BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to services and activities fees; amending RCW 28B.15.041 and 28B.15.045; and reenacting and amending RCW 28B.15.202, 28B.15.402, and 28B.15.502.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 28B.15.041 and 1985 c 390 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

The term "services and activities fees" as used in this chapter is defined to mean fees, other than tuition fees, charged to all students registering at the state's community colleges, regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and state universities. Services and activities fees shall be used as ((~~otherwise provided by law or by rule or regulation of the board of trustees or regents~~)) determined by the services and activities fee committee of each of the state's community colleges, The Evergreen State College, the regional universities, or the state universities for the express purpose of funding student activities and programs of their particular institution. Student activity fees, student use fees, student building use fees, special student fees, or other similar fees charged to all full time students, or to all students, as the case may be, registering at the state's colleges or universities and pledged for the payment of bonds heretofore or hereafter issued for, or other indebtedness incurred to pay, all or part of the cost of acquiring, constructing or installing any lands, buildings, or facilities of the nature described in RCW 28B.10.300 as now or hereafter amended, shall be included within and deemed to be services and activities fees.

Sec. 2. RCW 28B.15.045 and 1990 c 7 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature recognizes that institutional governing boards have a responsibility to manage and protect institutions of higher education. ((~~This responsibility includes ensuring~~)) Governing boards, in collaboration with the services and activities fee committee, shall ensure certain lawful agreements for which revenues from services and activities fees have been pledged. Such lawful agreements include, but are not limited to, bond covenant agreements and other contractual obligations. Institutional governing boards are also expected to protect the stability of programs that benefit students.

The legislature also recognizes that services and activities fees are paid by students for the express purpose of funding student services and programs. It is the intent of the legislature that governing boards ensure that students have a strong voice in recommending budgets for services and activities fees. The ((~~boards of trustees and the boards of regents~~)) services and activities fee committee of the respective institutions of higher education shall adopt guidelines governing the establishment and funding of programs supported by services and activities fees. Such guidelines shall stipulate procedures for budgeting and expending services and activities fee revenue. Any such guidelines shall be consistent with the following provisions:

(1) Student representatives ((~~from the services and activities fee committee~~)) and representatives of the college or university administration shall have an opportunity to address the board before board decisions on services and activities fee budgets and dispute resolution actions are made;

(2) ((~~Members of the governing boards shall adhere to the principle that~~)) The services and activities fee committee ((~~desires be given priority consideration on~~)) shall determine funding items that do not fall into the categories of preexisting contractual obligations, bond covenant agreements, or stability for programs affecting students;

(3) ((Responsibility for proposing to the administration and the governing board program priorities and budget levels for that portion of program budgets that derive from services and activities fees shall reside with a)) The services and activities fee committee, on which students shall hold at least a majority of the voting memberships, such student members ((~~shall represent~~)) representing diverse student interests((,)) and ((~~shall be~~)) being recommended by the student government association or its equivalent, shall determine priorities and budget levels for that portion of program budgets derived from service and activities fees. The chairperson of the services and activities fee committee shall be selected by the members of that committee. The ((~~governing board shall insure that the~~)) services and activities fee committee shall provide((s)) an opportunity for all viewpoints to be heard at a public meeting during its consideration of the funding of student programs and activities.

(4) The services and activities fee committee shall evaluate existing and proposed programs and submit budget recommendations for the expenditure of those services and activities fees with supporting documents simultaneously to the college or university governing board and administration for review and comment.

(5) The college or university administration shall review the services and activities fee committee budget recommendations and publish a written response to the services and activities fee committee. This response shall outline potential areas of difference between the committee recommendations and the administration's proposed budget recommendations. This response, with supporting documentation, shall be submitted to the services and activities fee committee in a timely manner to allow adequate consideration.

(6)(a) In the event of a dispute or disputes involving the services and activities fee committee recommendations, the college or university administration shall meet with the services and activities fee committee in a good faith effort to resolve such dispute or disputes ((~~prior to submittal of final recommendations to the governing board~~)) before approval of recommendations by the services and activities fee committee.

(b) If said dispute is not resolved within fourteen days, a dispute resolution committee shall be convened by the chair of the services and activities fee committee within fourteen days.

(7) The dispute resolution committee shall be selected as follows: The college or university administration shall appoint two nonvoting advisory members; the governing board shall appoint three voting members; and the services and activities fee committee chair shall appoint three student members of the services and activities fee committee who will have a vote, and one student representing the services and activities fee committee who will chair the dispute resolution committee and be nonvoting. The committee shall meet in good faith, and settle by vote any and all disputes. In the event of a tie vote, the chair of the dispute resolution committee shall vote to settle the dispute.

(8) The ((~~governing board~~)) services and activities fee committee may take action on those portions of the services and activities fee budget not in dispute in accordance with the customary budget approval timeline established by the ((~~board~~)) committee. The ((~~governing board~~)) committee shall consider the results, if any, of the dispute resolution committee and shall take action.

(9) Services and activities fees and revenues generated by programs and activities funded by such fees shall be deposited and expended through ((~~the office of the chief fiscal officer of the institution~~)) a process and procedure established by the services and activities fee committee.

(10) Services and activities fees and revenues generated by programs and activities funded by such fees shall be subject to the applicable policies, ((~~regulations~~)) rules, and procedures of the institution ((~~and the budget and accounting act, chapter 43.88 RCW~~)). However, service and activities fees, because they are student imposed institutionally collected fees, shall not be subject to the budget and accounting act, chapter 43.88 RCW.

(11) All information pertaining to services and activities fees budgets shall be made available to interested parties.

(12) With the exception of any funds needed for bond covenant obligations, once the budget for expending service and activities fees is approved by the ((~~governing board~~)) services and activities fee committee, funds shall not be shifted from funds budgeted for associated students or departmentally related categories or the reserve fund until ((~~the administration provides written justification to~~)) the services and activities fee committee ((~~and the governing board, or the governing board~~)) gives its express approval. In the event of a fund transfer dispute among the services and activities fee committee, the administration, or the governing board, said dispute shall be resolved pursuant to subsections (6)(b), (7), and (8) of this section.

((~~(13) Any service and activities fees collected which exceed initially budgeted amounts are subject to subsections (1) through (10) and (12) of this section.~~))

Sec. 3. RCW 28B.15.202 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 8 and 1993 c 379 s 202 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

Tuition fees and maximum services and activities fees at the University of Washington and at Washington State University for other than the summer term shall be as follows:

(1) For full time resident undergraduate students and all other full time resident students not in graduate study programs or enrolled in programs leading to the degrees of doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, and doctor of veterinary medicine, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be thirty-six and three-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be forty-one and one-tenth percent of the per student undergraduate educational costs at the state universities computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be one hundred and twenty dollars. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(2) For full time resident graduate and law students not enrolled in programs leading to the degrees of doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, and doctor of veterinary medicine, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be twenty-five and two-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be twenty-eight and four-tenths percent of the per student graduate educational costs at the state universities computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be one hundred and twenty dollars. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(3) For full time resident students enrolled in programs leading to the degrees of doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, and doctor of veterinary medicine, the total tuition fees shall be one hundred sixty‑seven percent of such fees charged in subsection (2) of this section: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be three hundred and forty‑two dollars. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(4) For full time nonresident undergraduate students and such other full time nonresident students not in graduate study programs or enrolled in programs leading to the degrees of doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of veterinary medicine, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be one hundred nine and three-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be one hundred twenty-two and nine-tenths percent of the per student undergraduate educational costs at the state universities computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be three hundred and fifty‑four dollars. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(5) For full time nonresident graduate and law students not enrolled in programs leading to the degrees of doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, and doctor of veterinary medicine, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be sixty-five and six-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be seventy-three and six-tenths percent of the per student graduate educational costs at the state universities computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be three hundred and fifty‑four dollars. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(6) For full time nonresident students enrolled in programs leading to the degrees of doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, and doctor of veterinary medicine, the total tuition fees shall be one hundred sixty‑seven percent of such fees charged in subsection (5) of this section: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be five hundred and fifty‑five dollars. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(7) The ((~~governing boards of the state universities~~)) services and activities fee committee shall charge to and collect from each student, a services and activities fee. The ((~~governing board~~)) committee may increase the existing fee annually((~~, consistent with budgeting procedures set forth in RCW 28B.15.045, by a percentage not to exceed the annual percentage increase in resident undergraduate tuition fees~~)): PROVIDED, That such percentage increase shall not apply to that portion of the services and activities fee previously committed to the repayment of bonded debt. For the 1993-94 academic year, services and activities fees shall not exceed two hundred forty-three dollars per student. For the 1994-95 academic year, services and activities fees shall not exceed two hundred forty-nine dollars per student. The services and activities fee committee provided for in RCW 28B.15.045 may ((~~initiate a request to the governing board for~~)) mandate a fee increase.

Sec. 4. RCW 28B.15.402 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 11 and 1993 c 379 s 203 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

Tuition fees and maximum services and activities fees at the regional universities and The Evergreen State College for other than the summer term shall be as follows:

(1) For full time resident undergraduate students and all other full time resident students not in graduate study programs, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be twenty-seven and seven-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be thirty-one and five-tenths percent of the per student undergraduate educational costs at the regional universities computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be seventy‑six dollars and fifty cents. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(2) For full time resident graduate students, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be twenty-five and three-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be twenty-eight and six-tenths percent of the per student graduate educational costs at the regional universities computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be seventy‑six dollars and fifty cents. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(3) For full time nonresident undergraduate students and all other full time nonresident students not in graduate study programs, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be one hundred nine and four-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be one hundred twenty-three percent of the per student undergraduate educational costs at the regional universities computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be two hundred and ninety‑five dollars and fifty cents. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(4) For full time nonresident graduate students, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be eighty-two percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be ninety-two percent of the per student graduate educational costs at the regional universities computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be two hundred and ninety‑five dollars and fifty cents. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(5) The ((~~governing boards~~)) services and activities fee committee of each of the regional universities and The Evergreen State College shall charge to and collect from each student, a services and activities fee. The ((~~governing board~~)) committee may increase the existing fee annually((~~, consistent with budgeting procedures set forth in RCW 28B.15.045, by a percentage not to exceed the annual percentage increase in resident undergraduate tuition fees~~)): PROVIDED, That such percentage increase shall not apply to that portion of the services and activities fee previously committed to the repayment of bonded debt. For the 1993-94 academic year, services and activities fees shall not exceed two hundred ((~~eight-four [eighty-four]~~)) eighty-four dollars per student. For the 1994-95 academic year, services and activities fees shall not exceed two hundred ninety dollars per student. The services and activities fee committee provided for in RCW 28B.15.045 may ((~~initiate a request to the governing board for~~)) mandate a fee increase.

Sec. 5. RCW 28B.15.502 and 1993 sp.s. c 18 s 12 and 1993 c 379 s 204 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

Tuition fees and maximum services and activities fees at each community college for other than the summer term shall be set by the state board for community and technical colleges as follows:

(1) For full time resident students, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be twenty-five and four-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be twenty-eight and eight-tenths percent of the per student educational costs at the community colleges computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be one hundred and twenty‑seven dollars and fifty cents. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(2) For full time nonresident students, the total tuition fees for the 1993-94 academic year shall be one hundred nine and three-tenths percent and thereafter total tuition fees shall be one hundred twenty-two and seven-tenths percent of the per student educational costs at the community colleges computed as provided in RCW 28B.15.067 and 28B.15.070: PROVIDED, That the building fees for each academic year shall be four hundred and three dollars and fifty cents. Beginning with the 1995-96 academic year the building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

(3) The ((~~governing boards~~)) services and activities fee committee of each of the state community colleges shall charge to and collect from each student a services and activities fee. Each ((~~governing board~~)) committee may increase the existing fee annually((~~, consistent with budgeting procedures set forth in RCW 28B.15.045, by a percentage not to exceed the annual percentage increase in resident student tuition fees~~)): PROVIDED, That such percentage increase shall not apply to that portion of the services and activities fee previously committed to the repayment of bonded debt. For the 1993-94 academic year, services and activities fees shall not exceed one hundred twenty-eight dollars per student. For the 1994-95 academic year, services and activities fees shall not exceed one hundred thirty-one dollars per student. The services and activities fee committee provided for in RCW 28B.15.045 may ((~~initiate a request to the governing board for~~)) mandate a fee increase.

(4) Tuition and services and activities fees consistent with subsection (3) of this section shall be set by the ((~~state board for community and technical colleges~~)) services and activities fee committee for summer school students unless the community college charges fees in accordance with RCW 28B.15.515.

Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, each governing board may charge such fees for ungraded courses, noncredit courses, community services courses, and self‑supporting courses as it, in its discretion, may determine, consistent with the rules and regulations of the state board for community and technical colleges.