SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 2693

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 22, 1994

Brief Description:  Changing provisions relating to higher education degree‑granting authority.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Quall, Jacobsen, Brumsickle, Carlson, Forner, Van Luven, Dyer, Cooke, Brough and Springer)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Bauer, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Cantu, Prince, Quigley, Sheldon and West.

Staff:  Jean Six (786‑7423)

Hearing Dates:  February 16, 1994; February 22, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Currently, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB) regulates non-degree granting private vocational schools.  The private vocational school act allows the WTECB to assist students in evaluating private vocational school programs and in obtaining refunds in the event of the student's withdrawal, school cancellation or school closure.

In 1987, legislation was implemented creating a tuition recovery trust fund for the benefit and protection of private vocational school students.  The funds are used to settle claims or pay restitution if a school is found to have engaged in an unfair business practice.  The contribution of each school is determined on a pro-rata basis.  The WTECB determines the liability of each private vocational school on an incremental scale.

Currently, the tuition recovery trust fund only benefits the non-degree seeking students enrolled in private vocational schools.

SUMMARY:

The language is clarified that provides for a interagency agreement between the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) and the WTECB to regulate degree and non-degree programs.

A separate account is created in the tuition recovery trust fund.  Claims made by students enrolled in degree-granting vocational programs shall be made against the assets in the HECB's account.

The HECB is responsible for maintaining and administering the account.  The HECB's operation of the account parallels the WTECB's current operation of the tuition recovery fund.  For example, the HECB will determine the amount of liability that can be satisfied by the account, and will adopt by rule a matrix for calculating the deposits into the account required of each degree-granting private vocational school.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This is good consumer protection legislation.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Jane Sherman, HECB; Marlene Coplen, WTECB; Linda Broderick, Private School Federation