FINAL BILL REPORT
SSB 6371
C 38 L 94
SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED
Brief Description: Changing provisions relating to higher education degree‑granting authority.
SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Bauer, Prince, Sheldon, Winsley and Drew)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
BACKGROUND:
The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB) adopts and monitors the rules that enforce the Private Vocational School Act, including the administration of the tuition recovery fund established in 1987. The cost of administering the fund is paid from special fees collected and deposited in the tuition recovery fund.
Money in the tuition recovery fund can be used to refund money if a private vocational school closes. The fund may also be used to pay restitution to a student if a school is found by the board to have engaged in an unfair business practice.
The 1993 Legislature established that by June 30, 1998, a minimum operating balance of $1 million will be achieved in the tuition recovery trust fund and maintained thereafter. Each licensed school will make up to 20 incremental payments.
Currently the tuition recovery trust fund benefits only the non-degree seeking students enrolled in the private vocational schools.
SUMMARY:
A new account in the tuition recovery trust fund is created to ensure consistent financial protection for both degree and non-degree seeking students attending private vocational schools. Currently the fund covers only students in non-degree programs. The requirement for degree-granting private vocational schools to participate in two distinctly different protection programs is eliminated.
The interagency agreement between the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) is clarified. The HECB will adopt rules to maintain and administer the new account in the tuition recovery trust fund.
VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:
Senate 46 0
House 96 0
EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1994