HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1501

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to higher education.

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

Sponsors:  Representatives Silver, Jacobsen, Ballasiotes, Brumsickle, Carlson, Mielke, Talcott, Dyer, Cooke, Hansen, Jones, Quall, Padden and Wood.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Higher Education, February 16, 1993, DPA;

  Passed House, March 8, 1993, 93-2;

Amended by Senate;

Passed Legislature, April 20, 1993, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Quall, Vice Chair; Brumsickle, Ranking Minority Member; Sheahan, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Bray; Carlson; Casada; Flemming; Kessler; J. Kohl; Ogden; Rayburn; Shin; and Wood.

Staff:  Susan Hosch (786-7120).

Background:  In Washington State, 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 are paying 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 of Bill:  Beginning on July 30, 1993, 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.

At least annually, beginning with the fall 1993 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 that is provided to students at that institution.  Each institution may use any format appropriate for students, including posters, handouts and information in registration packets.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.