SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                           EHB 1501

 

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, MARCH 29, 1993

 

 

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

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Bauer, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Jesernig, Prince, Quigley, Sheldon, von Reichbauer, and West.

 

Staff:  Jean Six (786‑7423)

 

Hearing Dates: March 19, 1993; March 29, 1993

 

 

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: 

 

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.  Students must acknowledge receipt of the information.  The institution can determine the method to be used for that acknowledgment.

 

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

 

The requirement for students to acknowledge receipt of the information about the amount the state subsidizes the cost of higher education is eliminated.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:  requested

 

TESTIMONY FOR:  None

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

 

TESTIFIED:  No one