges governed by the state board for community and technical colleges, as are provided for in chapter 28B.50 RCW, excluding technical colleges as defined in RCW 28B.50.030.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The higher education quality enhancement fund is established. The revenues deposited into the fund shall be appropriated to the state colleges and universities solely for enhancing the quality of operations and programs. The funds shall not be used for increasing general faculty or staff salaries and benefits above those authorized in the appropriations act in each biennium; for increasing student enrollments above those authorized in the appropriations act in each biennium; or for capital construction purposes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) Revenues for the higher education quality enhancement fund shall be generated from tuition surcharge fees charged to selective resident and nonresident students registering at the state's colleges and universities annually, beginning with the 1992-93 academic year. The tuition surcharge fees listed in the following fee schedule are in addition to, and separate from, the tuition and fees defined in RCW 28B.15.020 through 28B.15.041.

TUITION SURCHARGE FEE SCHEDULE

UW WSU Regional TESC CC's

Resident undergraduate $ 433 $234 $258 $531 $114

Resident professional 1,471 0 0 0 0

Nonresident undergraduate 1,808 692 0 0 0

Nonresident professional 2,482 0 0 0 0

(2) The tuition surcharge fees shall be collected by the colleges and universities at the same time as other tuition and fees. All moneys received as surcharge fees at any college or university during the 1992-93 academic year shall be transmitted to the state treasurer within thirty-five days of receipt to be deposited in the state general fund. The money received by institutions of higher education from the periodic payment plan authorized by RCW 28B.15.820 shall be transmitted to the state treasurer within five days following the close of registration of the appropriate quarter or semester. All moneys received as tuition surcharge fees in subsequent years shall be deposited directly into the higher education quality enhancement fund.

(3) By March 15, 1993, the office of financial management shall provide to the fiscal committees of the legislature an estimate of the 1992-93 tuition surcharge revenue to be generated by the four-year institutions and a separate estimate of the tuition surcharge revenue to be generated by the community and technical college system. The total revenue collected in 1992-93 shall be transferred from the state general fund to the higher education quality enhancement fund and appropriated in the 1993-95 biennium. The total revenue collected from the four-year institutions shall be available solely for appropriation to the four-year institutions. The total revenue collected from the community and technical college system shall be available solely for appropriation to the state board for community and technical colleges for distribution to the individual community colleges. Revenues deposited into the higher education quality enhancement fund in subsequent years shall be identified and appropriated in the same manner.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. For the 1992-93 academic year, state appropriations for student financial aid shall be adjusted in an amount equal to twenty-four percent of any change in revenue estimated to occur as a result of implementation of chapter ..., Laws of 1992 (this act).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) The board of regents or board of trustees at each of the state's colleges and universities shall charge to and collect from each of the students registering at the particular institution for any quarter or semester such tuition surcharge fee identified in section 4 of this act.

(2) Part-time students shall be charged the tuition surcharge fee proportionate to full-time student rates established for residents and nonresidents. However, students registered for fewer than two credit hours shall be charged at the rate established for two credit hours.

(3) Full-time students registered for more than eighteen credit hours shall be charged for each credit hour in excess of eighteen hours at the established per credit hour tuition surcharge fee rate applicable to part-time students in the respective institutional tuition surcharge rate categories set forth in this chapter. The board of regents of the University of Washington and Washington State University may exempt students who are registered exclusively in professional programs in medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, and law. The state board for community and technical colleges may exempt students who are registered exclusively in required courses in vocational preparatory programs from the additional charge.

(4) The rules adopted by the state board for community and technical colleges in reference to students described in RCW 28B.50.095 shall be applied equally with respect to the tuition surcharge fees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The boards of regents and the boards of trustees of each state college and university shall waive the tuition surcharge fee for any student participating in tuition waiver programs mandated by the legislature, and may waive the tuition surcharge for any student eligible to participate in tuition waiver programs permitted by the legislature.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 7 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.